orster52: Spanish 21 Variant Basic Strategy

[orster52]

I came across a spanish 21 game that has a different payoff schedule for the multicard hands. In the usual spanish 21 game the payoffs for a 5, 6, or 7 multicard 21 are 3-2, 2-1, 3-1, respectively. The variant I found has payoffs of 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 for the 5, 6, 7 multicard 21, respectively. I estimate the house edge is -0.4%.

The different payoff schedule requires a new basic strategy for the multicard hands, which is below.

SPANISH 21, H17, 6D,

2-1,3-1,4-1 for 5,6,7 21s

DEALER UP CARD
HAND 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
18=> S S S S S S S S S S
17 S S S S S S S5 S5 S5 R
16 S5 S5 S5 S6 S6 H H H H R
15 S4.S4,S5 S5 S6 H H H H H
14 H H S4.S4,S5'H H H H H
13 H H H H S4.H H H H H
12 H H H H H H H H H H
11 D4 D4 D4 D4 D4 D4 D4 D3 D3 D3
10 D4 D4 D D D D3 D3 H H H
9 H H H H D H H H H H
8=< H H H H H H H H H H
A9 S S S S S S S S S S
A8 S S S S S S S S6 S5 S5
A7 S4 S4 D4 D4 D5 S5 S3 H H H
A6 H H D3 D4 D4 H H H H H
A5 H H H D3 D4 H H H H H
A4 H H H H D4 H H H H H
A3 H H H H H H H H H H
A2 H H H H H H H H H H
AA P P P P P P P P P P
1010 S S S S S S S S S S
99 S P P P P S P P S S
88 P P P P P P P P P R
77 P P P P P P H H H H
66 H H P P P H H H H H
44 H H H H H H H H H H
33 P P P P P P P H H H
22 P P P P P P P H H H

RESCUE
17 S S S S S S S S S R
16-12S S S S S S R R R R
S=STAND H=HIT D=DOUBLE P=SPLIT
R=SURRENDER .=H678 ,=H678SUITED,
'=H678SPADES 3,4,5,6=H MULTICARD

[zoomie]

> I came across a spanish 21 game that has a different
> payoff schedule for the multicard hands [ . . . ]

I estimate the house edge
> is -0.4%.

[ . . . ]

You think there is actually a negative HE?

[orster52]

> I estimate the house edge

> [ . . . ]

> You think there is actually a negative HE?

The usual house edge is -0.76% for the player. I estimate the variant is -0.4% for the player. The DDD game is -0.42% for the player. The S17 game is -0.4% for the player, so the variant is in line with the DDD and S17 games.

I did not mean that the game is positive off the top for the player if that is the import of your question.

[JohnDoe]

> The usual house edge is -0.76% for the player. I
> estimate the variant is -0.4% for the player. The DDD
> game is -0.42% for the player. The S17 game is -0.4%
> for the player, so the variant is in line with the DDD
> and S17 games.

> I did not mean that the game is positive off the top
> for the player if that is the import of your question.

I think it was just a semantic issue; I think you said in your first post that the HE was negative. That implies positive for the player. We all know that's not the case.

I know this game you're talking about, and I think .4% might be a little generous; the multicard bonuses aren't all that common. Did you sim this thoroughly?

[orster52]

> I think it was just a semantic issue; I think you said
> in your first post that the HE was negative. That
> implies positive for the player. We all know that's
> not the case.

> I know this game you're talking about, and I think .4%
> might be a little generous; the multicard bonuses
> aren't all that common. Did you sim this thoroughly?

Kat Walker, "The Pro's Guide To Spanish 21", page 20, gives 8D frequency distribution of multicard hit hands as 4(4.3%), 5(0.7%), 6(0.1%).

(4.3 x .5) + (.7 x 1) + (.1 x 1) / 12 = .25%.

.76% - .25% = .51%

I then estimated .1% for the extra opportunities to hit in the 6D game and with the extra hits from the revised basic strategy.

You are correct that my estimate may be off. I did not sim the game thoroughly. I was rather hoping someone with a CA would let us know the exact answer.

What is your estimate?

In checking my basic strategy chart I see I didn't include 9v6 4 card hit. Oops.

[MGP]

What are the rules exactly? How many decks, what kind of splits, surrender any number of cards, Double-down rescue, Double any number, hit/double split aces, etc.?

[orster52]

> What are the rules exactly? How many decks, what kind
> of splits, surrender any number of cards, Double-down
> rescue, Double any number, hit/double split aces,
> etc.?

6D,H17,split up to total of 4 hands, late surrender first two cards, double down rescue, double any number, split aces can be hit or doubled, 678 pays 3-2, 678 suited pays 2-1, 678 spades pays 3-1, 5 card 21 pays 2-1, 6 card 21 pays 3-1, 7 card 21 pays 4-1, 4.7/6 penetration, 1-200 spread possible. No redouble. These are the rules on the table felt and in the pamphlet.

