Soft 16 and Under

   Player's                Dealer's Total
    Total         17    18    19    20    21   Bust
S 16 +  K = 16     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  Q = 16     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  J = 16     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 + 10 = 16     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  9 = 15     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  8 = 14     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  7 = 13     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  6 = 12     L     L     L     L     L     W
S 16 +  5 = 21    L-W   L-W   L-W   L-W   L-S    W
S 16 +  4 = 20    L-W   L-W   L-W   L-S    L     W
S 16 +  3 = 19    L-W   L-W   L-S    L     L     W
S 16 +  2 = 18    L-W   L-S    L     L     L     W
S 16 +  A = 17    L-S    L     L     L     L     W
Soft 16 cannot bust by drawing a card. The card might cause the final total to become less than 16. This makes no difference. The table shows that all final totals of 16 or less end up with the same result. Either they all lose when the dealer gets a total of 17 through 21, or they all win when the dealer busts. Therefore it is impossible to make your hand worse by taking a card.

The good point is that your hand will often end up being better than 16. The table shows that some of these win ( W) and some get a standoff ( S). Everyone of these winners and standoffs is a losing hand if you don't take a card. The effect on your bank is significant. Your winning totals win one bet instead of losing one bet. In effect, the gain to your bank is two bets. Your standoff totals break even, instead of losing a bet. The same reasoning applies to the other soft hands of Soft 12 through Soft 15. If the hand is still Soft 16 or less less than S16 after drawing one card, then draw again and again if necessary.

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