'Dealer hits soft 17' means just that, that he must consider the total to be 7 and hit. In a game of blackjack, the dealer is also proactive and they need to make certain decisions as well. While we are on the subject of cards, it is important to explain the ‘behavior’ of the dealer when he or she receives a soft 17. When the casino rules specify that dealer’s must hit their soft 17 (rather than stand), the house edge increases, meaning hitting a soft 17 is better for the dealer than standing. If you are still not convinced that standing on soft 17 is a bad play, think about the dealer’s rule for soft 17.
