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Sam vaughn was my first cousin, over the years I had lost contact with him. I only knew that he had moved to Phoenix. I have not have contact in years.
Thank you.
I found different values for the case of infinite number of decks and dealer stand’s on all 17, too.
Please note, that all columns should yield 100 % in sum. But this is not true for the last two colums (tens and aces) of the diagram! I’ve got identical values for the columns 2 to 9 but different ones for 10 and ace.
Apparently you did not read the description at the top of the page. The Ace and Ten columns are after the dealer has checked for blackjack and did not have it. That method is far more useful for most purposes than including blackjack in the normal totals.
The simple answer is that if you hit 15vA in the S17 game, you will lose less than half your bet on average (it’s around -0.48 or -0.49). Why does the advice differ between H17 and S17 games? (You should hit 15vA in S17, but surrender 15vA in H17.) The dealers final total will average a bit higher in H17, making your chances worse when hitting. But basically, basic strategy is often tough to explain with a simple reason. It is a combination of many variables. Just trust the math. All possible outcomes are weighted in deciding the optimal strategy. For customized charts, be sure to use our Strategy Engine.
God I wish I had a Dime for every time I tried explaining this to some superstitious player.
Thanks for putting it in writing finally, I can just point people to this article from now on and save my breath.
One of the local casinos has a couple of tables with oddball rules, such as one where the house will pay for a double or split under certain conditions. Any easy way to calculate odds for such oddities?
More generally, most of these unusual variants are very difficult to analyze using existing tools. You really need to be able to write your own software to do it.
Your website rocks. I use the Wong Halves count but I’m curious whether another betting system is more efficient for single deck games. I believe most of the benefit from the halves system is from the betting precision, but I’m not sure whether in a single deck game that could be outweighed by a system with a higher playing efficiency. Assuming no obstacles for learning a new system, which would be the Utopian single deck system in your opinion?
You must play in Reno, because there aren’t many other places where this question is still relevant!
Personally, I chose the Halves count because of the high BE that you noted. Counts with a higher PE generally require a side count of Aces, which I just didn’t like doing. It’s not keeping the Ace side count that was annoying to me, but rather the adjustments needed to then utilize it.
Since my play was mostly double deck games, I have not done comparisons for single deck play. Sorry.
I also have often stated that were I learning a system today, I would stick with a very simple system, either Hi-Lo or KO. Single deck might be worth an exception.
I work at the El Cortez and can confirm that as of today we are still a 3:2 payout (and I don’t think it’s going to change any time soon). The mentality at the LV strip seems to be that you aren’t here for winning, you are here to spend.
Ten years ago, online casinos were a fantastic opportunity, because of the generous bonus offers and promotions. They have been exploited so frequently that this opportunity is pretty much gone, due to much more restrictive wagering requirements. Since I am in the US (and not usually in New Jersey), I don’t have recent experience with any alternatives for beating casinos online. My guess is that you are unlikely to find much of an edge.
Your comment about trying to beat the game by using basic strategy is a little misguided, although I realize you may not mean it quite literally. If you play a negative expectation game long enough, any good luck that you happen to experience will not be enough to keep you ahead of the game. It’s just a matter of time. In games like this, if you are entertained by playing, then it may be reasonable for you to play. (And basic strategy will reduce your expected cost to a small amount.) But don’t expect to create a profit.
Yeah that was kind of what i was “afraid” for. Is there a way to beat the online casino like counting in a land-based casino, or is the only way to try and beat it, by lower the dealers chance to win by using a Basic chart? I just feel like, using the chart as i did before i learned how to count cards, it wasn’t very profitable. I lost a 100, won a 100 and so on, but never a bigger win?
First cousin
Thanks for dropping by Dick. Sammy was a unique and warm soul. He is missed by many.
Sam vaughn was my first cousin, over the years I had lost contact with him. I only knew that he had moved to Phoenix. I have not have contact in years.
Thank you.
Are the numbers “running count” or “true count”,,,am a little bit connfused?
Index numbers for the Hi-Lo count always use the true count.
I found different values for the case of infinite number of decks and dealer stand’s on all 17, too.
Please note, that all columns should yield 100 % in sum. But this is not true for the last two colums (tens and aces) of the diagram! I’ve got identical values for the columns 2 to 9 but different ones for 10 and ace.
