Question about dealer hitting soft 17
I basically have two questions that are related. Note that if the answer to #1 is a yes, then please disregard my second question #2.
1) If the dealer is dealt an 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, does the dealer stop and no longer hits his or her hand with additional cards?
2) (Or) If the dealer is dealt an 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, does the dealer keep hitting his or her hand to try and beat the other players cards?
If the answer to #2 is yes, then consider this scenario.
suppose that besides the dealer there are 3 black jack players at the table. They have each been dealt their cards and choose to stand on their hands. Their hands are as follows :
player 1 has an 19
player 2 has a 20
player 3 has 21 (7,8,9)
Now suppose that the dealer displays both of his/hers first two cards and they add up to 18 ex 10,8. Does the dealer stop, or will the dealer continue to draw cards in hopes of getting the highest possible hand possible. In this case 21, which would mean that player 1 and 2 lose there money, and player 3 will push with the dealer?
So the rule for the dealer is to hit soft 17. So here is my question. Will the dealer
The dealer follows set rules regardless of what the other players have.
The dealer hits until he reaches 17. In a H17 game, the exception is that he will hit a soft 17 and stand on soft totals of 18 and higher. The dealer always stands on hard 17 or higher.
The dealer does not play the players; they must play the house rules. They have no options on whether to take cards; if the house hits soft 17 (which always contains at least 1 ace to be "soft"), they will always do that. If they stand on soft 17, they will always stand, even if they lose every hand to the players.
Quote: beachbumbabs1. Dealer stops on "hard" 18 or "soft" 18 ...
Last week in Atlantic City I saw a dealer play out his hand. He had ace/seven. He said "Eight or eighteen," and he hit it with an eight for "sixteen," and then a two for "eighteen." Neither of the two players seem to notice.
Quote: beachbumbabs...if the house hits soft 17 (which always contains at least 1 ace to be "soft")
Just a clarifying explanation - at least one ace will be counted as eleven instead of one for the hand to be considered soft. 6, A is soft 17, while 10, 6, A is hard 17.
Quote: SnapBackI have a question about Black Jack where the dealer hits soft 17. I have not played Black Jack in a while and am confused.
I basically have two questions that are related. Note that if the answer to #1 is a yes, then please disregard my second question #2.
1) If the dealer is dealt an 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, does the dealer stop and no longer hits his or her hand with additional cards?
2) (Or) If the dealer is dealt an 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, does the dealer keep hitting his or her hand to try and beat the other players cards?
If the answer to #2 is yes, then consider this scenario.
suppose that besides the dealer there are 3 black jack players at the table. They have each been dealt their cards and choose to stand on their hands. Their hands are as follows :
player 1 has an 19
player 2 has a 20
player 3 has 21 (7,8,9)
Now suppose that the dealer displays both of his/hers first two cards and they add up to 18 ex 10,8. Does the dealer stop, or will the dealer continue to draw cards in hopes of getting the highest possible hand possible. In this case 21, which would mean that player 1 and 2 lose there money, and player 3 will push with the dealer?
So the rule for the dealer is to hit soft 17. So here is my question. Will the dealer
1) Yes. Stop, no need to proceed.
... and 5, A, A is a Soft 17.Quote: wudgedJust a clarifying explanation - at least one ace will be counted as eleven instead of one for the hand to be considered soft. 6, A is soft 17, while 10, 6, A is hard 17.
Ditto for 4, A, 2. Etc.
Quote: wudgedJust a clarifying explanation - at least one ace will be counted as eleven instead of one for the hand to be considered soft. 6, A is soft 17, while 10, 6, A is hard 17.
Yes.
Quote: ChesterDogLast week in Atlantic City I saw a dealer play out his hand. He had ace/seven. He said "Eight or eighteen," and he hit it with an eight for "sixteen," and then a two for "eighteen." Neither of the two players seem to notice.
Maybe the OP was also at that table. Geez...
Quote: BizzyBYes.
I wasn't asking, just clarifying for any readers. The way beachbumbabs's response was written I read it that any hand containing an A was soft, which isn't always the case.
Quote: wudgedI wasn't asking, just clarifying for any readers. The way beachbumbabs's response was written I read it that any hand containing an A was soft, which isn't always the case.
