How to think of soft hands: A6 or S17?

[sbrugby]

Trying to improve my ability to add up soft hands quickly and accurately.

In the past I always added hands up by saying:
Example "A 2 2 3 8"
-Inner monologue: A2, A2+2 = A4, A4+3 =A7, A7 + 8 = 1+7+8 = 16

I'm wondering if I should be thinking of it in terms of SX until it becomes a hard total?
Example "A 2 2 3 8"
-Inner monologue: S13, S15, S18, 16

I feel like thinking of soft hands the latter way would makes things easier but I have everything in my head right now as "double A2,A3 vs 5&6", not double "double S13,S14 vs 5,6".

Is it more of a matter of preference thing or is one way faster and/or less error prone?

[Gronbog]

I think of them as A,x. It's just easier that way for me.

[blueman]

On the real long hands I'd just whip my calculator out

[21forme]

Speaking of whipping it out, I use my fingers and toes. 21 can be a problem.

[DSchles]

ALWAYS think of it as Ace + the next card or sums of cards. NEVER call it soft anything. Do it just the way you were doing it.

Don

[Three]

I don't know what to tell you. I don't even think about it. It just happens in my head. I tend view the ace as 1 until my total is over 7 and know when to consider doubling for all totals with an ace.

[SpikeBJ]

I'll say internally, 6 16 or 7 17

[paymypush]

I don't think about it either. It's as automatic to me as breathing. I sure don't listen to the dealers. Some say the low total, some say both totals and some say the annoying "soft".

[RCJH]

As you progress as a counter, "seeing" it as A,# becomes helpful. All soft 17s are not the same; the composition can sometimes determine your playing decision. So as you're learning, keep doing what you're doing.

[hitthat16]

ALWAYS think of it as Ace + the next card or sums of cards. NEVER call it soft anything. Do it just the way you were doing it.

Don

Why's this?

[sbrugby]

Thanks Don and everyone else.

ALWAYS think of it as Ace + the next card or sums of cards. NEVER call it soft anything. Do it just the way you were doing it.

Don

The 'Add up Hands' Option in the flashcard drills of CVDrills requires me to (unless I'm mistaken) input soft hands as 'S13','S14' etc. Is there a way to make it a useful exercise still? Since I kind of have to either think in terms of 'S,x'; or first determine the 'A,x' total then think of what it would be as 'S,x' for the drill.

[bejammin075]

It's personal preference. Try out both ways. For me, memorizing the indexes and playing correctly is easier if I think of the soft hands as "soft 17" etc. If you don't double the soft hand, then you have to decide to hit or stand, and for me it's easier to think of the hand total rather than the specific composition.


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[ZenMaster_Flash]

"I think of the soft hands as "soft 17"

You should have said "doubling or hitting."
When do YOU stand on a soft 17? Ever ?