Different Basic Strategies?

[LordRiddick]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading the forums for a while, but this is my first post here. Yes, I confess, I am a "21" convert, but I intend to stick with it, unlike others who have just gone through a phase, thinking it would be "Cool".

Now to my questions:

1. I have compared the BS for 1, 2, and 4+ decks from this site (BJinfo) and Wizard of Odds (WoO), and I have noticed a few discrepancies:

2 Decks, H17:
WoO 8,8-A R/P
BJinfo 8,8-A P

2 Decks, S17:
WoO A7-A S
BJinfo A7-A H

1 Deck, S17 and H17:
WoO 15-10 H
BJinfo 15-10 R/H

I thought that there was no change in BS from one source to another. So which one is correct, and why are they different?

2. Since there are six variations of BS, which one should I learn first? I do not have any casinos close by so that makes no difference. I was thinking 4+, H17; is that a good choice?

BTW, I am a very detail oriented person, so I have figured out that there are 330 possible hand situations in BJ, and BS only changes for 26 of them. So after I learn the main BS, I intend to practice those 26 a bit more, to learn the variations. Good idea?

Thank for your time,

LordRiddick

 

[EasyRhino]

Riddick, are you sure the "peek" rules are the same between WOO and bjinfo?

Also, note that such differences in BS, in the grand scheme of things, make very little difference. If you were counting, for instance, you'd be basing your play on all those hands on the count, rather than BS, they're all that close.

 

[LordRiddick]

Yah, WoO has a separate chart for ENHC. I know it doesn't make a ton of difference, but hey, I'm a perfectionist. :joker:

 

[cardcounter0]

This site can always be relied upon to be the 'correct' source.
Make sure you are using the proper rules and decks, and run the 'engine' here, it is right.

 

[Canceler]

The 8,8 vs. A seems to be a matter of DAS. If allowed, split; if not, surrender.

The A,7 vs. A is explained in the paragraph below the charts at WoO. Even though the chart says A,7 vs. A, he is taking into account soft 18s that consist of more than two cards. BJInfo uses just the two cards.

Most EV tables show 550 possible starting hands.

 

[LordRiddick]

The 8,8 vs. A seems to be a matter of DAS. If allowed, split; if not, surrender.

The A,7 vs. A is explained in the paragraph below the charts at WoO. Even though the chart says A,7 vs. A, he is taking into account soft 18s that consist of more than two cards. BJInfo uses just the two cards.

Thanks for the reply. That explains it.

Most EV tables show 550 possible starting hands.

How is that possible?

There are 9 soft hands, 10 pairs, and 17 hard hands (there is no hard 2, 3, or 4; 4 being a pair.)

Total 36, multiplied by 10, for the 10 dealer upcards, and you have 360, nowhere near 550.

I had mistyped 330, BTW.

And I am still wondering if 4+ decks, H17 is a good first chart. Any thoughts?

 

[cardcounter0]

How is that possible?

There are 9 soft hands, 10 pairs, and 17 hard hands

Because there is a difference in EV if you have a hard 9 with a 7,2 or a 6,3 or a 5,4. 14 vs T? Is that 14 a T,4 or 9,5 or 8,6? There is a difference in EV for those too.

 

[Canceler]

And I am still wondering if 4+ decks, H17 is a good first chart. Any thoughts?

I think it's a good choice.

Because there is a difference in EV if you have a hard 9 with a 7,2 or a 6,3 or a 5,4. 14 vs T? Is that 14 a T,4 or 9,5 or 8,6? There is a difference in EV for those too.

In other words, EV tables treat 8,2 and 6,4 as different hands. BS charts treat them both as being 10, which is good enough for most purposes.

Some other thoughts I had:

Any differences in BS from two reputable sources are likely to be due to differences in conditions (rules, # of decks), rather than one of them being right and the other wrong. BJInfo and WoO are both reputable sources.

My feeling is the Wiz tries to cram too much info into just a couple of charts. The ones here at BJInfo are more customizable, and easier to use, I think.