Kasey: KO Generic Basic Strategy Questions

[Kasey]

A current thread on the Main Blackjack board prompted me to finally ask some questions I've had ever since reading KO for the first time.

They all relate to the pair splitting tables.

1) Since 4,4 is not split in the KO generic Basic Strategy, does that mean you should treat it as 8 and double down against 5 and 6 at pivot?

2) Similarly, should 5,5 be treated as 10 for double down purposes?

3) Should 6,6 be treated as 12 when evaluating stand/hit against dealer 2 and 3?

4) Should 7,7 be treated as 14 and surrendered against 10,A at pivot?

Thanks!
Kasey

[Sidewinder]

Kasey, While I don't really have any experience with KO I should be able to help you a little as these are basic play questions applicable to all counts.

> 1) Since 4,4 is not split in the KO generic
> Basic Strategy, does that mean you should
> treat it as 8 and double down against 5 and
> 6 at pivot?
Yes treat it like an eight, after all that's what it is. Split it when your system tells you to.

> 2) Similarly, should 5,5 be treated as 10
> for double down purposes?
Yes again. This is a hand which for all intents and purposes would never be split.

> 3) Should 6,6 be treated as 12 when
> evaluating stand/hit against dealer 2 and 3?
No, it should be split according to basic strategy. If KO has a certain point for splitting it then follow that number.

> 4) Should 7,7 be treated as 14 and
> surrendered against 10,A at pivot?
If you are playing single deck it would either be stood on or surrendered. With other games it will be hit or surrendered. You wouldn't split them.

> Thanks!
> Kasey

[SOTSOG]

You are basically asking "what is the correct play to make following an incorrect basic strategy". You are using a 'generic' basic strategy. The correct basic strategy varies according to number of decks and specific rules of the game. You do not specify any number of decks or rules in your question, and many of these specific plays vary. You are making further complications by adding count based deviations. As a result, you are probably going to get many different answers based on the assumptions of rules, decks, and count that the reader makes.

The order that a hand should be evaluated is split/surrender/doubledown/hit/stand.

so....

1) Since 4,4 is not split in the KO generic Basic Strategy, does that mean you should treat it as 8 and double down against 5 and 6 at pivot?

if the count/strategy says not to split 4,4 - you don't surrender a total of 8 - if the count/strategy says doubledown vs 5 or 6 then do so - otherwise hit. (If the game is Double After Split, you should split the 4s at the point the count is telling you to double down.)

2) Similarly, should 5,5 be treated as 10 for double down purposes?

if the count/strategy says not to split 5,5 - you don't surrender a total of 10 - if the count/strategy says doubledown on 10 then do so - otherwise hit.

3) Should 6,6 be treated as 12 when evaluating stand/hit against dealer 2 and 3?

if the count/strategy says not to split 6,6 vs 2 or 3 - you don't surrender a total of 12 - you don't doubledown on 12 - hit or stand based on what the count/strategy says to do for a total of 12. (Although if the count is at a point that it is telling you to stand at 12 vs 2 or 3 - you should be splitting the 6s)

4) Should 7,7 be treated as 14 and surrendered against 10,A at pivot?

the count/strategy says not to split 7,7 vs T - if the count/strategy says surrender 14 vs T then do so, if not - you don't doubledown on 14 - follow the count/strategy for hitting or standing on 14 vs T. (If the count is not high enough to surrender the 14 vs T, then in single deck, you should stand on 7,7 vs T, otherwise hit.)

[Kasey]

> You are basically asking "what is the
> correct play to make following an incorrect
> basic strategy".

You are correct, of course.

What I was trying to ask was how to interpret Vancura and Fuchs' charts in these odd cases.