In Blackjack, a Soft 17 is called “soft” because the Ace can be valued as either 1 or 11, which provides flexibility. The hand is not at risk of going over 21 if the player draws another card because the Ace can be downgraded to 1 if needed. Many casinos have rules where the dealer must hit on a Soft 17, making it an important rule to be aware of when playing.
Soft 17 Example
Example: A hand with an Ace and a 6 is a Soft 17. If the player draws a 5, the Ace becomes 1, and the total becomes 12.