Blackjack rule guide

Six-deck S17 blackjack

A dealer who stands on soft 17 gives the player a better game than an otherwise identical H17 table.

Bottom line: S17 is not enough by itself: a 6:5 payout can turn an attractive-looking table into an expensive one.

Reference package

Our standard comparison assumes 3:2 blackjack, double on any first two cards, double after split, up to four hands, no resplitting or hitting split aces, dealer peek, and no surrender. Under total-dependent basic strategy with a cut card, that complete package has a 0.42622% house edge.

Strategy scope

Use the 4–8 deck S17 chart and select DAS or NDAS and surrender to match the table. A chart built for H17 can misplay several close hands.

Table check

  • Prefer 3:2 over 6:5
  • Confirm the dealer stands on all 17
  • Prefer DAS and late surrender
  • Check whether aces may be resplit
Method note

House-edge values reproduce the Wizard of Odds “basic strategy with cut card” model for the stated complete profile. Last reviewed September 20, 2026.