if the TC is like -3, why does this help the dealer? if its H17, and dealer has like a hard 15 and hits and makes a 18, how is that different from the player doing the exact same thing? shouldnt the chances be the same?
if the TC is like -3, why does this help the dealer? if its H17, and dealer has like a hard 15 and hits and makes a 18, how is that different from the player doing the exact same thing? shouldnt the chances be the same?
The player has the option of not hitting 12-16, according to both the dealer's upcard and the count. By contrast, the dealer, must hit all 12-16 hands, and is less likely to bust and more likely to make high hands in a low count.
It's also not just the excess of low cards, but the lack of high cards, which is worse for the player: double downs and non-defensive splits (like 9-9 v 6) all go much better when the count is higher.
Ever notice how many 20 and 21 totals the dealer draws out to with itty-bitty cards? It's not your imagination: the dealer has to keep drawing until he surpasses 16, and low counts mean things go better for the dealer and worse for you.
The dealer has a massive built in advantage because he gets to go last. If you bust out you lose regardless of the dealers total. (Dealer doesn't have to hit a stiff hand if everyone's already lost). Couple that with the rules that the dealer MUST hit their 12-16 stiffs no matter what makes low valued cards very valuable. Still, most of the player edge from counting cards comes from the result of the 3-2 payoff on blackjacks, without which the house edge of blackjack would be like that of a carnival game.
"Wait a minute. How do you beat someone to death with their own skull? That doesn't seem physically possible." "That's what Jimmy kept screaming: 'This doesn't seem physically possible!'"
Dealer has the advantage because he goes last. If you bust and he busts...you still lose. So while you you have the same chance as drawing a 3 on a 15 to total 18, as does the dealer, but you also have the same chance to bust -- and you cannot win if you bust (but a dealer can win if be busts, assuming you busted already!).
Also, doubling isn't as effective in a -TC deck, and also less BJ's. On the contrare, maybe you already won the first few hands with all those tens & aces that cooled down the deck....so a -TC isn't always thaaaat bad!
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