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I noticed an error when I was playing with the various combinations: I know that in a single-deck DAS H17 game with dealer peek it is correct to split 9s vs. an Ace (unlike other rule combinations where you should stand). However it shows that splitting is the right play even when changed to no-peek (which it’s obviously incorrect to split such a marginal hand with ENHC and a dealer’s Ace). (I don’t know if there are any games IRL with the single-deck DAS H17 ENHC rule combination, but since someone once pointed out an error with an even rarer rule combination with early surrender and splitting 8s vs. a Ten I thought I’d point out this one.)
Just to clarify – I hadn’t played your actual trainer game recently so I don’t know of any bugs there (and mis-phrased probably shouldn’t have that hyphen).
There is no need to “assign” a value to the Aces, and no need to choose the same value for multiple Aces. Treat them independently, and reassess after each drawn card changes the hand.
Here are some examples:
(Ace, Ace) = Soft 12 (2 or 12)
(Ace, Ace, 8) = Soft 20 (10 or 20) You should stand with 20, regardless of the dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, 4) = Soft 16 (6 or 16) You should hit this hand, regardless of dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, Ten) = Hard 12 You may hit or stand on this hand, depending on the dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, 4, 8) = Hard 14.
Note that these examples are bit contrived, because if your first two cards are Aces, you should split instead.
Bonjour Ken,
Why does it seems that I am very successful on your trainer, yet have a very difficult time winning on the wizard’s? If both are using RNG’s should they not be approximately the same. Assuming the same rules, BS, and betting pattern?
Luck.
I can’t wait until I launch the new version of the trainer. If prior history is repeated, I will be inundated with emails asking why I made the game so much harder to beat, along with an equal number asking why I made it so much easier to beat!
Is Basic Strategy only for your initial hand? Does it change or stay the same when you’re sitting on a 3, 4, or 5+ card hand? For example, Say I have 7 (5, 2) against dealer 9, I hit, 5 comes out, now I’m sitting on 12 (5, 2, 5) do I follow BS still? Hit a 12 against 9? I hit, 4 comes out, now I’m sitting on 16 (5, 2, 5, 4) against dealer 9. BS says to hit again… So my questions is does BS change when you have hands like these? Or do you always play BS, no matter how many cards in your hand? (let’s just ignore variation when counting, I just mean true BS)
The hit and stand advice of basic strategy applies no matter how many cards are in your hand. Splitting, doubling, and surrender are only available with two-card hands, so they obviously are a special case. Just use your total hand to look up the correct decision.
I read the following in the Casino Verite Software: “A perfect side count for Insurance purposes would count Tens as -9 and all other cards as +4”. But it doesn’t explain how to use this indicator. Can you help me with this?
Can’t find list of single deck, 3:2, dlr3-2 rules returning Vegas 1st. several years.
PA. law requires dealers stand all 17s, used to go Vegas 6x’s Year, Local 100 miles,
Vegas don’t want my business sure rather go there have funds. But not going
regular if no where to research casino to stay with favorable rules.
I noticed an error when I was playing with the various combinations: I know that in a single-deck DAS H17 game with dealer peek it is correct to split 9s vs. an Ace (unlike other rule combinations where you should stand). However it shows that splitting is the right play even when changed to no-peek (which it’s obviously incorrect to split such a marginal hand with ENHC and a dealer’s Ace). (I don’t know if there are any games IRL with the single-deck DAS H17 ENHC rule combination, but since someone once pointed out an error with an even rarer rule combination with early surrender and splitting 8s vs. a Ten I thought I’d point out this one.)
Oh snap. Right you are. It only affected 1D,DAS,H17 (since that’s the only game where you should split 99vA in even a peek game!)
It’s resolved now. And for any readers, this issue wasn’t with the cards mentioned above, but instead on the Moteur de stratégie. Here’s the affected 1D,DAS,H17,No-Peek game: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-basic-strategy-engine/?numdecks=1&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=yes&surr=ns&peek=no
I mis-phrased my original comment – it was the strategy engine, not the game.
Just to clarify – I hadn’t played your actual trainer game recently so I don’t know of any bugs there (and mis-phrased probably shouldn’t have that hyphen).
Regardless, thanks for the find. Good luck.
If I have two aces, can I count one as “1”, and the other one as “11”, making a total of 12 ? Or do I need to count them equally ?
There is no need to “assign” a value to the Aces, and no need to choose the same value for multiple Aces. Treat them independently, and reassess after each drawn card changes the hand.
Here are some examples:
(Ace, Ace) = Soft 12 (2 or 12)
(Ace, Ace, 8) = Soft 20 (10 or 20) You should stand with 20, regardless of the dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, 4) = Soft 16 (6 or 16) You should hit this hand, regardless of dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, Ten) = Hard 12 You may hit or stand on this hand, depending on the dealer upcard.
(Ace, Ace, 4, 8) = Hard 14.
Note that these examples are bit contrived, because if your first two cards are Aces, you should split instead.
Is this a record?.8 out of 8, 2016. One second, one spilt, two fifths, and four wins.
Pretty amazing run! Congrats!
Bonjour Ken,
Why does it seems that I am very successful on your trainer, yet have a very difficult time winning on the wizard’s? If both are using RNG’s should they not be approximately the same. Assuming the same rules, BS, and betting pattern?
Luck.
I can’t wait until I launch the new version of the trainer. If prior history is repeated, I will be inundated with emails asking why I made the game so much harder to beat, along with an equal number asking why I made it so much easier to beat!
Hi, if the optimum bet in the shoe game, for a single hand, is 76% of the player’s advantage, for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 hands how much money should bet?
See Sonny’s informative reply in this thread:
https://www.blackjackinfo.com/knowledge-base/blackjack-card-counting/one-big-bet-vs-two-hands/
Is Basic Strategy only for your initial hand? Does it change or stay the same when you’re sitting on a 3, 4, or 5+ card hand? For example, Say I have 7 (5, 2) against dealer 9, I hit, 5 comes out, now I’m sitting on 12 (5, 2, 5) do I follow BS still? Hit a 12 against 9? I hit, 4 comes out, now I’m sitting on 16 (5, 2, 5, 4) against dealer 9. BS says to hit again… So my questions is does BS change when you have hands like these? Or do you always play BS, no matter how many cards in your hand? (let’s just ignore variation when counting, I just mean true BS)
Thanks 🙂
The hit and stand advice of basic strategy applies no matter how many cards are in your hand. Splitting, doubling, and surrender are only available with two-card hands, so they obviously are a special case. Just use your total hand to look up the correct decision.
Bonjour Ken,
I read the following in the Casino Verite Software: “A perfect side count for Insurance purposes would count Tens as -9 and all other cards as +4”. But it doesn’t explain how to use this indicator. Can you help me with this?
Merci.
I dont think it can be explained any better sir
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Yes, and an enjoyable vacation, very friendly atmosphere.
Different customs personality. Worth a trip.
Can’t find list of single deck, 3:2, dlr3-2 rules returning Vegas 1st. several years.
PA. law requires dealers stand all 17s, used to go Vegas 6x’s Year, Local 100 miles,
Vegas don’t want my business sure rather go there have funds. But not going
regular if no where to research casino to stay with favorable rules.