It would be a soft 17. 6 decks. · The dealer must hit Soft 17. No drawing to split aces. On average, the dealer will win 48. Consider the following scenario: the dealer shows an upcard of five, with a king in the hole. Blackjack hit or stand mechanics imply that players ask for another card (hit) or stop (stand). S. If there’s any general advice I give if asked is “always hit Soft-17. At the end of the game, if your count is the same as the dealer’s, it is a “push” (neither the dealer or you. The reason is that when the rules dictate that the dealer must hit on a soft 17 the correct play is for the player to DOUBLE the original bet. You can split ace pairs, and get an additional card for each but aren’t allowed to split the hands further. Cora Blood. On a game where the dealer hits a soft 17, you give the house an additional two-tenths of 1% advantage, because when a soft 17 is showing, an ace, 2, 3, or 4 improves the dealer's hand and a 10, jack, queen or king. For example, in a. The reason is that even if the hole card is a face card, the dealer has to hit again (dealers must hit on any hand worth less than 17, and in most cases on a soft 17 as well). 021 percent. -Hard 17 is like 10+7, or 9+6+Ace (Ace here being a. 17 versus ace is surrender instead of stand. For example, A23A is a soft seventeen, so the dealer must hit. Generally, the dealer in blackjack must hit if he has a total of 16 or less, and stand if he has 17 or more. Dealer rules. Dealer must hit 16 or less and stand on cards totaling 17 or greater. In this rule, the dealer must hit on a soft 17 – increasing their chances of making a better hand between 18 and 21, therefore slightly increasing the house edge. OpenBet – Standard rule set shown above but doesn’t define. Dealer must hit a Soft Seventeen (17). This is because ‘Aces’ is valued as 1 or 11. If the dealer does not bust, then the higher point total between the player and dealer will. After the number of decks used and the payout odds to hit the Blackjack itself, whether a dealer stays or hits Soft 17 is the next most important rule. The same rule applies to players as well, hitting a soft 17 would reduce the house edge in your favor. The player has to hit (take another card) if his/her hand is valued at 14 or lower. It does not matter how many cards there are in the hand, as long as there is an Ace. Edge is the same with either rule when the dealer starts with seven through 10 because these upcards can't lead to soft 17. If any automatic shuffle machine is used in conjunction with this game, it must be a WSGC approved model, manufactured by a WSGC licensed manufacture. Try to get as close to 21 without going over (busting). A few are only open on weekends. As a single deck blackjack strategy, a player must optimally Stand on the hard hand of 17-21 and on the soft hands of A-9 and A-10. Hand Pays Envy 5-Card 21 3 to 2. Blackjack Dealer Hits Soft 17. For many blackjack players, this rather innocuous rule doesn’t seem like a big deal, but the fact of the matter Henry Tamburin is the editor and publisher of the Blackjack Insider Newsletter and author of the best-selling Blackjack: Take the Money & Run. If the face-up card is an ace, then the dealer peaks at his down card (the hole card). top of page. Hole Card. Many players find this hard to believe. In “Dealer must hit on soft 17”, the dealer must hit when receiving soft 17 in hand. The New Blackjack offered at Ignition Casino has the following rules: Minimum bet per hand $1. Surrender gives 50% back. The same rule applies to players as well, hitting a soft 17 would reduce the house edge in your favor. If the dealer has an ace, counting it as 11 would bring the total to 17 or more (but not over 21): the dealer must count the ace as 11 and stand. 65%. If the dealer has less than 17, she must hit. Therefore, the higher the dealer’s score (while it has still not reached 17) the more likely they are to go bust, especially if there are more high-value cards left in the deck. This means that the dealer’s decisions are automatic while the players. The basic strategy rules for hitting soft 17 are as follows: For double- and multi-deck games, hit when the dealer‘s upcard is a 2 or 7 through ace. Dealers are normally required to draw until they reach a total of at least 17. However, dealer odds can change depending on blackjack house rules. The dealer must hit if their hand value is 17, even in a hard hand. Related to Dealer Must Hit Soft 17. · Player can Double at any point when they have 4 or less cards. 