The Difference Between Hard and Soft Blackjack Hands – Which Hand Is Better?

How many of you know the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands? More experienced Blackjack players will definitely know. And if you are new to Blackjack, that's great, we have a lot to share with you!

How many of you know the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands? More experienced Blackjack players will definitely know. And if you are new to Blackjack, that’s great, we have a lot to share with you!

The concept of soft and hard hands in blackjack is just a part of the basic blackjack rules. Therefore, it’s one of the things that you have to know about before you start playing the game.

Blackjack is one of the most entertaining games at the casinos. The rules are easy and fast to learn and the whole process of playing is a lot of fun. Especially if you decided to play blackjack with friends. However, even if you joined the table all alone, you will still meet someone there. People from all walks of life enjoy playing blackjack, so, you won’t stay alone for sure. Yet, even if you started playing blackjack to just have fun, you would still love to win, right? And for it, knowing at least the basics is a must.

Let’s First Understand What a Soft Hand Is

Before we go directly to the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands, let’s first understand what each hand means. You might already know that at the beginning of the Blackjack game starts both the players and the dealer get two cards each. Basically, these two cards are your hand. In blackjack, the ace is 11 or 1. Depending on how the game goes, that can either be your highest-ranking card or the lowest. So, you have a soft hand if you have an ace as one of your cards. Remember, that is worth 11 or 1. If this happens, the possibility for you to bust is almost impossible.

What About the Hard Hand Then?

Well, now you know what a soft hand is, let’s view the concept of the hard hand too. And then we will finally dive deeper into the understanding difference between hard and soft blackjack hands. The hard hand in Blackjack has two types. The one that has aces and the one that has. Let’s view each.

The difference between hard and soft blackjack hands, blackjack types — Blackjack basics: What is Hard and Soft hand? Picture source: Pxfuel

The hand with an ace is viewed as a hard hand if the ace is worth 1. You need this rule so that you do not go over 21. Let’s say you have 10, 4, and an ace. Overall, it will make a 15, so, you can keep playing and decide which move to make next. However, if the ace was 11, then your total hand would equal 25 and you would just be out of the game.

Alternatively, you could have 10 and a 5 and no ace. Then, your hand in total would be hard 15. If you have this hand, the chances to win would be pretty low. So, you have to try hard to win with this hand. Yet, enough practice and knowledge can sometimes save you from hopeless situations. Therefore, make sure you have learned some of the best blackjack tips and tricks.

You might think now that once you get your cards and have no ace, you have a hard hand then. It’s not true. If you have a chance to add one more card and do not go bust, the hand is not hard. So, the hard hand is the one where taking an extra card is a risk to bust.

Difference Between Hard and Soft Blackjack Hands

Now as you know what both hands mean, you have an idea of the difference between hard and soft blackjack hands. Basically, hard hands do not have an ace. Or they might have an ace that is worth 1 only.

On the other hand, a soft hand is the one that involves an ace that is worth either 1 or 11. It just depends on what the player prefers. Once you start gaining more experience, you will face all types of situations at the blackjack. That can also include situations where a soft hand can turn into a hard hand.

Which Hand Type Is Better?

Most Blackjack players are interested in which hand is eventually better -soft or hard hand. We can say that soft hand is definitely giving more freedom, that’s why it’s more preferred.

You can change your hand’s total right until you feel like you have enough strength to play against the dealer. Hands like these give you a great opportunity for a better total. Besides, you do not risk busting on the next hit.

Yet, with good practice whatever hand you play, you will always play it way better. Work on your skills to be ready for any type of situation you encounter when playing the best online blackjack games. One of the ways you can practice is to just use bonuses that the websites are offering. Be cautious though, not every site is trustworthy enough to gamble and use bonuses from there. One of the best casinos that we can offer where you can feel totally secure is ! Try it out for the best experiences.