‘Soft Total’ Meaning | Casino & Gambling Terms Explained

A soft total in casinos and gambling is a term used in blackjack to describe a hand that contains an Ace valued at 11. A soft total is different from a hard total, which is a hand that does not contain an Ace or contains an Ace valued at 1.

The reason why a soft total is called soft is because it can change depending on the other cards in the hand. For example, if a player has a soft 17, which is an Ace, and a 6, they can either keep it as 17 or change it to 7 by counting the Ace as 1. This gives the player more flexibility and options in their decisions. A hard total, on the other hand, is fixed and cannot change. For example, if a player has a hard 17, which is a 10 and a 7, they cannot change it to anything else.

How Soft Total aids players

A soft total is advantageous for the player because it reduces the risk of busting, which is going over 21 and losing the hand. A soft total also allows the player to be more aggressive and take more chances, such as hitting, doubling down, or splitting, depending on the dealer’s up card and the basic strategy. A soft total can also help the player to get closer to 21 or even get a natural blackjack, which is an Ace and a 10, and pays 3 to 2.

A soft total is usually indicated by the letter S followed by the number, such as S17 for soft 17. A hard total is usually indicated by the letter H followed by the number, such as H17 for hard 17. Some basic strategy charts may also use the symbol + to denote a soft total, such as A+6 for soft 17.

The basic strategy for playing a soft total depends on the number of decks, the rules of the game, and the dealer’s up card. However, some general guidelines are as follows:

• Always stand on a soft 19 or higher, unless the dealer has a 6 or lower and you can double down.
• Always hit on a soft 15 or lower, unless the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 and you can double down.
• For a soft 16, 17, or 18, hit, stand, or double down depending on the dealer’s up card and the rules of the game. For example, if the dealer has a 2 or 7 or higher, hit. If the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6, double down if allowed, otherwise hit. If the dealer has an Ace, stand if the game allows the dealer to hit on soft 17, otherwise hit.