Going to the casino tomorrow. Questions on basic strategy.

[redlinegts85]

Been using basic strategy for a few weeks now and I've been winning (although not that much), so I'm still a rookie. I just printed out a chart from the website and I had a couple questions.

1. Why would you split two 9's if the dealer shows a 8 or 9 face card, but if they show a 7 then you would stand? If I'm going to split when they are showing an 8 or 9, why wouldn't I split if they are showing a 7?

2. If I had an ace, 8...why would I double down if the dealer shows a 6, but stand if they show any other card besides a 6?

Thanks for any input.

[KenSmith]

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

Been using basic strategy for a few weeks now and I've been winning (although not that much), so I'm still a rookie. I just printed out a chart from the website and I had a couple questions.

1. Why would you split two 9's if the dealer shows a 8 or 9 face card, but if they show a 7 then you would stand? If I'm going to split when they are showing an 8 or 9, why wouldn't I split if they are showing a 7?

When the dealer has a 7 up, your pat 18 has a good chance of beating a pat dealer 17. That makes the math work better to stand against a dealer 7 rather than split.

2. If I had an ace, 8...why would I double down if the dealer shows a 6, but stand if they show any other card besides a 6?

That play is only appropriate for some rule conditions. (Any single deck game, or multi-deck games where the dealer hits soft 17.)

It's hard to give a specific reason why doubling A8v6 is appropriate while doubling A8v5 is not. That's true of many basic strategy close calls. If you really feel the need for an explanation, how's this? In a six-deck H17 game, the dealer will bust with a 6 up 44% of the time. With a 5 up he'll only bust 42% of the time.

In general, don't worry too much about the "why" of basic strategy, and just learn the "what". Intuition is a poor guide for blackjack strategy.

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

1. Why would you split two 9's if the dealer shows a 8 or 9 face card, but if they show a 7 then you would stand? If I'm going to split when they are showing an 8 or 9, why wouldn't I split if they are showing a 7?

There's an added chance that dealer will have a ten underneath and end with a 17, in which case your 18 will win if you stand.

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

2. If I had an ace, 8...why would I double down if the dealer shows a 6, but stand if they show any other card besides a 6?

Soft 19 is a good hand, so standing in general is better than hitting. However, against dealer 6, which is really weak, you can press your advantage by doubling. You will actually win less often if you double - but you have double the money on the table, so you'll win more in the long run.

Soft 19 vs. dealer 6
Standing: +0.45
Doubling: +0.23
Hitting: +0.23

So if you stand, you can expect to win 45 cents for every dollar you're betting. If you double, you can expect to win 23 cents for every dollar you're betting - but your bet is doubled, so you win 46 cents for every dollar you originally bet.

Soft 19 vs. dealer 5
Standing: +0.44
Doubling: +0.20
Hitting: +0.20

In this case, standing makes the most sense, because doubling will only earn you 40 cents on average.

Edit: Beaten like a dusty rug.

[redlinegts85]

Awesome, thanks guys. So I'm guessing the basic strategy is based off tons and tons of played hands?

I will take your advice and just follow the chart no matter how I feel about a certain situation.

[shadroch]

Just be sure to have the correct chart for the game you are playing.
Best of luck.

[redlinegts85]

I think I have the correct chart, but what does "no surrender" and "peek" mean?

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

So I'm guessing the basic strategy is based off tons and tons of played hands?

Yes.

Make sure that you get the right set of rules. Basic strategy when Dealer Hits Soft 17 (H17) is different than when Dealer Stands on Soft 17 (S17), for instance.

And if the dealer gives you advice contrary to basic strategy, trust basic strategy. Knowing how to play the game is not a requirement for being a dealer, and they're often wrong on the tough decisions. The three most common plays that will cause a dealer to give you bad advice, in my opinion:

HIT soft 18 vs. dealer 9, 10, A
DOUBLE soft 19 vs. dealer 6 if dealer hits soft 17
SURRENDER hard 17 vs. dealer A if dealer hits soft 17
SPLIT 66 vs. dealer 3-6 (also against dealer 2 if doubling after splitting is allowed)

Edit: M*****f*****, I type slowly ...

[GeorgeD]

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

Awesome, thanks guys. So I'm guessing the basic strategy is based off tons and tons of played hands?

.

Two words: Computer Simulations.

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

A
I will take your advice and just follow the chart no matter how I feel about a certain situation.

Good idea.

So is getting the correct strategy.
Are you sure about that A-8 VS 6? I think that's only in a H17 game.

[Canceler]

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

So I'm guessing the basic strategy is based off tons and tons of played hands?

It's actually done with combinatorial analysis (CA), which takes into account everything that can possibly happen.

Originally Posted by redlinegts85

I will take your advice and just follow the chart no matter how I feel about a certain situation.

Good choice!

[redlinegts85]

Yeah at the casino I go to the dealer must always hit on soft 17 (ace, 6).