When playing I sometimes get early surrender, surrender on any number of cards, depending on the pit boss.

I use the basic strategy I set forth in my first post, plus 9v6 is 4 card hit, and 18vA is 6 card hit.
For early surrender I surrender 17,16,88,15,14,13vA, and 16v10, but not 67vA. I use Hi-Lo with all indices in Kat Walker's book. I don't use the index adjustments for the multicard hands because I don't know what they should change to.

[MGP]

What about splits - which kind of splits against A/T? BB+1, OBO? ENHC?

Can aces be resplit?

Is there double-down rescue after split?

I assume player 21 always wins? What about player BJ - I assume the player always wins for that too?

I don't see a 777 bonus - is there one?

My ca won't do counting so spreads and all that don't matter.

I can run it without and without early surrender if you like once the rules are clarified.

> 6D,H17,split up to total of 4 hands, late surrender
> first two cards, double down rescue, double any
> number, split aces can be hit or doubled, 678 pays
> 3-2, 678 suited pays 2-1, 678 spades pays 3-1, 5 card
> 21 pays 2-1, 6 card 21 pays 3-1, 7 card 21 pays 4-1,
> 4.7/6 penetration, 1-200 spread possible. No redouble.
> These are the rules on the table felt and in the
> pamphlet.

> When playing I sometimes get early surrender,
> surrender on any number of cards, depending on the pit
> boss.

> I use the basic strategy I set forth in my first post,
> plus 9v6 is 4 card hit, and 18vA is 6 card hit.
> For early surrender I surrender 17,16,88,15,14,13vA,
> and 16v10, but not 67vA. I use Hi-Lo with all indices
> in Kat Walker's book. I don't use the index
> adjustments for the multicard hands because I don't
> know what they should change to.

[orster52]

> What about splits - which kind of splits against A/T?
> BB+1, OBO? ENHC?

> Can aces be resplit?

> Is there double-down rescue after split?

> I assume player 21 always wins? What about player BJ -
> I assume the player always wins for that too?

> I don't see a 777 bonus - is there one?

> My ca won't do counting so spreads and all that don't
> matter.

> I can run it without and without early surrender if
> you like once the rules are clarified.

You lose original bet only on splits and double downs because there is a dealer hole card and she does check for blackjack. Insurance is offered.

Aces can be resplit up to a total of four hands.

There is double down rescue after split.

Player 21 always wins. Player BJ beats dealer BJ.

678 and multicard 21 bonuses are also paid on split hands, but not paid on double downs.

There is the 777 suited against dealer 7 super bonus. $5000 payoff if player bet is $25 or greater. $1000 payoff if player bet is less than $25.

Typical Spanish 21 deck, 48 cards, normal blackjack deck minus the 10 pip cards.

Thank you very much for the work you're doing. Email me for the location of the game as an attempt at repayment.

[MGP]

Late Surrender

 

Forced Strategy 

Net Game EV:  -0.544544568250742% 

 

 

Total Dependent Hard Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

4           --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

5           --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

6            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

7            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

8            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

9            H        H        H        H       D3H       H        H        H        H        H     

10          D4H      D4H      D5H      D5H      D5H      D4H      D3H       H        H        H     

11          D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D3H      D3H      D3H    

12           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

13           H        H        H        H       S4H       H        H        H        H        H     

14           H        H       S4H      S4H      S4H       H        H        H        H        H     

15          S4H      S4H      S5H      S5H      S5H       H        H        H        H        H     

16          S4H      S5H      S5H      S6H      S6H       H        H        H        H       R3H    

17           S        S        S        S        S        S       S5H      S5H      S5H      R3H    

18           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

19           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

20           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

21           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

Total Dependent Soft Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

12          --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

13           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

14           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

15           H        H        H        H       D3H       H        H        H        H        H     

16           H        H        H        H       D4H       H        H        H        H        H     

17           H        H       D3H      D4H      D4H       H        H        H        H        H     

18          S3H      S4H      D4H      D4H      D5H      S5H      S3H       H        H        H     

19          S6H      S6H      S6H      S6H      S6H      S9H       S       S5H      S5H      S5H    

20           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

21           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

Split Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

1, 1        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH     

2, 2        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H        H     

3, 3        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H     

4, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 5         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

6, 6         H        H       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H        H        H     

7, 7        PH       PH       PH       PS       PS       PH        H        H        H        H     

8, 8        PS       PS       PS       PS       PS       PH       PH       PH       PH        R     

9, 9         S       PS       PS       PS       PS        S       PS       PS        S        S     

10, 10       S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

2-Card Hard Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

2, 3         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 5         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 6         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 5         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 7         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 6         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 5         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 8         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

