H17 (Dealer Hits Soft 17)

H17 means the dealer must hit when holding a soft 17 (Ace + 6). This rule is common in many casinos and slightly increases the house edge.

H17 vs. S17

Rule	Dealer Action on Soft 17	House Edge Impact
H17	Hits	~0.2% higher
S17	Stands	Baseline

Why H17 Hurts Players

When dealers hit soft 17, they can:

• Improve to 18, 19, 20, or 21
• Still have the Ace become 1 if they'd otherwise bust

This extra chance to improve means dealers beat players more often.

Strategy Adjustments

H17 causes a few basic strategy changes, primarily:

• Double 11 vs. Ace (instead of hit)
• Double soft 18 vs. 2 (instead of stand)
• Surrender 17 vs. Ace (if surrender available)

Finding the Rules

Look for table signs or ask the dealer. "Dealer hits soft 17" or "H17" indicates this rule. S17 tables are slightly better for players.