9,9 – always split unless the dealer’s upcard is 7, 10, or A, in which case you should stand. When Does the Dealer Have to Hit a Soft 17? The rules of blackjack in most casinos is that a dealer must hit on a hand totaling 16 or lower, or a soft 17. In this situation, an ace must. The dealer must draw to 16 and “stand” when 17 or more is reached, or on select games, the dealer will hit a soft 17. Even = player blackjack gets paid at even money. A distributor may not sell or provide twenty-one and paddlewheel (betting and casino) chips to6,6 is now a hit against 2 instead of a split. Winning bets are paid even money (1-to-1) with the exception of blackjack, which pays at odds as inscribed on the layout, and insurance, which pays. Upcoming Events. The alternate unfavorable rule is hit on soft 17. The player has an edge if the casino dealer has to stand on soft 17. Blackjack Hand 12 or 13 Blackjack Hand 14, 15 or 16 Surrender Rule Blackjack Soft Hand 13 to 17 Blackjack Soft Hand 18 Blackjack Soft Hand 19 or 20. The following recommendations are for when dealers must hit on a soft 17: Double your bets when you have 11 against a dealer’s Ace. In all Blackjack games, the dealer will hit on any hard or soft total of 16 or under. Next they have six dollar minimum blackjack, 6 to 5 payout. Another rule that works against you in Live Dealer Blackjack is that the dealer must hit soft 17. Payouts are also regular, with blackjack paying 3:2, insurance 2:1, and all other winning bets 1:1. The dealer’s standing on soft 17 rule is whether or not the dealer must hit on a soft 17 (which is an ace and a six). An ace can be worth either 1 or 11, which is decided by the player that receives the ace. Dealer hits on soft 17. Similar to other types of American blackjack, the dealer receives two cards, one face-up. Hard 9 Against the Dealer’s Low Cards. Notations used in this article: S17 = Dealer must stand on soft 17 H17 = Dealer must hit soft 17 DAS = Doubling down after pair splitting. This will largely depend on the dealer. Because an Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, the dealer has a choice between standing and hitting. ^ This. Hitting soft 17 increases the house edge about . When the sum of a hand is equal to 17 and includes a 10 value card, that is called hard 17 and the dealer stays. The reason why players should hit in such cases is that the dealer has the so-called standing hand. I adore the atmosphere and the unique seating arrangement. Normally the dealer must continue to hit her hand until she reaches a total of 17 or better. The dealer will return the last double down and the player forfeits their hand and original bet. The dealer must hit soft 17. ” That’s a card game hand. And it is usually stated that the casino "must" hit soft 17 so as to sound like a penalty action - which it is, but the penalty is to you. Always stand on soft 19 or more. So, there are more chances for the dealer to be able to hit and achieve a better ranking hand. 6 decks. The dealer promptly flipped over an Ace giving him a soft 17. ”. A,A – always split. Most players either don't realize this or simply don't care -- that extra edge sounds negligible. In blackjack, the Ace can be played at either a value of one or 11, so in direct contrast to the advice given for hard 17s, players are. You should surrender. . Thus, the decision of whether to hit or stand on soft 17 is a big one for the dealer. 5, so the dealer standing on 17 is a great opportunity for the player. You can split a blackjack hand up to three times. h17 = dealer must hit soft 17 das = doubling down after pair splitting allowed rsa = resplitting aces allowed ls = late surrender allowed (you can surrender only after the dealer checks if she has a blackjack). Dealer stands on soft 17. A soft 17 is any combination containing an Ace that can be counted as a 7 or 17. True. bet. 24% if he shows a ten. For example, a hand containing an Ace and a 6 would be a soft 17. Busted hands will remain in play for poker if the player has made a poker “BET”. 2% when they hit soft 17. Double down on soft 19 against a dealer 6 upcard. Dealer stands on soft 17; Double on 9 to 11 only; No doubling after splitting; No re-splitting; No surrender; No dealer hole card; High Stakes Blackjack (limits: $50-$2,500/hand). Check salon hours before heading to the casino. Dealer must draw to 16, and stand on all 17's. Hours may change without notice. 3 cents. The dealer soft total is the same as a player soft total. (Just as a reminder: soft 17 is any hand that contains and ace and totals 17 when counting the ace as 11. Every casino establishes its guidelines dictating how the dealer approaches their blackjack hand, such as directing them to hit on a soft 17 (an ace and a six). By Alan Krigman. Players have the option to bet up to one-half of their bet on the insurance line when a dealer’s up card is an ace. News. In this case it was a "soft" 17 as the Ace was being counted as 11, then he drew a 5 which brings it up to 22 pushing the Ace back down to value of 1 which makes the total 12. This means we need to change some. Dealer must hit soft 17. No surrender. 