Soft 17 Blackjack rules

Multi-Deck blackjack is played with four decks or more andand this Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart below is where the dealer will hit on soft 17.

Each casino may use a slightly different version of the rules for multi-deck blackjack. Take the time to get to know the rules and game strategy before beginning to play, no matter whether your goal is to become a professional card sharp or to enjoy a few hours’ of entertainment at the casino table.

According to some casino rules, the dealer hits on soft 17. Soft 17 is a blackjack hand made up of a Six and an Ace which is being counted as 11 points. Any other combination that adds up to a value of 17, for example Ten plus Seven, is called “hard 17.”

To determine whether a dealer hits on soft 17, look at the blackjack table layout. There you will see written one of 2 alternatives, either: “Dealer Hits Soft 17” or “Dealer Must Stand on all 17.” With the soft 17 rule, the house will have an edge that is a bit higher than otherwise.

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Blackjack Player's Choices

After the first hand has been dealt, the player will proceed with one of the following strategies: hit, stand, pair splitting, doubling down, even money or surrendering.

Hit: When a player wants to be dealt another card, he/she can indicate this to the dealer in one of 2 ways. Either he/she will use his finger to make a beckoning motion toward the dealer or he/she will tap the table behind his card pile with that finger. If the requested card brings his hand value over 21 points, he/she will lose his wager and must give up the cards.

Stand: If a player is happy with his initial 2 cards (for example, he/she has blackjack or 20 points), he may indicate tot the dealer that he/ she does not want to draw again. The accepted signal for this is either waving a hand over the cards or turning the pile to the horizontal.

Pair Splitting: When the initial deal gives the player a pair (2 Threes or 2 Jacks, for instance), he/she may split the pair to start 2 new hands. He/she adds an additional wager in the same amount as the first hand. According to classic blackjack rules, the cards must be of the same denomination and not just the same face value (say, a Queen and a King). A player may only split once per hand.

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