Soft hands and pairs require special strategies that many players get wrong.
Soft Hand Strategy:
• Soft 19-20 (A,8-A,9): Always stand - excellent hands
• Soft 18 (A,7): Stand vs 2,7,8 | Double vs 3-6 | Hit vs 9,10,A
• Soft 17 (A,6): Double vs 3-6, otherwise hit
• Soft 13-16: Double vs 5-6, otherwise hit
Why Hit Soft Hands?
• You can't bust! The ace becomes 1 if needed
• Opportunity to improve to strong totals (19-21)
Pair Splitting Strategy:
• Always Split: Aces and 8s
• Never Split: 10s, 5s, 4s
• Sometimes Split: Other pairs depend on dealer up card
Why Split Aces and 8s?
• Aces: Two chances at blackjack (21)
• 8s: 16 is the worst hand, splitting gives better chances