True, and sorry for not being clearer about it. I couldn't figure out the title of the thread having to do anything with the questions the OP asked, and so was trying to quickly mention what "soft" meant. I figure we all started somewhere learning the game.
Yes, but that does not always mean that we learned correctly ... including sometimes dealers! My problem seems to be that I forget and lose focus when its "the real thing" and find that my addition is still about two rounds behind the current play.Quote: beachbumbabsI figure we all started somewhere learning the game.
by reading your 2), even after you said "then please disregard my second question #2"Quote: SnapBack1) If the dealer is dealt an 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, does the dealer stop and no longer hits his or her hand with additional cards?
but I didn't ;)
I see why you asked this.
That would be a different version of Blackjack that I do not think exists.
I do not play Blackjack any more. I have way more fun hitting a Royal Flush at video poker even with the wait.
player 3 would celebrate with a 6,7,8Quote: SnapBackthere are 3 black jack players at the table. They have each been dealt their cards and choose to stand on their hands. Their hands are as follows :
player 1 has an 19
player 2 has a 20
player 3 has 21 (7,8,9)
you sing "celebrate, celebrate 6,7,8"
not too many would stand on the 7,8,9 or even celebrate with a 7,8,9
that 9 sometimes looks like a 6
or they are having much fun drinking while playing
Sally
candy buttons can help
I don't understand why 10,6,A is a hard 17 ?
My thinking is that it is soft since the Ace is counted as a 1. And the dealer can hit with another card like a 4 for a hand total of 21.
Example : 10, 6, A, 4 = 21
Quote: SnapBackThanks Wudged for answering my question.
I don't understand why 10,6,A is a hard 17 ?
My thinking is that it is soft since the Ace is counted as a 1. And the dealer can hit with another card like a 4 for a hand total of 21.
Example : 10, 6, A, 4 = 21
If a hand cannot break when hit, it is a soft hand. If it can break when hit, it is a hard hand. Dealers must stay on hard 17 and higher.
Quote: 1BBIf a hand cannot break when hit, it is a soft hand. If it can break when hit, it is a hard hand. Dealers must stay on hard 17 and higher.
Required but not stated, the hand must contain an ace to be considered soft, else a 6,5 hand would fit the definition. If a hand value is under 21 with an ace counting as 11 it is soft. If a hand value can only be under 21 with all aces counted as 1 then it is hard.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyRequired but not stated, the hand must contain an ace to be considered soft, else a 6,5 hand would fit the definition. If a hand value is under 21 with an ace counting as 11 it is soft. If a hand value can only be under 21 with all aces counted as 1 then it is hard.
Hey, I knew that! :-) I hope my mental lapse didn't make it more confusing for SnapBack.
Quote: SnapBackThanks Wudged for answering my question.
I don't understand why 10,6,A is a hard 17 ?
My thinking is that it is soft since the Ace is counted as a 1. And the dealer can hit with another card like a 4 for a hand total of 21.
Example : 10, 6, A, 4 = 21
Any hand (other than hard 21) can be hit without busting if you catch the right card. Do you think that T, T is a soft 20? (you can hit it and catch an ace!)
The difference is:
A,6 is a soft 17. If you hit it, it's not possible to bust. If you catch a 10 you've gone from soft 17 to hard 17.
A, 6, T is the same as 7, T. If you hit it you will bust if you catch a card bigger than 4.
Quote: SnapBackI don't understand why 10,6,A is a hard 17 ?
My thinking is that it is soft since the Ace is counted as a 1. And the dealer can hit with another card like a 4 for a hand total of 21.
Well, looking at it that way, 10-6-A is a Soft 27.
Quote: KellynbnfI once heard someone speak of a "Soft 22" when asking about Blackjack Switch, wondering if the dealer had AA or A+(combination totaling 11) whether or not that counts as a 22 and an automatic push, or if it's played out as in regular Blackjack (I think it's the latter).
Yeah there was a whole thread on that here pretty recently. The upshot is that it does NOT count as an automatic push (this came straight from the horse's mouth, the game inventor himself).
The push only happens on HARD 22.
Thanks again Wudged. You really helped me out. Hey I bought this book "Mensa Guide To Black Jack". It sounds a bit over the top, however it is not. The Author (Joshua Hornick MIT Black Jack team) does a really good job of explaining it as well.
