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Thread: Basic Strategy

  1. #1
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    Basic Strategy

    I have a quick question regarding basic strategy. I have memorized the basic strategy provided here: http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php.

    My question is this: Will basic strategy vary depending on the table's rules? I know that some tables you can't double down on all hands, but this chart accounts for that. What about surrendering? There isn't any mention of when to do it on that chart?

    Thanks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by andmaf View Post
    What about surrendering? There isn't any mention of when to do it on that chart?
    It defaults to "No Surrender", but it will show when to surrender if you choose Early or Late.

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    Thanks, I don't know how I missed all of those options on the left. Especially when it says at the top that you can change the rules....

    I guess this brings me to my next question: Should people commit everyone of these charts to memory? Or should they decide in advance what type of rules they will be playing and just brush up on the chart for those rules beforehand?

  4. #4
    Senior Member Gamblor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andmaf View Post
    Thanks, I don't know how I missed all of those options on the left. Especially when it says at the top that you can change the rules....

    I guess this brings me to my next question: Should people commit everyone of these charts to memory? Or should they decide in advance what type of rules they will be playing and just brush up on the chart for those rules beforehand?
    Learn the chart to the rules in advance of the casino you are planning to go to. The other rules and BS differences are all minor, and easy to learn once you learn one.
    Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity.

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    Alright, thanks for the advice. I have one of the basic strategies memorized, I just didn't want to start learning a count system before I was sure that memorizing only one of the basic strategies was sufficient. Thanks again for the advice.

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    IMHO, one should learn EVERY basic strategy available, regardless. Why? For a greater understanding of the game and it's many (and varying) nuances. I see SO many people blindly following loose BS without understanding how the strategy was solidified, and subsequently, how "close" their decision(s) may truly be. Also, any decent 'system' book will strongly suggest learning BS to an unconscious level.

    I am quite militant in my studies, so perhaps I am wrong. But in my experience, the quest to master the game of casino 21 invariably crosses paths with BS, and more than once. After all, counting, aside from betting, consists of deviations from...

    ...yup, BS.

    (Lol!)

  7. #7
    Member chemyst's Avatar
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    Learn BS for the casino you will frequent most.
    If you go to another casino with different rules, then learn
    the changes to your 'home' BS, which won't be too many.

    Going from multi deck to single deck or double deck has
    more BS changes than going from S17 to H17 in multi deck.

    The deviations from BS also change, usually the TC/RC at which
    to deviate from BS.

    I have a BJ training video from Ken Smith's site which says that
    learning one BS is sufficient, since changes are minor and have
    little effect on EV. The BS he uses/includes on the video tape
    is multi deck, S17, das. These happen to be the most common
    rules in my neighborhood, as well.

    Chemyst
    Last edited by chemyst; 04-03-2012 at 10:16 AM.

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    There is nothing wrong with bringing a BS card with you to the table. It can't hurt you and it will help you. Not only will it insure you make the right play, but every pitboss knows no self-respecting AP would bring a card with them.
    Let me die in my sleep like my Grandfather.
    Not screaming in agony like his passengers.

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    I find it humorous when a casino hands out free BS charts for S17 games when they only offer H17 games.

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    Senior Member Aslan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zach Black View Post
    I find it humorous when a casino hands out free BS charts for S17 games when they only offer H17 games.
    More humorous is the fact that many a pit critter doesn't know the difference. In fact, I've heard as much unintentional bad advice from pit critters as I have from ploppies. And don't get me started on dealers. Many dealers "perceive" that they know the game better than anyone because they have dealt thousands and thousands of hands. Some will proceed to tell you that you should never hit a hard sixteen against any dealer upcard, or that you should double down on an A/2 against a dealer 2 or 3, or that you should stand on an A/7 against a dealer 9 or 10, or that you should never hit a hard 12 against a dealer 3, or that you should either always hit a a hard 12 against a dealer 2 or you should never hit it, no matter so long as you are consistent. And, almost invariably, these hot shots will advise you to always take even money on your blackjack against a dealer Ace, reasoning that you can't beat a sure thing. It's shows that you can't learn blackjack by your "sense" of how it seems to go. I guess it also demonstrates that you tend to "see" what you want to see.

    Aslan 11/1/90 - 6/15/10 Stormy 1/22/95 - 8/23/10... “Life’s most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

  11. #11


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    At my casino, rules are all H17, LS, 3:2, DAS, double on any two, and either 6D or DD.

    9 vs dealer 2:
    6D - hit
    2D - double

    A3 vs dealer 4:
    6D - hit
    2D - double

    You also split a little bit more aggressively in double deck.


    IMO, doubling a 9 against a dealer 2 is one of those fifty/fifty things, same with doubling an A3 vs a dealer 4 in both 6D and DD. If you switch it up every now and then, it's not going to be a big deal, and you can get away with it.

    You can also realize that doubling that 9 against a dealer 2 isn't that great of a bet, compared to say, doubling an 11 vs dealer 6. If you're struggling on the money, I'd rather double the 11vs6 instead of doubling the 9v2 because I know the 11v6 is a better, safer, double to make.

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