Basic Winning Strategies

When a dealer has an up card from 2 to 6, you, in effect, are free rolling with your soft 17, since you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can improve your hand dramatically, or even if you weaken it, the dealer must still draw cards with a likelihood of busting.

Should the dealer hold a no bust card such as a 9 as his s? up card, it's still worth hitting that soft 17, because the 17 will lose in all probability to the dealer's total of 19. Even if you receive a 6, giving you a hard total of 13, you still can draw another card, hoping to improve your hand.

Finally, an ace, 6 should always be hit because it can't be busted no matter what card is drawn. The same goes for any soft 17, such as an ace, 4, and 2. This is played in the same way as the soft 17 of are, 6.

Whenever a player stands on soft 17, I immediately know that he's a weak player and a loser. No strong player stands on that total. He either hits it, or if playing in a casino where doubling down is permitted on any two-card total, he doubles down against certain up cards.

Soft Hands-Strategy for Doubling Down

The following chart is useful in casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City or in any casino where doubling down is permitted on any original two-card total. Any time you have a chance to double down, you should do so, for it is to your advantage.