Hard Hand

In blackjack, a hard hand is any hand that either doesn't contain an Ace, or contains an Ace that must be counted as 1 to avoid busting. For example, 10 + 7 is a hard 17, and Ace + 6 + 10 is also hard 17 (the Ace must count as 1). Hard hands are less flexible than soft hands because hitting risks busting. Basic strategy for hard hands: stand on 17+, hit on 8 or below, and the decisions for 9-16 depend on the dealer's upcard. Hard 12-16 are the most difficult hands in blackjack, as you're likely to bust by hitting but likely to lose by standing against a strong dealer upcard.