Apparently you did not read the description at the top of the page. The Ace and Ten columns are after the dealer has checked for blackjack and did not have it. That method is far more useful for most purposes than including blackjack in the normal totals.
Can u explain why its not a good strategy to surrender hard 15 vs Dealers A? (With S17 casino rule)
The simple answer is that if you hit 15vA in the S17 game, you will lose less than half your bet on average (it’s around -0.48 or -0.49). Why does the advice differ between H17 and S17 games? (You should hit 15vA in S17, but surrender 15vA in H17.) The dealers final total will average a bit higher in H17, making your chances worse when hitting. But basically, basic strategy is often tough to explain with a simple reason. It is a combination of many variables. Just trust the math. All possible outcomes are weighted in deciding the optimal strategy. For customized charts, be sure to use our Strategy Engine.
A push sucks if I double my 11 v dealer 6 and he sucks out a 21 on me.
God I wish I had a Dime for every time I tried explaining this to some superstitious player.
Thanks for putting it in writing finally, I can just point people to this article from now on and save my breath.
One of the local casinos has a couple of tables with oddball rules, such as one where the house will pay for a double or split under certain conditions. Any easy way to calculate odds for such oddities?
That sounds like Free Bet Blackjack. See this site for more details on it:
http://discountgambling.net/2012/06/22/free-bet-blackjack-golden-nugget-lv/
More generally, most of these unusual variants are very difficult to analyze using existing tools. You really need to be able to write your own software to do it.
Hi Ken,
Your website rocks. I use the Wong Halves count but I’m curious whether another betting system is more efficient for single deck games. I believe most of the benefit from the halves system is from the betting precision, but I’m not sure whether in a single deck game that could be outweighed by a system with a higher playing efficiency. Assuming no obstacles for learning a new system, which would be the Utopian single deck system in your opinion?
You must play in Reno, because there aren’t many other places where this question is still relevant!
Personally, I chose the Halves count because of the high BE that you noted. Counts with a higher PE generally require a side count of Aces, which I just didn’t like doing. It’s not keeping the Ace side count that was annoying to me, but rather the adjustments needed to then utilize it.
Since my play was mostly double deck games, I have not done comparisons for single deck play. Sorry.
I also have often stated that were I learning a system today, I would stick with a very simple system, either Hi-Lo or KO. Single deck might be worth an exception.
Here are a couple of links that may be helpful.
You probably already know about this comparison of counts: https://www.qfit.com/card-counting.htm
Here’s an interesting collaborative effort from the boards: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/knowledge-base/blackjack-card-counting/bjinfo-open-source-ubz-ii-v0-5/
Thanks for confirming. Long live downtown!
I work at the El Cortez and can confirm that as of today we are still a 3:2 payout (and I don’t think it’s going to change any time soon). The mentality at the LV strip seems to be that you aren’t here for winning, you are here to spend.
Ten years ago, online casinos were a fantastic opportunity, because of the generous bonus offers and promotions. They have been exploited so frequently that this opportunity is pretty much gone, due to much more restrictive wagering requirements. Since I am in the US (and not usually in New Jersey), I don’t have recent experience with any alternatives for beating casinos online. My guess is that you are unlikely to find much of an edge.
Your comment about trying to beat the game by using basic strategy is a little misguided, although I realize you may not mean it quite literally. If you play a negative expectation game long enough, any good luck that you happen to experience will not be enough to keep you ahead of the game. It’s just a matter of time. In games like this, if you are entertained by playing, then it may be reasonable for you to play. (And basic strategy will reduce your expected cost to a small amount.) But don’t expect to create a profit.
Thanks for the answer 🙂
Yeah that was kind of what i was “afraid” for. Is there a way to beat the online casino like counting in a land-based casino, or is the only way to try and beat it, by lower the dealers chance to win by using a Basic chart? I just feel like, using the chart as i did before i learned how to count cards, it wasn’t very profitable. I lost a 100, won a 100 and so on, but never a bigger win?
In addition to the basic strategy surrenders, you may want to use the “Fab 4” surrender index numbers.
Here’s a link that shows them for the Hi-Lo count:
https://www.blackjackinfo.com/knowledge-base/blackjack-card-counting/fab-4/#kb-post-35914
To be clear, you should surrender when the TC is at or above the provided index number.