What Is a Hard Total in Blackjack?
Getting an idea of what is a hard total in blackjack can help you develop a strategy that will make you a winner. It is important to understand the difference between a hard and soft hand, as these two types of hands play differently. These two types of hands also have different rules for optimal blackjack playing.
The basic difference between a hard and soft total is that a hard hand has no Ace in it. A soft hand, however, has an Ace that can be counted as either one or eleven. This is because a soft hand can change its total without risking busting.
Soft hands are considered the better of the two types, because they allow you to play with more flexibility. They also allow you to get a stronger hand against the dealer’s upcard. They also are less likely to bust, but you may need to take one or more hits to improve your total. A soft hand also has the advantage of allowing you to make an estimate of the dealer’s total. This helps you to determine whether or not you should hit, stand, or double down.
The best way to handle a hard total is to follow basic strategy. If you are dealt a soft hand with a total of seventeen or less, you should always hit. If you are dealt a hard hand with a total of eleven or more, you should double down. However, you should never surrender a hard total.
Blackjack rules are slightly more complicated when dealing with twelve to seventeen hard totals. This is because the dealer must stand on a hard total of seventeen or less. This rule is also known as the H17 rule, and it adds an extra 0.22% to the house edge. In addition to the H17 rule, you should also never hit an Ace when the dealer has a soft total. You should double down on any two upcards that the dealer has.
The H17 rule is not to be confused with the Split rule, which is only applicable when the first two cards are of equal value. In this case, you can double your wager and split your hand into two separate hands.
The H17 rule is one of the best rules in blackjack, because it adds a little more incentive to hit a hard total. You should also double down on any two upcards that have the same value as the dealer’s up card. This is particularly beneficial for pair of eights. However, the strategy for hitting a hard total is to stand until the total is reached, and you should not hit a hard total if the dealer has a soft total of eleven or more.
You should also hit when the dealer’s up card is six or nine. However, you should double down when the dealer’s up card is a three, a five, or a six. This is because your total is nine and you should double down before you take one more card.