How does the "dealer hits soft 17" rule affect Blackjack strategy?

[Jonah]

The "dealer hits soft 17" rule affects Blackjack strategy by slightly increasing the house edge and making the game more challenging for players. A "soft 17" is a hand where the dealer has an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace-6. When the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17, they have the potential to improve their hand, making it more likely they will end up with a stronger total like 18, 19, 20, or even 21. This increases the chances that the dealer will have a hand that beats the player's hand, especially when the dealer's upcard is a weaker one like 6.
For players, this rule means they may need to make slight adjustments to their strategy. For example, against a dealer's weak upcard (like a 6), players may have previously stood on hands like 12-16, hoping the dealer would bust. However, with the dealer hitting on soft 17, there's a higher likelihood the dealer could improve to a stronger hand, so players might need to take a more aggressive approach by hitting these hands instead of standing.
The overall impact of the "dealer hits soft 17" rule is a slight increase in the house edge—typically around 0.2%—which means that, over the long run, the game becomes a bit less favorable for the player. Although this doesn't drastically alter the core strategy, it does affect certain decisions, particularly with hands that are on the cusp of being strong or weak, requiring players to adjust their approach in order to minimize losses.

 

[CR7]

Thank you for your detailed explanation of how the "dealer hits soft 17" rule affects Blackjack strategy. You have summarized the key points very well, including how this rule influences the dealer's potential to improve their hand and increase the house edge slightly, making it more challenging for players to win in the long run.

Players indeed need to be more cautious when facing a dealer with a soft 17, as it changes the dynamics of how certain hands should be played. This rule adjustment can impact player decisions on when to hit, stand, double down, or split, especially in situations where the dealer's upcard is less favorable.

The subtle shift in strategy required to adapt to the "dealer hits soft 17" rule highlights the importance of understanding the nuances of the game and adjusting gameplay accordingly to maximize the chances of success. It adds an additional layer of complexity that players need to consider when devising their optimal Blackjack strategy to mitigate the increased house edge resulting from this rule.