Blackjack Strategy Deviations

1. Blackjack Basic Strategy With Deviations
2. Standard Deviation Blackjack
3. Blackjack Basic Strategy Deviations Chart

Playing Deviations are times when the true count dictates a decision that differs from Basic Strategy. Basic Strategy is the default correct playing decision for every possible hand combination in Blackjack. But as the Running and True Counts change, there are times that the ג€ correctג€ play also changes. For blackjack and its variants (e.g. Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21), the true count also serves a strategic purpose: the AP has mid-hand decisions to make (stand, hit, double, split, surrender) that vary based on the true count. For example, in blackjack: With a high true count (larger bet), the AP will adjust his play from basic strategy.

• Appendices
• Miscellaneous
• External Links

Learn Basic Strategy and Deviations. This Course will teach you the fastest and easiest way to learn the first basics to blackjack. You will Learn How to Count Cards and Divide the decks remaining in the shoe. This step will have video lessons on the fastest. Our advice is to learn this chart, then move on to learning card counting and the blackjack deviations associated with the game you will be playing (H17 vs S17). There are also slight variations in strategy when you play a 6 deck game versus a single deck game.

Introduction

This appendix presents information pertinent to the standard deviation in blackjack. It assumes the player is following basic strategy in a cut card game. Each table is the product of a separate simulation of about ten billion hands played.

As a reminder, if the variance of one hand is v, the covariance is c, and the number of hands played at once is n, then the total variance is n×v + n×(n-1)×c.

The following table is the product of many simulations and a lot of programming work. It shows the variance and covariance for various sets of rules.

Summary Table

By way of comparison, Stanford Wong, in his book Professional Blackjack (page 203) says the variance is 1.28 and the covariance 0.47 for his Benchmark Rules, which are six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, no double after split, no re-splitting aces, no surrender. The second row of my table shows that for the same rules I get 1.295 and 0.478 respectively, which is close enough for me.

Effect on Variance of Rule Changes

The next table shows the effect on the expected value, variance and covariance of various rule changes compared to the Wong Benchmark Rules.

Effect of Rule Variation

What follows are tables showing the probability of the net win for one to three hands under the Liberal Strip Rules, defined above.

Liberal Strip Rules — Playing One Hand at a Time

The first table shows the probability of each net outcome playing a single hand under what I call 'liberal strip rules,' which are as follows:

• Six decks
• Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17)
• Double on any first two cards (DA2)
• Double after split allowed (DAS)
• Late surrender allowed (LS)
• Re-split aces allowed (RSA)
• Player may re-split up to three times (P3X)

6 Decks S17 DA2 DAS LS RSA P3X — One Hand

Hello casino coupon code 2018. The table above reflects the following:

• House edge = 0.28%
• Variance = 1.303
• Standard deviation = 1.142

Probability of Net Win

I'm frequently asked about the probability of a net win in blackjack. The following table answers that question.

The next three tables break down the possible events by whether the first action was to hit, stand, or surrender; double; or split.

Net Win when Hitting, Standing, or Surrendering First Action

Net Win when Doubling First Action

Net Win when Splitting First Action

Liberal Strip Rules — Playing Two Hands at a Time

The following table shows the net result playing two hands at a time under the Liberal Strip Rules, explained above. The Return column shows the net win between the two hands.

6 Decks S17 DA2 DAS LS RSA P3X — Two Hands

The table above reflects the following:

Blackjack Basic Strategy With Deviations

• House edge = 0.28%
• Variance per round = 3.565
• Variance per hand = 1.782
• Standard deviation per hand= 1.335

Standard Deviation Blackjack

Liberal Strip Rules — Playing Three Hands at a Time

The following table shows the net result playing three hands at a time under the Liberal Strip Rules, explained above. The Return column shows the net win between the three hands.

6 Decks S17 DA2 DAS LS RSA P3X — Three Hands

The table above reflects the following:

• House edge = 0.285%
• Variance per round = 6.785
• Variance per hand = 2.262
• Standard deviation per hand= 1.504

Internal Links

• Appendices
• Miscellaneous
• External Links

Introduction

To use the basic strategy, look up your hand along the left vertical edge and the dealer's up card along the top. In both cases an A stands for ace. From top to bottom are the hard totals, soft totals, and splittable hands. There are two charts depending on whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17.

Other basic strategy rules.

• Never take insurance or 'even money.'
• If there is no row for splitting (fives and tens), then look up your hand as a hard total (10 or 20).
• If you can't split because of a limit on re-splitting, then look up your hand as a hard total, except aces. In the extremely unlikely event you have a pair of aces you can't re-split and drawing to split aces is allowed, then double against a 5 or 6, otherwise hit.

Ideally, the basic strategy shows the play which, on average, will result in the greatest win or the least loss per initial hand played. The way I usually go about this is to look at the initial 2-card hands only. Generally, this will result in the overall best play. However, soft 18 against a dealer ace when the dealer stands on soft 17 provides the only known exception that I am aware of for any number of decks. As my blackjack appendix 9 shows, a 2-card soft 18 vs A has an expected value of hitting of -0.100359, and of standing -0.100502. So with two cards it is very slightly better to hit. However, not all soft 18's are composed of two cards. The more the cards in the player's hand the more the odds favor standing. Simulations show that if forced to always hit or always stand, it is better to stand. I would like to thank Don Schlesinger for bringing this unusual play to my attention.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Deviations Chart