2% when the h17 rule is in effect. 6 July 2006. • “you” and similar terms mean Client. The dealer must have at least a queen high to qualify; if not, the players are paid 1:1 on their ante, and the raise bet is returned. As players strive to outwit the dealer and secure a winning hand, understanding the rules that dictate the dealer’s moves becomes crucial. The dealer must hit soft 17. A tie with the dealer is considered a push (no win or loss for the hand). It also could read: “dealer must hit soft 17” (though based on your. Players must clearly wave their hand above the felt to stand on their hand. Payouts are also regular, with blackjack paying 3:2, insurance 2:1, and all. H17 means dealer hits soft 17. Do dealers hit on soft 18? If the dealer has a soft 18, soft 19 or a soft 20, then the dealer must stay. Resplit aces. Yes--that's the right box. If the dealer has the option of either hitting or standing on soft 17, then the player standing on 16 is going to. Blackjack Dealer Rules soft 17. When a dealer must hit soft 17 (h17), usually the dealer will bust more often, which is good news for players. Dealer must hit “soft” 17. In short, basic blackjack strategy changes based on whether you’re playing soft 17 blackjack or not. I heard that the house edge on a person playing by basic strategy was much lower than that; an eight-deck game with no additional rules benefiting the player (like hitting split aces or dealer must hit soft 17) has a house edge of about . 15 versus ace is surrender instead of hit. This is an important decision for dealers, as it can greatly influence the game’s outcome. The reason that the player's expectation decreases when the dealer must hit soft 17 is that even though the dealer will bust slightly more often when he hits compared to standing on 17, the times he doesn't bust he will more often end up with a hand that totals higher than 17. In a multi deck game, you should double down when the dealer shows between 3 and 6. When you are dealt a total of 9, double down when the dealer shows a card between 2 and 6 (any card below 7, not including the Ace). Against a dealer’s 4 upcard, you should play your. ” Whether the game is double-deck or six-deck, if the table stakes start at $10, $25 or $50, the dealers hit on soft 17. The live dealer studio by Evolution Gaming offers a game called Infinite Blackjack with the following pay table. When the dealer has a 17 total and the hand has an Ace in it (A-6, or A-3-3, or A-2-4) the Ace is automatically counted as a ‘1’ and not an ’11’. H = Hit. In every blackjack game, the dealer either stands on Soft 17 or higher, or hits Soft 17, which means they can only stand on Hard 17, plus any 18 or more. Split system - The player can't split his hand if dealt a pair. Double down on soft 19 against a dealer 6 upcard. s17 = dealer must stand on soft 17 h17 = dealer must hit soft 17. Resplit aces. Player should Double Down. Does a dealer hit on soft 17? But against players still in action at the end, a dealer who is on soft 17 cannot win and a dealer who hits. PLAYING STRATEGY. He then took another hit and received a 4 for what is now a hard 17! The programming logic should have stood at this point. Winning insurance bets pay 2 to 1. Players can figure out whether or not the soft 17 rule is in effect for the dealer by finding the rule written on the virtual table online, or by asking a croupier at land-based venues. Dealer stands on "soft" 17, meaning that if it's 7 OR 17, then dealer stands. Even money is not available on single-deck. No “surrender” allowed. Dealers must take a “hit” on all totals of 16 or less. Joined: May 15, 2012. • “Dealer Must Hit Soft 17” - This means that the dealer will hit their hand up to and including an ace or aces that can be totaled as either 7 or 17. In most blackjack games at the casino, a dealer must take a card if he hits 16 or below and stand at 17 or above. Redoubling is only allowed on Hit soft 17 version. MISTAKE #3: MISPLAYING A MULTI-CARD SOFT 17. The changes in playing strategy for an h17 game (meaning dealer must hit soft 17) for a typical 6-deck game are: Double down an 11 against a dealer Ace. • “Dealer Must Hit Soft 17” - This means that the dealer will hit their hand up to and including an ace or aces that can be totaled as either 7 or 17. Again, not a joyous outlook but far less gloomy when the dealer must stand on than hit soft 17. In certain. Double down if you have 11 and the dealer holds an Ace. Your actions in Blackjack are not just limited to drawing cards or sticking with what you are initially dealt. Hard Hands. If the casino dealer gets to hit a soft 17 then we have some different decisions from most charts out there and they all involve the ace: Double 11 versus ace. A7- dealer stands. Substituting an "H17" rule with an "S17" rule in a game benefits the player, decreasing the house edge by about 0. A second rule of thumb in basic strategy is to always hit a soft 17. Some casinos require their dealers to hit on soft 17, while others require them to stand. Blackjack pays 3 to 2. Hit soft 17 or Stand on all 17’s. Find Here Home Guides Does Dealer Hit on a Soft 17 in Blackjack? by mahi zahid September 19, 2022 in Guides 0 0 0 Ever since Blackjack was introduced to the. Pair of Nines – stand vs dealer’s 7. 