How to Play a Soft 16 in Blackjack

Blackjack has been played for centuries, with the general consensus placing its origins in French casinos in the 1700s. Players today are no less passionate than they were 300 years ago when the game was new. Its enduring popularity is easy to explain: blackjack is simple to play but more challenging to master, and a player’s efforts to learn the game pay off. This is rather unique among the table games of chance that are typically found in casinos worldwide. Before you dive in, however, there are a few things you need to know about the game. In this article, we’ll discuss how to play soft 16s in blackjack.

‘Soft’ hands in blackjack are hands that contain an ace. They are referred to as soft because the dual value of the ace makes it a more flexible play than ‘hard’ hands. Note here that flexibility doesn’t always translate to strength, however, and the blackjack soft 16 hand is a great example of this. While soft hands present players with more options than hard hands, a soft 16 in particular is a rather weak option because players will almost always hit on a 16 or lower. It just doesn’t add much value to your hand.

Now that we know the basics, let’s discuss what to do with a soft 16 in blackjack. For most players, doubling down and hitting are the most popular options.

What is the difference between a hard 16 and a soft 16?

You can play both hard 16s and soft 16s in blackjack. ‘Hard’ hands stand in direct contrast to soft hands as they offer very little, if any, flexibility because they do not contain an ace. A hard 16 is a hand that totals 16 using combinations such as 10-6, 4-4-8 and 7-9, to name just a few.

Doubling down on a soft 16

Understanding when to stand and when to double down is often the difference between a frustrating session and a triumphant one. If you are dealt a soft 16, doubling down is an excellent option that allows players to whittle down the house edge in their favour – as long as the dealer’s upcard is a three through six. This range increases the likelihood that the dealer’s hand is weak, giving players the advantage. If the card is any other value, however, you might want to consider hitting instead.

Hitting and standing on a soft 16

If the dealer’s upcard is a seven or higher or a two, the likelihood of a strong dealer hand increases. This means that players need an even higher hand to win. In blackjack, hitting soft 16s is often the only viable option when you can’t double down.

You may be wondering, ‘Do I stand with a soft 16 in blackjack?’ In short, no. 16 is not a strong enough hand to stand on and greatly diminishes your chances of winning the game. Unless the dealer goes bust, they will likely win against a 16. Doubling down and hitting are generally the only options for soft 16s.

Probabilities of success with a soft 16

Here are some of our favourite blackjack soft 16 tips for live casino gaming to make mastering the game a bit easier.

To reiterate, doubling down is the best option when the dealer has an upcard of three, four, five or six. Your chances of winning increase accordingly and incrementally, with a 41% chance with an upcard of three and a 50% likelihood at six. Why does doubling down work so well with a dealer upcard of three through six? It’s because drawing a five, six, seven or eight can give you a strong hand depending on whether you use your ace as a one or an 11. This flexibility increases your chances of winning.

If the dealer has a two or a seven or higher, hitting is a better choice. You want to hit against a two rather than doubling down because the dealer’s position isn’t weak enough for the latter to work. Hitting against a seven or higher is the only option because the dealer is likely to reach a 17 or more with these upcards. Standing is not an option here – you can only double down (and maximise your profits against a three through six) or hit (giving you a chance to increase your total).

Are you ready to dive in? LeoVegas has everything you need to get started!

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