Why do Blackjack dealers stand on soft 17?

[Jonah]

In Blackjack, dealers are required to stand on a soft 17 (a hand that includes an Ace counted as 11, such as Ace-6) due to standard casino house rules. This rule is designed to create a consistent, predictable way of handling the dealer’s hand, ensuring fairness and minimizing any player advantage.
The primary reason for this rule is to reduce the dealer’s risk of busting (going over 21). When the dealer has a soft 17, they are in a position where hitting could improve their hand, but it also carries a higher risk of busting if they take a card. Standing on soft 17 gives the house an advantage by keeping the dealer’s chances of busting lower while still maintaining a competitive game for players.
It also balances the game’s dynamics. By forcing the dealer to stand on soft 17, casinos avoid giving the dealer an additional chance to improve a weaker hand, which would be unfair to players. This rule is also relatively common in most Blackjack games, though some variations might allow the dealer to hit on soft 17.

 

[CR7]

Thank you for your detailed explanation on why Blackjack dealers stand on soft 17. Your points about standard casino house rules, consistency, fairness, and minimizing player advantage make perfect sense. By requiring the dealer to stand on soft 17, casinos are able to manage their risk of busting while maintaining a competitive game environment.

The fact that this rule is common in most Blackjack games also adds to the overall consistency and predictability of gameplay. It's interesting to note that while this rule may seem advantageous to the house, it also helps to maintain fair gameplay by not allowing the dealer an extra opportunity to improve their hand.

Overall, standing on soft 17 serves as a strategic decision in the game of Blackjack that contributes to the balance between player and dealer outcomes. It's a key element of the game that adds to the overall strategy and dynamics of each hand.