6: Hit if s17. The house edge remains at 0. Welcome to the beauty of casino-marketing. Double when you have a soft 18 against a dealer’s 2. This is called a “Stand 17” game. e. If the dealer has a Soft 17 (for example, A6 or A42) they are normally required to stand. Dealer Must Hit on Soft 17: In some games, the dealer must hit on what is known as a “soft 17. Double-Double Down (only allowed when dealer hits soft 17). Look out for a sign on the table that says “Blackjack Pays 6:5”. Some casinos require the dealer to hit on a soft 17, while others mandate the dealer to stand. Online Blackjack. Description. RSA = aces can be resplit. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge against a basic strategy player is about two-tenths of a percent higher than if he stands. 17 versus ace is surrender instead of stand. If, however, the rules state that the dealer must stand then you should also stand against the 6. This is called a “Hit 17” game. Players cannot handle or. Single Deck Blackjack: Dealer Hits on Soft 17. The following rules apply in a single-deck blackjack strategy: The dealer shuffles a 52-card deck once at the beginning of the game. If the dealer had to stand on all 17s, the house edge would be significantly decreased. Typical blackjack games, the dealer must hit on 16 and stand on 17 (or hit soft 17). The rule soft 17 means the dealers have to hit when they land a soft 17 hand. This is because a soft 17 is a hand which contains an ace and a 6 and taking a hit can only. Fortunately for players, the playing strategy against a dealer’s ten upcard is nearly the same for any number of decks of cards or mix of playing rules, with only a few exceptions discussed below. You should also double down if you have a soft 19 and the dealer has. Dealer must stand on soft 17. Players may wager up to. That's why so many casinos changed their rules from S17 (casino stands on soft 17) to H17. In some casinos or game versions, if a dealer is dealt a soft 17 (an ace plus cards totaling six additional points) he must also hit. That practically means that with a soft 17 hand, the dealer. Figures given are average win or loss per $1 of your original wager. Player is dealt a Soft 18. Blackjack pays 6 to 5. Others have given you the correct answer to your basic question, but it doesn't really seem like people covered exactly WHY. If the two cards add up to 17 to 21, the dealer must "Stand". The player may switch a card between hands. It's covered by the queen but it appears the board says "Dealer must hit soft 17". Blackjack Dealer Must Hit Soft 17, Prestigecasinoeventsfl, Electronic Roulette Shreveport, Joker Online Casino Malaysia, Ce Inseamna SlotThe dealer must hit soft 17 or less. The changes in playing strategy for an h17 game (meaning dealer must hit soft 17) for a typical 6-deck game are: Double down an 11 against a dealer Ace. The dealer can't stand on 15/16, they must hit, even if all players at the table have already busted or stood with a lower total (unless every single player busted/surrendered, which instantly ends the. ) Single Deck. Here, the dealer must always be on all 17s, and you can split up to three times to make four sets of hands. Hit on 8 or less. Redoubling is only allowed on Hit soft 17 version. It says either “The dealer must hit soft 17” or “The dealer must draw to 16 and stand. The dealer must continue to be dealt cards until the total is 17 or more, at which point the dealer must stand. Figures given are average win or loss per $1 of your original wager. After all, there is no risk of busting when they stand on the hand. As I've said many times, the above strategy will be fine under any set of rules. For the player, this increases their odds. The dealer must hit if the value of the hand is lower than 17, otherwise the dealer will stand. 