S17 (Dealer Stands on Soft 17)
S17 means the dealer must stand when holding a soft 17 (Ace + 6). This rule is more player-friendly than H17 and results in a lower house edge.
Why S17 Benefits Players
When dealers stand on soft 17:
- They can't improve to 18, 19, 20, or 21
- Soft 17 is a weak hand (17 often loses)
- Players win more hands and ties are less harmful
The difference is approximately 0.2% in house edge—meaningful over thousands of hands.
S17 vs. H17
| Rule | Dealer Action | For Players |
|---|---|---|
| S17 | Stands on soft 17 | Better |
| H17 | Hits on soft 17 | Worse |
Finding S17 Tables
Look for table signs stating:
- "Dealer stands on all 17s"
- "Dealer must stand on soft 17"
If the table says "Dealer hits soft 17" or doesn't specify, assume H17.
Strategy Impact
S17 uses standard basic strategy. The few strategy differences apply to H17 games, not S17.