ProEdge

6-Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart — Dealer Stands on Soft 17

When the dealer stands on all 17s, the house gives back about 0.2% of edge — an S17 shoe is simply a better game than its H17 twin, and worth seeking out. This chart covers S17 games dealt from 4 to 8 decks; the plays are identical across that range.

Hard totals

Your handvs dealer2345678910A
8 or lessHHHHHHHHHH
9HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
10DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhHH
11DhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhDhDh
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHRhH
16SSSSSHHRhRhRh
17+SSSSSSSSSS

Soft totals

Your handvs dealer2345678910A
A,2HHHDhDhHHHHH
A,3HHHDhDhHHHHH
A,4HHDhDhDhHHHHH
A,5HHDhDhDhHHHHH
A,6HDhDhDhDhHHHHH
A,7SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,8SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

Your handvs dealer2345678910A
2,2PhPhPPPPHHHH
3,3PhPhPPPPHHHH
4,4HHHPhPhHHHHH
5,5HHHHHHHHHH
6,6PhPPPPHHHHH
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
10,10HHHHHHHHHH
A,APPPPPPPPPP
H
Hit
S
Stand
Dh
Double if allowed, otherwise hit
Ds
Double if allowed, otherwise stand
P
Split
Ph
Split if double after split is allowed, otherwise hit
Rh
Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit

Chart assumes double after split is allowed and doubling on any two cards. Where a play depends on a rule your table doesn't offer, the code gives the fallback — e.g. Rh means surrender if you can, otherwise hit.

What the S17 rule changes

With the dealer frozen on soft 17, their ace is less threatening and the desperate defensive plays disappear. Compared to the H17 chart:

  • No surrendering 17 against an ace — you stand. Hard 15 against an ace becomes a hit instead of a surrender.
  • Soft 18 against a 2 and soft 19 against a 6 are plain stands, not doubles.
  • 8,8 against an ace is always a split, never a surrender.

Playing a different game?

The correct plays change with the deck count and the dealer's soft-17 rule. Grab the chart that matches your table, or start with the complete basic strategy guide.