Wager Mage
Photo by Max Vakhtbovych Pexels Logo Photo: Max Vakhtbovych

What is a soft 17 in blackjack?

A soft 17 includes an Ace being counted as 11. Ace-6 is a soft 17, as are Ace-2-4, Ace-3-3, Ace-Ace-5 and others. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge against a basic strategy player is about two-tenths of a percent higher than if he stands.

Is a gambler happy?
Is a gambler happy?

The results of analytic research also showed that the elderly who gambled recreationally were much happier, less depressed, and had higher self-...

Read More »
Is $1 an hour raise good?
Is $1 an hour raise good?

If you get a raise of $1 per hour, whether by getting a promotion or changing jobs, you get that dollar every hour you work. That's why measuring...

Read More »

How Does a Dealer’s Decision to Stand or Hit on a Soft 17 Affect You?

By John Grochowski on Wednesday October 12, 2016

Not all blackjack games are created equal. There’s a set of mix-and-match rules, and you’ll find different combinations in different casinos. Sometimes you’ll even find different combinations at different tables within the same casino. One key variation comes on whether dealers hit or stand on soft 17. A soft 17 includes an Ace being counted as 11. Ace-6 is a soft 17, as are Ace-2-4, Ace-3-3, Ace-Ace-5 and others. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge against a basic strategy player is about two-tenths of a percent higher than if he stands.

That brought a question from a reader, who wondered why.

“Does the dealer bust more often if he stands on soft 17?” the reader wrote. “If not, then why does the house edge increase when the dealer hits soft 17?

Dealers do not bust more often when standing on soft 17. After all, there is no risk of busting when they stand on the hand. When the dealer stands on all 17s, he busts about 29.1 percent of the time, and that increases to 29.6 if he hits soft 17. However, a dealer who stands on soft 17 can’t improve the hand. That’s important because if a player makes a hand of 17 or better, the best the dealer can do is push. Hitting soft 17 gives the dealer the chance to make the 18, 19, 20 and 21 hands that can win on their own against a player pat hand. This comes into play most often when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace and basic strategy players hit until they have 17 or better. The house will win when players bust, regardless of the final dealer hand. But against players still in action at the end, a dealer who stands on soft 17 can’t win and a dealer who hits soft 17 can. If the dealer’s up card is 6 – or lower in the case of a soft 17 consisting of three or more cards – some standing hands will be 16 or less. A dealer who stands on soft 17 can beat them. But against players with two-card totals of 17 or more, the situation is the same as above: A dealer who stands on soft 17 can’t win and a dealer who hits soft 17 can.

What is the best and safest gambling site?
What is the best and safest gambling site?

Best Gambling Sites Super Slots: Best gambling app. BetOnline: Top pick for sports betting. Bitstarz: Best for crypto gamblers. Slots.lv: Great...

Read More »
Can I play DraftKings if I live in Florida?
Can I play DraftKings if I live in Florida?

To give a quick answer, no. Draftkings Sportsbook is not legal in the state of Florida. Florida state law has yet to change to accommodate the...

Read More »

Which country is best at sports?

Brazil, the host of those Olympic Games, is the second most athletically talented country, having won the most FIFA World Cup Championships to date. ... The 10 Most Athletic Countries in the World. Athletic Rank Country Name Best Countries Overall Rank 1 Russia 24 2 Brazil 20 3 South Africa 31 4 Argentina 40 6 more rows •

Every two years, the countries of the world compete in the Olympic Games, a time to celebrate friendly rivalry and battle over which country breeds the most talented athletes. According to data from the 2016 Best Countries rankings – a characterization of 60 countries based on a survey of more than 16,000 people from four regions – Russia is the most "athletically talented" country in the world. The nation – home of tennis player Maria Sharapova and figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, to name a few – ranks second in all-time Olympic medals when combined with results from when it was part of the Soviet Union. In November, the country submitted to a full and indefinite ban from world athletics in the wake of a doping scandal, calling into question their athletes' eligibility for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Brazil, the host of those Olympic Games, is the second most athletically talented country, having won the most FIFA World Cup Championships to date. Below are the 10 countries perceived to be the most athletic, according to data from the 2016 Best Countries rankings.

What color is a $10000 chip?
What color is a $10000 chip?

You're starting to sit in on some high-stakes cash games when stacks of the purple chips are at the table. Purple is often an indicator of $500...

Read More »
What does Brick mean NY?
What does Brick mean NY?

Very cold Very cold or almost freezing, e.g. “I'm not going out tonight – it's brick out there!”

Read More »
What happens if bonus is not paid within 180 days?
What happens if bonus is not paid within 180 days?

What happens if the bonus isn't paid within 180 days? The deduction for the bonus will be denied and therefore included as part of corporate...

Read More »
Can a goalkeeper save a penalty twice?
Can a goalkeeper save a penalty twice?

Most notably, neither the kicker nor any player other than the goalkeeper may play the ball again once it has been kicked.

Read More »