sdevil: basic strategy

[sdevil]

I am a very new beginner.
Is there any difference in basic strategy between a dealer having to hit a soft 17 and having to stay on a soft 17?

[Don Schlesinger]

> I am a very new beginner.
> Is there any difference in basic strategy between a
> dealer having to hit a soft 17 and having to stay on a
> soft 17?

Yes, several. Suggest you go here: blackjackinfo.com

Click on the top item in the left-hand frame, Blackjack Strategy Engine, and have a look around.

Don

[Greasy John]

> I am a very new beginner.
> Is there any difference in basic strategy between a
> dealer having to hit a soft 17 and having to stay on a
> soft 17?

The difference is mathematically is .2% (a fifth of 1%).
In other words, if you bet $10 a hand your espected return would be 2 cents (a fifth of 1% of $10) less per hand. At 100 hands an hour that's $2 an hour. I believe the differences in playing strategy are very minor. You would stand on soft seventeen vs dealer ace when S17 (H17 you would hit). But this decision is very borderline anyway. I don't think I'm forgetting anything. (?)

Greasy John

[Greasy John]

> The difference is mathematically is .2% (a fifth of
> 1%).
> In other words, if you bet $10 a hand your espected
> return would be 2 cents (a fifth of 1% of $10) less
> per hand. At 100 hands an hour that's $2 an hour. I
> believe the differences in playing strategy are very
> minor. You would stand on soft seventeen vs dealer ace
> when S17 (H17 you would hit). But this decision is
> very borderline anyway. I don't think I'm forgetting
> anything. (?)

> Greasy John

That's supposed to say that "You would stand on soft eighteen vs dealer ace..."

[Don Schlesinger]

> That's supposed to say that "You would stand on
> soft eighteen vs dealer ace..."

It's also not supposed to say that you would stand with S17. There's no difference, for multi-deck, between H17 and S17, when it comes to A,7 v. Ace.

Perhaps you were referring to single-deck.

Don