6 decks. That’s thanks to the advantage of going second and making decisions based on your position. , a 17 with an ace currently counting as 1, not 11) vary; in some places, the dealer has to hit on soft 17, in others he stands. The Soft 17 rule is applicable at virtually all casinos for which there are two prime variations. • Double down hard 11 against a dealer ace. The respective differences are 0. For instance, if the dealer’s up-card is low, players may choose to hit and draw another card to improve. The showdown is dictated by comparing the player's and dealer's best hand values. Dealer must hit soft 17: A "soft" hand is a hand that involves an ace. Players can figure out whether or not the soft 17 rule is in effect for the dealer by finding the rule. This means that the dealer must hit when holding an Ace and a six for a total of 17 points. Players must clearly scratch the table felt with their hand to receive a hit card. You should surrender. Ruby Slots Bonus Chip, Dealer Must Hit Soft 17 Blackjack. SP. MULTI-DECK GAME WITH S17 AND DAS. You can bet on the player, banker or a tie. 8,8 versus ace is surrender instead. This double zero unfortunately reduces the odds of you winning, with the house edge of this game being 5, casino hit on soft 17. The net expected loss is 17. The theory behind hitting on soft 17 is that if the player has a five or six card hand that is equal to or better than the dealer’s hand, then the player should hit. Double down against dealer’s 3 and 5. This is known as a ‘H17’ game – and is the most common rule variation for blackjack. a. A dealer is importing the restricted air gun as agent for an individual who has a special reason for importing that item. 84 per $100 bet. SP. Table of Contents. Try to get as close to 21 without going over (busting). There are bigger problems with the rules in this program; for example, a player total of 21. The insurance stake must not exceed half the original stake and is paid at 2-1 if the Dealer obtains a Blackjack. Without knowledge of the rules, you won’t know the right move to make. Dealer’s hitting a soft 17 would increase the house edge, which indicates that it is way better than standing. Dealer must hit soft 17. If the dealer hits a soft 17, you should double down on an 11 if the dealer is showing an ace. After the number of decks used. Tom. The dealer must hit soft 17 or less. Since every. If your hand is higher than the dealer's or the dealer busts, you win! Click the chips on the bottom right to get started. In certain blackjack variations, the dealer must stand in this scenario, and in others, they must hit. Ever. However, it's fractionally less when the dealer must hit soft 17. Because I specifically choose the option for the dealer to hit soft 17's the dealer then took a hit and received a 6 for a total of 13. The ace can count as 1 or 11. Every casino establishes its guidelines dictating how the dealer approaches their blackjack hand, such as directing them to hit on a soft 17 (an ace and a six). Player has soft 18, dealer shows a 2: Basic strategy says to stand if the dealer stands on soft 17, and double if the dealer hits soft 17. ) but let's talk. At the end of the game, if your count is the same as the Dealer’s it is a Stand-Off (nobody wins). he highest concentration of casinos and slot machines in the United States can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada. 10-2 vs. The Gomorrah and Vikki & Vance Casinos: Decent odds with a 3 to 2 payout, plus the dealer must hit soft 17. Warning: on some tables, the bank will keep hitting if he has a 17 including an Ace (such as Ace/6 or As/2/4 for example), also called “soft 17”. The rule states that a dealer must always hit on a soft 17 rather than stand. If one deck is in play and the dealer must hit soft 17, surrendering is advisable against tens and aces when you have 7-7. According to the second variation of house rules, a dealer must hit if he gets a ’soft 17’. 2% which doesn't sound like a lot but it is significant. Here's another tip. 12 if you double and $1. in the end I. The dealer’s standing on soft 17 rule is whether or not the dealer must hit on a soft 17 (which is an ace and a six). A dealer wishes to replace an unsafe or unserviceable. • All wagers must be in the specified minimums and maximums displayed at the table are per box. In other games, the dealer must hit on any Soft 17. Dealer must hit soft 17 You can split ace pairs, and get an additional card for each but aren’t allowed to split the hands further. An ace can be worth either 1 or 11, which is decided by the player that receives the ace. Tyler Software means our proprietary software, including any integrations, custom modifications, and/or other related interfaces identified in the Investment Summary and licensed by us to you through this Agreement. No, I’m saying that if the rule is that the dealer is never forced to stand on soft 17, then it’s to the player’s advantage to make hitting soft 17 mandatory (“dealer must hit”) rather than optional (“dealer may hit”). Hitting soft 17 increases the house edge by 0. Minimum and maximum table limits are posted at each table. 