Single Deck Basic Strategy

[SPX]

As some may have gathered from other recent posts, due to a move across the country I have gone from exclusively playing 6-deck BJ to playing single deck.

Thus far I have been using 6-deck basic strategy on my single deck outings because I really had no idea how different the strategies were.

There were some real shockers!

Double on 8?!! I was sitting at the table the other night and saw someone double with an 8 and was like, "What a moron. . ." Little did I know the joke was on me.

The one that gets me the most though is standing on 7-7 against a 10. I thought it was a typo at first. What's the deal with this play? I'm sure it has something to do with two of the four sevens already being out of the deck, but still. . .

Seems quite anomalous.

 

[Sonny]

Yeah, SD games are quite a bit different. Another big change is that they don’t allow DAS, which you’re probably used to in 6D games. That makes splitting twos and threes much more rare.

As far as 7,7 vs. 10, you’re exactly right. With only 2 sevens left you’re much less likely to get a total of 21 points. The effects of removal in SD games are so strong that even a single card can sometimes change the correct basic strategy play.

-Sonny-

 

[SPX]

Yeah, SD games are quite a bit different. Another big change is that they don’t allow DAS, which you’re probably used to in 6D games.

Truth.

I was at Montego Bay in Wendover, split 9s against an 8, caught a 2 on the first 9 and dropped some chips in the betting circle to double and the dealer was like, "What are you doing?!"

And I was like, "What the hell? No double after split?!" Hadn't experienced that before.

I was also chastised for splitting my 9s because "18 is a good hand!" Unfortunately, I lost them both, which the dealer attributed to my "greed."

 

[Kasi]

I'm sure it has something to do with two of the four sevens already being out of the deck, but still. . .

Seems quite anomalous.

Like Sonny said, you may even want to consider some comp-dependent plays, especially if you play any BS.


Like hit 10,2 vs 4 or 6 or 10,3 vs 2, etc.

 

[SPX]

Like Sonny said, you may even want to consider some comp-dependent plays, especially if you play any BS.


Like hit 10,2 vs 4 or 6 or 10,3 vs 2, etc.

That brings up something I've been meaning to mention. . .

I know Fred Renzey talks a lot about composition plays Bluebook II, but he also makes it clear that his focus is generally more on the shoe game than single deck. Are all the comp-dependent plays the same regardless of the number of decks?

 

[Kasi]

Most definitely not - that's why you hit a 7,7 vs 10 in multi-deck (or stand on 10,2 vs 4 etc) lol.