In Blackjack, the distinction between a soft and a hard hand relates to the presence of an Ace. A hard hand is one where the Ace counts as only one point, which means there’s no flexibility in values; for example, a hand of 10 and 6 totals 16. Conversely, a soft hand includes an Ace counted as eleven, allowing for more flexibility in how the hand can be played; for instance, a hand of Ace and 7 is considered a soft 18. The presence of a soft hand typically provides more strategic options, as it reduces the risk of busting when drawing additional cards.