Understanding the Blackjack Soft 17 Rule at the Casino – Can the Dealer Hit?

A soft 17 is any hand in blackjack totalling 17 that contains an ace. It’s called “soft” since aces are flexible, counting as either 1 or 11. While players can use this flexibility to their advantage, dealers must follow the soft 17 rule, which requires them to either hit or stand.

This small rule variation can dramatically shift the odds in or out of your favor. Knowing what soft 17 means and how it affects your strategy is essential before you sit down at a blackjack table. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is a Soft 17 in Blackjack?

For players, a soft 17 is a relatively safe hand, thanks to the ace counting as either 1 or 11. For example, an ace and a six can total either 7 or 18. If a new card pushes that total over 21, the ace simply switches to 1 to avoid a bust.

This flexibility makes soft hands safer than hard ones (i.e. hands without an ace or where the ace must count as a 1), allowing you to play more aggressively.

When a player has a hand of 17, they can decide whether to hit or stand as they please. However, when the dealer has a 17, whether they hit or stand is determined by the soft 17 rule.

Does the Blackjack Dealer Hit or Stay on 17?

Most online and land-based casinos have house rules for how blackjack dealers play. The most common setup is as follows:

• Stand on a hand of 17 or higher
• Hit on a hand of 16 or less

However, the soft 17 rule adds a twist. Most casinos have the dealer stand on a soft 17, meaning they cannot use their ace to its full advantage the same way the player can. But, when the rule changes to “dealer hits on a soft 17,” the dealer now has more chances to improve their hand. This one change gives the house a slightly bigger edge, which is never good news for players.

So, the first basic strategy for blackjack is to check the table rules before you sit down. If you see the dealer hitting on soft 17, it’s usually smart to walk away and find a table that treats 17 as a hard stop. Otherwise, understand you’re playing at a disadvantage and adjust your strategy accordingly.

How Your Strategy Changes Based on Soft 17

Think of basic blackjack strategy as your blueprint at the table. It’s a set of moves designed to cover every possible hand you might get and every card the dealer might show. It won’t guarantee wins, but it will help you minimize mistakes and keep the house edge as low as possible. You can check out our Blackjack Basic Strategy Guide for the scenarios in which you should hit, stand, double down, or split.

But keep in mind that the strategy depends on the blackjack variant you’re playing – whether it employs the Soft 17 Rule or not. If the dealer stands on a soft 17, the game is generally better for players. You don’t need to make as many adjustments, since the dealer is stopping earlier and giving away a bit of their edge.  

But if the dealer hits on a soft 17, things change. The house has a stronger hand in the long run, so you’ll need to tweak your own decisions to balance it out. These adjustments mostly show up in how you handle soft hands and doubling down opportunities.

Key Adjustments to Remember (If the Dealer Hits on Soft 17):

• Double down on 11 vs. dealer ace.
• Double down on soft 19 vs. dealer 6.
• Double down on soft 18 vs. dealer 2.
• Hit a soft 18 vs. dealer ace in single-deck games.
• In 4+ deck games: double down on soft 17 vs. dealer 2.

These may look like small tweaks, but they’re important. Knowing when to shift gears at tables where the dealer hits on soft 17, keeps you close to optimal play.

How House Edge Changes Based on Soft 17

The average house edge for blackjack (when playing with a perfect strategy) is roughly 0.5%. However, when the dealer hits a soft 17 instead of standing on it, the house edge goes up to 0.2%. While this may not seem like much, the difference is huge in the long run.

For example, let’s say a game has a house edge of 0.56%, meaning the house is mathematically expected to win 56 cents. If your average bet size is $20, and you play 70 hands per hour, then your expected hourly loss is as follows:

• $20/hand x 70 hands/hour x 0.56% = $7.84/hour

If the dealer hits a soft 17 instead of standing on it, the house edge jumps to 0.2%. Let’s see what that means for you:

• $20/hand x 70 hands/hour x 0.2% = $10.64/hour

With this slight change, your average hourly loss increases 1.5 times from $7.84 to $10.64. For more information on understanding the house edge, check out the page below. 

Who Benefits the Most from the Soft 17 Rule?

Some players believe the soft 17 rule helps them because the dealer is more likely to bust. While that’s technically true, the dealer’s hand also improves often enough to outweigh the extra busts.

According to Mike Aponte’s example, if a dealer hits on a soft 17, their chance of busting only goes up by 0.4%. However, their odds of finishing with a total of 18–21 tick upward by 0.8%. 

The math is clear: the soft 17 rule gives the casino a stronger edge, not the player. So, it’s your best options to stick to tables where the dealer stands.

Mastering the Blackjack Soft 17 Rule at the Casino

Mastering the soft 17 rule is one of the smartest ways to protect your bankroll in blackjack. The difference might look small, but over time, even fractions of a percent add up and cut into your profits. That’s why knowing whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 should be the first thing you check when sitting at a table.

Once you’ve mastered this rule, the next step is to learn about other concepts that can shape your long-term results. For example, you may want to learn things like how insurance works in blackjack and similar.