Soft 18 is an Ace+7. Ace can be counted as one or eleven, so it's impossible to bust a soft hand. I'm in the habit of doubling down on any soft hand against a dealer's 2-6 with the exception of soft 19 and soft 20. And I only stay on soft 18 if the dealer has an Ace, 2, 7, or 8 up (and sometimes I hit or stay if the dealer has a 9 or 10/face card up). Otherwise, if the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6 up, I usually double down on soft 18 and win if the dealer busts. But recently I was playing 2 hands against the dealer. My normal bet was $30 on each hand because in the casino I was in you have to bet twice the min. of the table and it was a $15 table. On one hand, I had the urge and the chips in front of me (because I was winning) to jump my bet to $150 on each hand. On one hand I had 20 and stayed. One the other hand I had soft 18 and the dealer had a 3 up. I doubled down and pushed another $150 on the bet and caught a face card, which made my hand a hard 18. The dealer didn't bust, but the dealer made 17. The dealer's hole card was a 4 and drew another face card. I think that was lucky winning that one.
It seems players in general and dealers think it's risky doubling down on soft 18. What do you think? That's following basic strategy as well as my own strategy. I won big last time playing blackjack only.
Would you double down on soft 18 against a dealer's 3-6 or maybe only 5 or 6?
It seems players in general and dealers think it's risky doubling down on soft 18. What do you think? That's following basic strategy as well as my own strategy. I won big last time playing blackjack only.
Would you double down on soft 18 against a dealer's 3-6 or maybe only 5 or 6?
(If it's a H17 game, you double vs 2 as well.)