3, 7         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

4, 6         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

2, 9         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

3, 8         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

4, 7         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

5, 6         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

2, 10        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 9         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 8         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 7         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 10        H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 9         H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 8         H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        H     

6, 7         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 10        H        H        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 9         H        H        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

6, 8         H        H        H        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 10        S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

6, 9         S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

7, 8         H        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        H     

6, 10        S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

7, 9         S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

7, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        R     

8, 9         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        R     

8, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

9, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

2-Card Soft Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

A, 2         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 3         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 4         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 5         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 6         H        H        D        D        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 7         S        S        D        D        D        S        S        H        H        H     

A, 8         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

A, 9         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

A, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

[MGP]

Forced Strategy
Net Game EV: -0.283377766835327%

 

Total Dependent Hard Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

4           --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

5           --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

6            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

7            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

8            H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

9            H        H        H        H       D3H       H        H        H        H        H     

10          D4H      D4H      D5H      D5H      D5H      D4H      D3H       H        H        H     

11          D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D4H      D3H      D3H      D3H    

12           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

13           H        H        H        H       S4H       H        H        H        H       R3H    

14           H        H       S4H      S4H      S4H       H        H        H        H       R3H    

15          S4H      S4H      S5H      S5H      S5H       H        H        H        H       R3H    

16          S4H      S5H      S5H      S6H      S6H       H        H        H       R3H      R3H    

17           S        S        S        S        S        S       S5H      S5H      S5H      R3H    

18           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

19           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

20           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

21           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

Total Dependent Soft Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

12          --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     

13           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

14           H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

15           H        H        H        H       D3H       H        H        H        H        H     

16           H        H        H        H       D4H       H        H        H        H        H     

17           H        H       D3H      D4H      D4H       H        H        H        H        H     

18          S3H      S4H      D4H      D4H      D5H      S5H      S3H       H        H        H     

19          S6H      S6H      S6H      S6H      S6H      S9H       S       S5H      S5H      S5H    

20           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

21           S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

Split Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

1, 1        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH     

2, 2        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H        H     

3, 3        PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H     

4, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 5         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

6, 6         H        H       PH       PH       PH        H        H        H        H        H     

7, 7        PH       PH       PH       PS       PS       PH        H        H        H        R     

8, 8        PS       PS       PS       PS       PS       PH       PH       PH       PH        R     

9, 9         S       PS       PS       PS       PS        S       PS       PS        S        S     

10, 10       S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

2-Card Hard Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

2, 3         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 5         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 4         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 6         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 5         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 7         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 6         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 5         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

2, 8         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

3, 7         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

4, 6         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        H        H        H     

2, 9         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

3, 8         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

4, 7         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

5, 6         D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D        D     

2, 10        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 9         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

4, 8         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

5, 7         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

3, 10        H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        R     

4, 9         H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        R     

5, 8         H        H        H        H        S        H        H        H        H        R     

6, 7         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        R     

4, 10        H        H        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

5, 9         H        H        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

6, 8         H        H        H        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

5, 10        S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

6, 9         S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

7, 8         H        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        H        R     

6, 10        S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        R        R     

7, 9         S        S        S        S        S        H        H        H        R        R     

7, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        R     

8, 9         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        R     

8, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

9, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

 

 

2-Card Soft Hands 

             2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        T        A     

A, 2         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 3         H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 4         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 5         H        H        H        H        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 6         H        H        D        D        D        H        H        H        H        H     

A, 7         S        S        D        D        D        S        S        H        H        H     

A, 8         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

A, 9         S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

A, 10        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S        S     

[orster52]

