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Thread: SP21/Pontoon indices for doubling A,7-A,9?

  1. #1


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    SP21/Pontoon indices for doubling A,7-A,9?

    Hi all, this one has got me a little stumped. Now obviously Spanish decks have no face 10 cards, so the index will be much higher than standard BJ. But at what point do these indices apply (relevant to each level count)?

    Now I'm aware that this IS basic strategy in SP21, but according to the basic strategy chart for Pontoon listed here:

    https://wizardofodds.com/games/pontoon/australian/

    A,7-A,9 is all stand with A,7 being hit against 9 and above. There's a few basic strategy deviations for multi-card bonuses but they are few and far between.

    These rules are in effect:

    Dealer hits soft 17.
    Double after split allowed.
    Dealer does not take a hole card.
    Player may double on any hand. If player were to double on a soft hand, the ace would be forced to count as 1.
    Player may take "late surrender." If the dealer has a ten or ace up, a laminated marker saying "surrender" will be put on the player's bet. In the event the dealer gets a blackjack, the player will lose the entire bet.
    A player 21 or blackjack wins immediately.
    Player may surrender after doubling, known as "double down rescue." The player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet. The surrender is adjudicated immediately, so it is like early surrender.
    It might sound a bit alien to those who inhabit North America. Any help would be much appreciated.

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushie View Post
    Player may double on any hand. If player were to double on a soft hand, the ace would be forced to count as 1.
    Already made hand soft doubling will be crippled by this rule. You are basic capping your total at your current total and only if you get a face card. An ace increases your total by one but any low card gives you a stiff. a 9 decreases your current total. I would be surprised if an index exists. You are basically doubling your bet on the likelihood of the dealer busting and no matter what the deck composition that is a long shot.
    Last edited by Three; 03-13-2018 at 10:46 AM.

  3. #3


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    i think a good advantage from pontoon is dealer can not get a bj after you hit to a 21 and get paid since the dealer doesn't have a hole card. there is not much value on these soft doubling hands . i would focus on other "important" aspect of the game .

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    important would mean MONEY ,NOT PENNIES

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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Already made hand soft doubling will be crippled by this rule. You are basic capping your total at your current total and only if you get a face card. An ace increases your total by one but any low card gives you a stiff. a 9 decreases your current total. I would be surprised if an index exists. You are basically doubling your bet on the likelihood of the dealer busting and no matter what the deck composition that is a long shot.
    Makes sense, as I figure that the TC would have to be through the stratisphere before even considering the play, as you're banking on the next card being a 10 followed by another 10 and a 7+ (or vice versa) for a dealer bust from 5/6.

    Which makes me wonder; what effect would a high TC that is ace deficit have on such a play?

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    Quote Originally Posted by stopgambling View Post
    important would mean MONEY ,NOT PENNIES
    I'm trying to maximise PE as much as possible actually. I've found that focusing on beating the game is more successful than focusing on the money aspect, as the nasty variance can screw with you if you only focus on the moolah.

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    Yes, in SP21 PE is what its all about. Really strong play allows you to bet much larger with the same RoR.

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    as walker said beating a game with a static strategy is hardly a feat. i rather make sure the dealer not making error that favor the house .

  9. #9
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    Pontoon LOOKS LIKE Spanish21.
    Spanish21
    LOOKS LIKE blackjack.

    At first glance, you may think that
    Pontoon is a playable exploitable
    game. Think again.

  10. #10


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    Quote Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash View Post
    Pontoon LOOKS LIKE Spanish21.
    Spanish21
    LOOKS LIKE blackjack.

    At first glance, you may think that
    Pontoon is a playable exploitable
    game. Think again.
    Of course Pontoon is exploitable. Unless you want to take it up with Don?

  11. #11
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    Bushie,
    .......... No, I do not wish to debate this issue. It has already been pointed out that Norm's S/W, as fine as it is, only handles two (2) card decisions. It does not handle the (automatic) bonus plays of 3 card, 4 card, etc. decisions. The bonuses also
    must be adjusted for suited, and spaded hands, as their extra (bonus)
    value is worth A LOT. In your 48 card deck (pontoon game), the initial 2 card hands are "stiffs" for a majority of the player's hands and many soon involve multi-card 21's, 6-7-8, 7-7-7.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash View Post
    Bushie,
    .......... No, I do not wish to debate this issue. It has already been pointed out that Norm's S/W, as fine as it is, only handles two (2) card decisions. It does not handle the (automatic) bonus plays of 3 card, 4 card, etc. decisions. The bonuses also
    must be adjusted for suited, and spaded hands, as their extra (bonus)
    value is worth A LOT. In your 48 card deck (pontoon game), the initial 2 card hands are "stiffs" for a majority of the player's hands and many soon involve multi-card 21's, 6-7-8, 7-7-7.
    You do realise, for the umpthmost time, that is alli a part of basic strategy yeah?

    There's 40 multi-card/bonus deviations in Pontoon basic strategy. I know and use all of them as well as 10+ custom indices generated for my count.

    Pontoon is as exploitable as any other blackjack game that is dealt from a shoe.

  13. #13


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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushie View Post
    You do realise, for the umpthmost time, that is alli a part of basic strategy yeah?

    There's 40 multi-card/bonus deviations in Pontoon basic strategy. I know and use all of them as well as 10+ custom indices generated for my count.

    Pontoon is as exploitable as any other blackjack game that is dealt from a shoe.

    You'll need one of these
    https://www.gettyimages.ca/photos/sl...e=sledgehammer

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