5. The following color-coded chart summarizes the strategy for playing a two-card 10 (including 5-5). This rather innocuous rule doesn’t appear to be a big deal to most players but, in fact, it is. SP. 2%. In most blackjack games at the casino, a dealer must take a card if he hits 16 or below and stand at 17 or above. So what exactly is a soft 17? In Blackjack, a soft 17 is when the dealer has an Ace and 6, which can be counted as either 7 or 17. The house will win when players bust, regardless of the final dealer hand. The dealer must Hit Soft 17 and must stand on All 17s. The rule soft 17 means the dealers have to hit when they land a soft 17 hand. Splitting is allowed if the player is dealt with two cards which are the same (a pair). As a matter of fact, this particular segment of the game is so important that the rule is typically written on the layout of the table. 4: Hit. If the dealer has a hard 17, they must stay. Standing. On a hit soft 17 game, it’s $1. As a player, you can do virtually whatever you like with your hand, but the dealer must act according to a simple rule. But what. In other situations, the dealer stands on soft or hard 17. Stand on all hard totals of 17 or higher. This is regardless if it was one of the initial cards or if it was subsequently hit. Tie hands are considered a “push” — nobody wins. This is called a “Stand 17” game. Never hit if you have a hard 17. Hit 16 against a dealer with a ten-value card or Ace, otherwise surrender if allowed. For the last 4-5 years (perhaps longer) they ABSOLUTELY stand on hard 17, and HIT on soft 17's. Dealer must hit soft 17. Once the dealer's hand totals 17 or higher, they must stand and cannot take any. <5 cards pays 2:1 5 is 4:1 6 is 15:1 7 is 50:1 8+ is 250:1 However, it seems like it's potentially possible for a dealer to bust with as many as 13 cards in this scenario. The player has an edge if the casino dealer has to stand on soft 17. Here’s what the different moves stand for:. Player goes first, and might bust. On the other hand, when the dealer stands, the player’s odds of winning increase to 52. Stand on soft totals of 18 unless the dealer is showing high cards like 9, 10, and Ace. However, in some variants of blackjack, the dealer is required to hit on soft 17, which means that the dealer must hit if they have a 17 that includes an Ace. If the dealer’s hand is less than 17 on the open, they must hit. If an ace can act as an 11 without putting the hand over 21, it is treated as so, otherwise it’s 1. This rule generally gives a slight additional edge to the house, so avoid it where possible by choosing another table or game variation. Double-deck game with soft 17, you hold 15, dealer’s upcard is an ace. SP. You should hit, not double, when the dealer shows a 2. • Split 6-6 against a dealer 7. The dealer must count their ace as 11. If the dealer goes over 21 points, then any player who didn't already bust will win. It is soft when it’s an Ace, and the value of another card is lower than 10. However, there are general rules, namely: The dealer can’t make bets. The. The two main criteria that affect the exact strategy to be used in a blackjack game are number of decks used and whether the dealer has to stand or hit on soft 17. In the end, if your point total is higher than that of theThis is just out of interest guys! Maybe about 10 years ago, casinos introduced a hitting soft 17 rule which has increased its edge over fellow punters that nowadays the majority of blackjack games offered at casinos now employ the hit soft 17 rule which adds another 0. The major difference between standard Blackjack is the payouts on Bonus hands, so hitting and standing strategies may be slightly different: Let’s say you have a hand with a value of 15 points, and the dealer is showing a Four. · Player can Hit after Doubling. The big factor is ace-up. Dealer must hit soft 17: A "soft" hand is a hand that involves an ace. 10-2 vs. This is because the dealer has two chances to make a stiff hand of 17 or better. Single-deck blackjack has the lowest house edge among variations: Games, where the dealer must hit on soft 17s (ace-six hand, where the ace is counted as 11) and allows players to resplit aces,. The dealer must stand on 17 (or more) both hard and soft. Rules. “ To. S17 = dealer must stand on all 17s, including soft 17 (A-6). Finally, always double down on a soft 18 if the dealer has a 2. When casino rules require that their dealers must hit soft 17 rather than stand, it’s because the house edge increases, meaning hitting a soft 17 is better for the dealer than. Hitting Soft 17. 10-2 vs. This makes doubling down against a weak dealer 6 upcard in an H17 game better than standing. Blackjack pays 3 to 2.