<p>According to <a href="http://www.readybetgo.com/blackjack/strategy/soft-17-rule-2496.html" rel="nofollow">this site</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Any blackjack hand that contains an ace counted as an 11 is a soft hand.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So it does not matter when the ace entered the hand.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-27T05:51:38.927Z
There are enough variations out there though that I can't guarantee this version is universal - does anyone else know more?
Benjamin Cosman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-27T05:50:07.330Z
2016-10-27T05:50:07.330Z
Benjamin Cosman
<p>This answer is yes, a total arrived at with an ace counted as 11 is a "soft total,." </p>

<p>This comes into play with the <a href="http://www.readybetgo.com/blackjack/strategy/soft-17-rule-2496.html" rel="nofollow">"soft seventeen"</a> rule that reduces a player's expectation slightly (by 0.2%). This happens with a hand if a 1 makes it a 7, and an 11 makes it a 17. (The two starting cards might have been 3-3, 4-2, or 5-A).</p>

<p>Normally, a dealer needs to stand on a "hard" 17. With a "soft 17," that includes an ace, s/he must redraw, and possibly make a hand higher than 17. This increases the dealer's chance of beating a player who hasn't busted.</p>

<p>If a player has starting cards totalling 11 or higher (e.g. 7-4), an A makes it a "hard" 12, because if you count the A as an 11, the player busts.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-27T21:48:53.007Z
2016-10-28T16:18:16.867Z
2016-10-28T16:18:16.867Z
Tom Au
<p>In Blackjack, is the dealer's hand considered soft if he hits himself with an ace after dealing himself a hand which did not initially have an ace?</p>

<p>To clarify alternatively, is it only soft if his initial hand has an ace or is it <em>always</em> soft so long as he acquires an ace at any point in time (other than blackjack of course)?</p>

<blackjack>
Is the dealer's hand considered soft if he hits himself with an ace?
Zhro
# Is the dealer's hand considered soft if he hits himself with an ace?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-27)

In Blackjack, is the dealer's hand considered soft if he hits himself with an ace after dealing himself a hand which did not initially have an ace?

To clarify alternatively, is it only soft if his initial hand has an ace or is it *always* soft so long as he acquires an ace at any point in time (other than blackjack of course)?

**Tags:** blackjack


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-10-27. Score: 2

According to [this site](http://www.readybetgo.com/blackjack/strategy/soft-17-rule-2496.html):

> Any blackjack hand that contains an ace counted as an 11 is a soft hand.

So it does not matter when the ace entered the hand.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are enough variations out there though that I can't guarantee this version is universal - does anyone else know more?  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-27. Score: 2

This answer is yes, a total arrived at with an ace counted as 11 is a "soft total,."

This comes into play with the ["soft seventeen"](http://www.readybetgo.com/blackjack/strategy/soft-17-rule-2496.html) rule that reduces a player's expectation slightly (by 0.2%). This happens with a hand if a 1 makes it a 7, and an 11 makes it a 17. (The two starting cards might have been 3-3, 4-2, or 5-A).

Normally, a dealer needs to stand on a "hard" 17. With a "soft 17," that includes an ace, s/he must redraw, and possibly make a hand higher than 17. This increases the dealer's chance of beating a player who hasn't busted.

If a player has starting cards totalling 11 or higher (e.g. 7-4), an A makes it a "hard" 12, because if you count the A as an 11, the player busts.


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