Here are all the comments posted on the site, with the most recent discussions listed first. To participate in any of these discussions, you can reply on the article page.
I love the trainer and how helpful it is; is it possible to add a feature explaining when to change from basic strategy? For example, when the true count is negative 2 and you’re deciding to double a hard 9 vs 3(an example off the top of my head, not sure if it makes my point), it would be helpful to see the variation rule come up and not just the basic rule. Great site and thanks for all the info! Ben
I found a bug while playing this morning. Split 10s three times. The first hit was a 9 and I stand with a 19. The second hit was an ace and have a 21, but am unable to proceed because the hit and stand buttons are not available.
I think there was an error in my variation, maybe not though.
The game I am playing is: 6 decks, Hit on Soft 17, Late Surrender, Peek
I had a hard total of 17 with an Ace, 6, 6, 2 against a dealer’s T, my basic strategy chart from this site says to Surrender o/w Stand, since I could not surrender obviously I stood but the coach told me hitting was the best play. Is this an error in the application or something I myself and missing? Thanks a lot. Loving the site.
I guess I have another question. On a Hard 16 with the same rules
6 Decks, DAS, H17, Peek, Insurance Offered
Chart I generated on the site says to Surrender or Stand with a dealer 10 but on a 9 or ace it says surrender or hit, I think I ran into this problem on this application and I looked at other strategy resources and they say to hit. So I guess my question is which one is it?
For a basic strategy player, see the Strategy Engine for the correct plays when the dealer hits soft 17.
If you’re asking how the strategy variation index numbers change, many of the index numbers are the same between the 6D S17 game and the 6D H17 game. Most of the few differences are only a single point here and there.
The most important index change between the games is 12v6. In the S17 game, the index is -1. (Stand at -1 or higher.) In the H17 game, the dealer is more likely to bust with a six showing, and the 12v6 index falls all the way to -4. (Stand at -4 or higher.)
Ken Smith, do you sell the individual advanced strategy card for 6 deck blackjack where the dealer hits on S17? I can’t find it as one of your individual cards and don’t have any interest in purchasing a full set of 6 to get 5 I don’t need.
I could never understand this about card counting. If the deck is rich in ten counts and aces…It is said it is too the advantage of the player…..How can it not be advantageous to the dealer if the dealer is drawing cards from the same rich deck ? Please explain.
You are correct in thinking that the dealer is just as likely to get those extra face cards and Aces as you are. But those cards are more valuable for the player for two reasons:
1) If you get a blackjack, you win 3:2. If the dealer gets a blackjack, he only wins even money. 2) The dealer is required to hit all stiff hands, while the player should stand when the dealer upcard is a small card. The dealer therefore busts more often when the deck is rich in face cards.
Thus the good cards help the player more than the dealer, and that’s why card counting works.
The strategy indexes are all for true count. The only time you can use the running count is for the decision of 16vT where the index number is 0. (A true count of 0 or more is the same as a running count of 0 or more.)
You can safely use the same strategy and index numbers between 6 and 8 decks.
I love the trainer and how helpful it is; is it possible to add a feature explaining when to change from basic strategy? For example, when the true count is negative 2 and you’re deciding to double a hard 9 vs 3(an example off the top of my head, not sure if it makes my point), it would be helpful to see the variation rule come up and not just the basic rule.
Great site and thanks for all the info!
Ben
Count-based strategy variations are on my list for consideration in the next version, so it may happen. Thanks for the feedback!
Very Nice! Use your site a lot; Very precise. Thank you!
Great game.
I found a bug while playing this morning. Split 10s three times. The first hit was a 9 and I stand with a 19. The second hit was an ace and have a 21, but am unable to proceed because the hit and stand buttons are not available.
Thanks for the report. That sounds familiar as a bug. I’ll make sure the same problem doesn’t happen with the new version being developed.
I think there was an error in my variation, maybe not though.
The game I am playing is: 6 decks, Hit on Soft 17, Late Surrender, Peek
I had a hard total of 17 with an Ace, 6, 6, 2 against a dealer’s T, my basic strategy chart from this site says to Surrender o/w Stand, since I could not surrender obviously I stood but the coach told me hitting was the best play. Is this an error in the application or something I myself and missing? Thanks a lot. Loving the site.
I think I see the problem…
(Ace,6,6,2) is hard 15, not hard 17. Yep, you should hit that against a dealer ten. 🙂
I guess I have another question. On a Hard 16 with the same rules
6 Decks, DAS, H17, Peek, Insurance Offered
Chart I generated on the site says to Surrender or Stand with a dealer 10 but on a 9 or ace it says surrender or hit, I think I ran into this problem on this application and I looked at other strategy resources and they say to hit. So I guess my question is which one is it?
You are referring to this chart:
https://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-basic-strategy-engine/?numdecks=6&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=yes&surr=ls&peek=yes
and its surprising advice with 16vT. The chart says “RS” which is Surrender if possible, else Stand.
Yet almost all other strategy charts (including my own plastic cards!) say you should hit 16vT in this game.
Which is right? They both are. It’s complicated.
In fact, I wrote a whole article about it a year ago… See 16vT: RS WTF?!
Thank you, informative article indeed.
Haha, woooow silly me. Sorry.
Also Double After Split is allowed, insurance is offered on dealer’s ace if that matters.
Here in the Mid-South and Gulf Coast – Dealers hit A,6 – they do not stand.
How does this process affect “doubling?”
For a basic strategy player, see the Strategy Engine for the correct plays when the dealer hits soft 17.
If you’re asking how the strategy variation index numbers change, many of the index numbers are the same between the 6D S17 game and the 6D H17 game.
Most of the few differences are only a single point here and there.
The most important index change between the games is 12v6. In the S17 game, the index is -1. (Stand at -1 or higher.) In the H17 game, the dealer is more likely to bust with a six showing, and the 12v6 index falls all the way to -4. (Stand at -4 or higher.)
My Advanced Strategy Cards have optimized index numbers for all of these games.
Ken Smith, do you sell the individual advanced strategy card for 6 deck blackjack where the dealer hits on S17? I can’t find it as one of your individual cards and don’t have any interest in purchasing a full set of 6 to get 5 I don’t need.
Sorry, I don’t currently sell the advanced cards individually. My entire stock is already packaged in sets.
I found it available on a different site. Thanks!
I could never understand this about card counting. If the deck is rich in ten counts and aces…It is said it is too the advantage of the player…..How can it not be advantageous to the dealer if the dealer is drawing cards from the same rich deck ? Please explain.
You are correct in thinking that the dealer is just as likely to get those extra face cards and Aces as you are. But those cards are more valuable for the player for two reasons:
1) If you get a blackjack, you win 3:2. If the dealer gets a blackjack, he only wins even money.
2) The dealer is required to hit all stiff hands, while the player should stand when the dealer upcard is a small card. The dealer therefore busts more often when the deck is rich in face cards.
Thus the good cards help the player more than the dealer, and that’s why card counting works.
The strategy indexes are all for true count. The only time you can use the running count is for the decision of 16vT where the index number is 0. (A true count of 0 or more is the same as a running count of 0 or more.)
You can safely use the same strategy and index numbers between 6 and 8 decks.