How To Play Soft 18 In Blackjack
A soft 18 is a challenging hand in blackjack, confusing many of us about the chances of our next move. By examining what a soft 18 is and the statistical odds it presents in different situations, this page has been developed to guide your decision-making process. Remember, there are no sure things in blackjack, but there are ways to maximize your winning potential.
Table of Content:
- Soft 18 Explained
- Dealer’s Upcard Scenarios
- When to Hit Soft 18
- When to Stand on Soft 18
- When to Double Down on Soft 18
- FAQs
Soft 18 Explained
A soft 18 in blackjack is a hand totaling 18 that includes an ace, typically in your first two cards. This hand is called a soft 18 because its value is ‘soft’ or in other words, flexible. The ace can be valued as either 1 or 11, providing flexibility depending on whether you choose to hit, stay, or double on your next move.
An example of a soft 18 would be holding an ace and a seven, totaling 18 points with the ace valued as 11 and the 7 at face value. A soft 18 can also occur with more than two cards. For instance, a hand of 2-5-A or 3-4-A also totals a soft 18, with the ace counting as 11.
To help you understand your chances when playing a soft 18, we've included a selection of expected values. These are statistically calculated values that you're likely to see when you play, typically shortened to EV. EVs can illustrate both positive and negative values, with negative values indicating when you're at a disadvantage. The further the number from 0.0, the stronger the odds will be.
Dealer’s Upcard Scenarios
Dealer Showing a 3, 4, 5, or 6
If the dealer is showing a hand in the 3-6 range, the best move is to double down. This is because the combination of your cards and the dealer's cards places the dealer in an unfavourable position.
It might seem daunting, but a soft 18 performs well here, so the odds are on your side. For more specific odds, we could look at the EV chart of how doubling down works on a six-deck game against your soft 18:
| Dealer has a 5 | Dealer has a 6 | |
| Stand | 0.199 | 0.283 |
| Hit | 0.148 | 0.191 |
| Double | 0.295 | 0.381 |
As you can see, the EV when doubling is much greater than when you hit or stand.
Dealer Showing 2, 7, or 8
The best choice in this situation is for you to stand. The dealer is in a strong situation here, especially if they start with a 2.
| Dealer has a 2 | Dealer has a 7 | |
| Stand | 0.122 | 0.220 |
| Hit | 0.063 | 0.171 |
| Double | 0.120 | 0.400 |
Dealer Showing 9, 10, or Ace
In our final scenario, the dealer shows a 9, 10, or an ace. Statistically in this situation, your best option is to hit. This is because the dealer holds a lot of power here, and it’s up to the player to try to catch up. Looking at the EV chart for this scenario, the player’s expected value is in the negatives.
| Action | Dealer's Card | ||
| Ace | 9 | 10 | |
| Stand | -0.100 | -0.183 | -0.178 |
| Hit | -0.092 | -0.101 | -0.144 |
| Double | -0.362 | -0.290 | -0.347 |
While the odds of hitting are still not great, they are better than the other available options in this situation.
When to Hit Soft 18
The best time to hit on a soft 18 is when the dealer shows a 9, 10, or ace. This is not an ideal situation for you, with the EVs on all of your options in the negatives. Still, if you’ve come this far then you can’t back out. The most likely outcome here is a loss on your end, but, of course, the ultimate result is up to lady luck.
When to Stand on Soft 18
You should stand on a soft 18 when the dealer’s upcard is a 2, 7, or 8. At this point, your hand is strong and difficult to improve, while the dealer is more likely to either hit a 17 or bust.
In this situation, the odds of winning are slightly higher if you stand compared to doubling and significantly higher than if you hit. With positive EVs, the odds are in your favour.
When to Double Down on Soft 18
Doubling down is the best choice on a soft 18 when the dealer holds a 3, 4, 5, or 6. Doubling down here puts you in an extremely strong position, with some fantastic EV values on your side.
In a six-deck blackjack game, the EV of doubling against a dealer’s 6 reaches 0.381, a seriously valuable position in which to find yourself.
Thanks to this position, you’ve got strong odds to win a wager after doubling if you find the dealer with a 3-6 card against your soft 18.
FAQs
What do you do on soft 18 in blackjack?
On a soft 18 in blackjack, you should typically stand if the dealer’s upcard is 2, 7, or 8, and double down if the dealer’s upcard is 3 through 6. For other dealer upcards, hitting is generally the best option.
Should you ever hit soft 18?
Yes, it is worth hitting on a soft 18 if the dealer shows a 9, 10, or an ace. You’re still at a statistical disadvantage in this scenario, but hitting still represents the best option.
How do soft numbers work in blackjack?
A soft hand in blackjack is one that includes an ace, which can be counted as either 1 or 11. This flexibility and reduced risk of busting define why a score is considered soft.
Why double down on soft 18?
You should double down on a soft 18 if the dealer shows a 3-6. Making this move presents the best expected value for the player over the other options of stand or hit.
Learn about other blackjack strategies in our guides: