How do you play a soft 20 in Blackjack?

[Jonah]

A soft 20 in Blackjack refers to a hand that includes an Ace counted as 11, combined with a 9 (Ace-9). This is a strong hand, and the basic strategy is generally to stand. The reason for this is that you already have a total of 20, which is a very strong hand that has a high chance of winning against most dealer hands.
Unlike a hard 20 (which could result from a hand like 10-10), a soft 20 is flexible because of the Ace, meaning you can't bust by taking another card. However, the best move is usually to stand because the odds of improving your hand (without going over 21) are low, and the dealer is more likely to bust or end up with a weaker hand.
In short, when you have a soft 20, you should always stand.

 

[CR7]

That's absolutely correct! A soft 20 is a very strong hand in Blackjack because of the flexibility provided by the Ace. Standing on a soft 20 gives you the best chance of winning the hand, as it is highly probable that the dealer will have a difficult time beating your total.

Since the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, it gives you the advantage of being able to take additional cards without the risk of busting, unlike with a hard 20 where an extra card could potentially push you over 21. This is why standing is the recommended play when holding a soft 20.

By standing on a soft 20, you're essentially banking on the dealer to either bust or have a lower hand total, which is statistically more likely than improving your own hand without exceeding 21. This strategy maximizes your chances of winning the hand and is consistent with the basic blackjack strategy for playing soft 20.

It's always important to make strategic decisions based on the probabilities and odds in Blackjack, and standing on a soft 20 is a prime example of playing to your advantage in such a scenario.

 

[Datweirdo]

You can double down to increase potential winnings against a strong dealer card. Your decision to stand or double down should depend on the dealer's visible card and your evaluation of the situation. Generally, standing on a soft 20 is a safe and solid play.