> Late Surrender
> Forced Strategy
> Net Game EV: -0.544544568250742%
>
> Total Dependent Hard Hands
> 2 3 4 5 6
> 7 8 9 T A
> 4 -- -- -- -- --
> -- -- -- -- --
> 5 -- -- -- -- --
> -- -- -- -- --
> 6 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 7 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 8 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 9 H H H H D3H
> H H H H H
> 10 D4H D4H D5H D5H D5H
> D4H D3H H H H
> 11 D4H D4H D4H D4H D4H
> D4H D4H D3H D3H D3H
> 12 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 13 H H H H S4H
> H H H H H
> 14 H H S4H S4H S4H
> H H H H H
> 15 S4H S4H S5H S5H S5H
> H H H H H
> 16 S4H S5H S5H S6H S6H
> H H H H R3H
> 17 S S S S S
> S S5H S5H S5H R3H
> 18 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> 19 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> 20 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> 21 S S S S S
> S S S S S
>
> Total Dependent Soft Hands
> 2 3 4 5 6
> 7 8 9 T A
> 12 -- -- -- -- --
> -- -- -- -- --
> 13 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 14 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 15 H H H H D3H
> H H H H H
> 16 H H H H D4H
> H H H H H
> 17 H H D3H D4H D4H
> H H H H H
> 18 S3H S4H D4H D4H D5H
> S5H S3H H H H
> 19 S6H S6H S6H S6H S6H
> S9H S S5H S5H S5H
> 20 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> 21 S S S S S
> S S S S S
>
> Split Hands
> 2 3 4 5 6
> 7 8 9 T A
> 1, 1 PH PH PH PH PH
> PH PH PH PH PH
> 2, 2 PH PH PH PH PH
> PH H H H H
> 3, 3 PH PH PH PH PH
> PH PH H H H
> 4, 4 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 5, 5 D D D D D
> D D H H H
> 6, 6 H H PH PH PH
> H H H H H
> 7, 7 PH PH PH PS PS
> PH H H H H
> 8, 8 PS PS PS PS PS
> PH PH PH PH R
> 9, 9 S PS PS PS PS
> S PS PS S S
> 10, 10 S S S S S
> S S S S S
>
> 2-Card Hard Hands
> 2 3 4 5 6
> 7 8 9 T A
> 2, 3 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 2, 4 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 2, 5 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 3, 4 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 2, 6 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 3, 5 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 2, 7 H H H H D
> H H H H H
> 3, 6 H H H H D
> H H H H H
> 4, 5 H H H H D
> H H H H H
> 2, 8 D D D D D
> D D H H H
> 3, 7 D D D D D
> D D H H H
> 4, 6 D D D D D
> D D H H H
> 2, 9 D D D D D
> D D D D D
> 3, 8 D D D D D
> D D D D D
> 4, 7 D D D D D
> D D D D D
> 5, 6 D D D D D
> D D D D D
> 2, 10 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 3, 9 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 4, 8 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 5, 7 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 3, 10 H H H H S
> H H H H H
> 4, 9 H H H H S
> H H H H H
> 5, 8 H H H H S
> H H H H H
> 6, 7 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> 4, 10 H H S S S
> H H H H H
> 5, 9 H H S S S
> H H H H H
> 6, 8 H H H S S
> H H H H H
> 5, 10 S S S S S
> H H H H H
> 6, 9 S S S S S
> H H H H H
> 7, 8 H S S S S
> H H H H H
> 6, 10 S S S S S
> H H H H R
> 7, 9 S S S S S
> H H H H R
> 7, 10 S S S S S
> S S S S R
> 8, 9 S S S S S
> S S S S R
> 8, 10 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> 9, 10 S S S S S
> S S S S S
>
> 2-Card Soft Hands
> 2 3 4 5 6
> 7 8 9 T A
> A, 2 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> A, 3 H H H H H
> H H H H H
> A, 4 H H H H D
> H H H H H
> A, 5 H H H H D
> H H H H H
> A, 6 H H D D D
> H H H H H
> A, 7 S S D D D
> S S H H H
> A, 8 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> A, 9 S S S S S
> S S S S S
> A, 10 S S S S S
> S S S S S
>

Thank you so much MGP. A great post.

The game is a bit worse than I thought. I've been overbetting, which will now be cured. My intuition was the game was about even off the top with early surrender. I am now disabused of this false notion.

Some surprises for me in the basic strategy, hitting 6 card A8v2,3,4,5,6,7, no double A5v5, 22v8 hit instead of split, 18vA stand no 6 card hit. I had 18vA stand as EV-.28 and 6 card hit as EV-.17, I really must improve my math skills. lol. There is a typo A8v7 S9H which I assume should be S6H.

Your post also answered a question I had about there being any 2 card composition dependant exceptions to basic strategy and I don't see any.

I owe you one.

[MGP]

> Thank you so much MGP. A great post.

You're welcome.

> Some surprises for me in the basic strategy, hitting 6
> card A8v2,3,4,5,6,7, no double A5v5,

> 22v8 hit instead of split

This one is very close and becomes hit because of the NCard strategy.

> 18vA stand no 6 card hit. I had 18vA stand
> as EV-.28 and 6 card hit as EV-.17, I really must
> improve my math skills. lol.

Using only hands used and 6 cards exactly:

Stand EV: -0.280839
Hit EV: -0.378318

EV's don't really change much if you use 6-or-more card hands.

> There is a typo A8v7 S9H
> which I assume should be S6H.

Why would this be a typo? It's correct. Don't forget it either because it'll mean the difference between driving a Ferrari and a Yugo!

> Your post also answered a question I had about there
> being any 2 card composition dependant exceptions to
> basic strategy and I don't see any.

I forgot to spell out the suited exceptions, they're all Hit. It was too hard to read yours (you can use the pre and /pre in <> before and after your text to keep it's format) but these are the exceptions:

Suited 78 vs 3
Suited 68 vs 5
Spades 68 vs 6

> I owe you one.

No problem.

MGP