"A hand that counts an Ace as 11 points is called a "soft 17", A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard". For example, A,6,K is a hard 17.After adding 10 points for the king, the Ace is now 1 point, and there is no way to change the total to 17, so it is "hard", not "soft".Soft hands are therefore more versatle, and therefore, more valuable in Blackjack".
"A hand that counts an Ace as 11 points is called a "soft 17", A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard". For example, A,6,K is a hard 17.After adding 10 points for the king, the Ace is now 1 point, and there is no way to change the total to 17, so it is "hard", not "soft".Soft hands are therefore more versatle, and therefore, more valuable in Blackjack".
Quote: SnapBackHey Beethoven9th. Here is a good explanation from a book called the "Mensa Guide to Blackjack" the Author Joshua Hornick is a former MIT Black Jack team member. He explains it as follows...
We don't need the explanation. That's what we were trying to explain to you the whole time. lol...
Quote: SnapBackMakes sense now. Finally!!
Thanks again Wudged. You really helped me out. Hey I bought this book "Mensa Guide To Black Jack". It sounds a bit over the top, however it is not. The Author (Joshua Hornick MIT Black Jack team) does a really good job of explaining it as well.
"A hand that counts an Ace as 11 points is called a "soft 17", A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard". For example, A,6,K is a hard 17.After adding 10 points for the king, the Ace is now 1 point, and there is no way to change the total to 17, so it is "hard", not "soft".Soft hands are therefore more versatle, and therefore, more valuable in Blackjack".
That definition doesn't cover the case of multiple aces in a hand, just to be picky, e.g., A,3,A is a soft hand with ONE of the aces valued at 11. A,3,A,7 is a hard had because ALL aces are valued as 1.
So I guess my next question is where is the golden book of BlackJack with rules I can firmly go by? Or does the soft 17 rule change based upon a particular casino?
Because according to what you just told me, it contradicts what is written in that book I just quoted. You say that A,3,A is a soft hand with one of the Aces valued at 11. So why is that a soft hand, when the book I quoted says "A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard".
Are you absolutely sure? You could very well be an expert in BlackJack however Joshes book is pretty clear on what is meant between a hard and soft 17. So now I am confused again, however I have to be leaning twords what the book says.
Quote: SnapBackHi BleedingChipsSlowly, thanks for the input.
So I guess my next question is where is the golden book of BlackJack with rules I can firmly go by? Or does the soft 17 rule change based upon a particular casino?
Because according to what you just told me, it contradicts what is written in that book I just quoted. You say that A,3,A is a soft hand with one of the Aces valued at 11. So why is that a soft hand, when the book I quoted says "A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard".
Are you absolutely sure? You could very well be an expert in BlackJack however Joshes book is pretty clear on what is meant between a hard and soft 17. So now I am confused again, however I have to be leaning twords what the book says.
I say the book is wrong. I am not a Blackjack expert, but would you care to place a friendly wager on the point? The determination of whether a hand is "soft" or "hard" does not vary from casino to casino. At least not in my limited experience.
Quote: SnapBack"A hand that includes a 1 point Ace is called "hard".
This is incorrect, it overlooks the possibility of having 2 or more aces in a hand. Try this:
"A hand where all the Aces must be counted as 1 so that the hand total is 21 or less is called 'hard'".
Quote: 1BBLet's go back to what Duecekies posted. If a hand can be counted in two different ways such as 6 or 16, it is a soft hand. A hard hand hand has only one option. This question was so easy, for me anyway, that it actually became difficult. :-)
With familiarity comes ease that eludes those learning. I have issue with "counted two different ways" as the sole differentiating factor. Consider a three-ace hand which can be counted as 3, 13, 23 or 33. Qualified as "counted two different ways as 21 or less" to define a soft hand would be more accurate. We just tend to filter out the non-essential information.
Quote: beachbumbabsSo maybe approach the definition backwards. "Any hand in which an ace can be counted as 11, and still does not exceed a total of 21, is a soft hand."
Yes! Thanks, beachbumbas, that's the most concise and fully accurate definition I've seen posted. You win the Occam's Razor award.
