Hard Hand vs Soft Hand in Blackjack What Is The Difference?

There are two types of hard hand in blackjack: those without aces, and those with an ace. If a hand has an ace, it’s classed as a hard hand when the ace counts as 1. This rule applies so you don’t risk to go over 21. For example, if you have a 10, a 3 and an ace, the hand is hard. Let’s break it down. If your ace counts as 11, the value of your hand would be 24 (10+3+11) and you would “bust” or be out of the game because you would go over 21; but, if your ace counts as 1, your hand value would total to 14 (10+3+1), meaning that you are still in the game. At this point you can decide to “hit” (you are dealt another card) or “stand” (you end the game and wait to see if the dealer can beat your 14 or if you beat the dealer).

An example of a hard hand without an ace is a 10 and a 6, which would make a hard 16. This is one of the trickiest hands in blackjack, because your chances of winning are drastically reduced. But no hope is lost! Make sure to look at the rules of a hard 16 hand to learn what you should do in this situation, and turn the game back in your favour.

So does it mean that every time you are dealt cards without an ace you have a hard hand? The answer is no. Your hand is not considered hard if you can add another card to your hand without going to bust. This happens when you have low value cards in your hand, such as a 2 or a 3. You then decide to hit and no matter what your third card is, you won’t be going over 21. Hard hands, are hands where there’s a risk of an extra card making you go bust. If you don’t know what to do when you are dealt a hard hand, make sure to check our article on blackjack strategies where you can find helpful information and game history on how to overcome this situation. Ultimately soft hands are probably more favourable as a blackjack hand.