close blackjack decisions

[RoyalFlush]

Some charts say stand on A, 8 vs 6 while other say double. Based on 10k hands it looks like standing is better:

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 5,955
final cash: $52,640

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 7,386
final cash: $59,400

[RoyalFlush]

Some charts say to double 11 vs A. Other say to just hit.

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,733
final cash: -$16,310

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,782
final cash: -$16,130

[RoyalFlush]

A, 7 vs 2 is another close spot:

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 4,841
final cash: $11,000

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 4,931
final cash: $12,490

[RoyalFlush]

And another.

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 17 vs A

Player 1 Action: Surrender/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,032
games won: 3,076
final cash: -$20,605

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,037
games won: 3,317
final cash: -$19,665

[RoyalFlush]

We've made some changes to the simulator and I ran some of these hands again.

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 5,927
final cash: $53,040

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 7,245
final cash: $56,570

[RoyalFlush]

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,581
final cash: -$18,970

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,544
final cash: -$20,710

[RoyalFlush]

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer stands on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,711
final cash: -$18,340

Player 2 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,681
final cash: -$17,630

[RoyalFlush]

Ran more hands.

The chart says to double 11 vs A but the simulation says to just hit it:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,564
final cash: -$19,760

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 3,659
final cash: -$18,880

The chart says to double A, 7 vs 2 but the simulation says to stand:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 4,812
final cash: $9,840

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 4,933
final cash: $12,860

The chart says to double A, 8 vs 6 but the simulation says to stand:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 5,861
final cash: $48,980

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 7,239
final cash: $57,020

Chart says to surrender 17 vs A but simulation says to stand:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 17 vs A

Player 1 Action: Surrender/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,031
games won: 2,790
final cash: -$24,950

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,043
games won: 3,125
final cash: -$24,160

For the above 4 hands it looks like the Dealer stands on soft 17 chart is more accurate than the dealer hits on soft 17 chart.

There is one close hand where the chart appears to be right:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 15 vs A

Player 1 Action: Surrender/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 0
final cash: -$64,165

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 10,000
games won: 1,489
final cash: -$64,180

There is a split situation where the charts match the simulations and that is with 2, 2 vs 2.

The charts say split the deuces when doublng after splitting is allowed but just hit them when it isn't. The simulations back this up.

[RoyalFlush]

Ran more iterations.

Here doubling A7 vs 2 is significantly better than standing.


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 12,341
final cash: $34,860

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 12,259
final cash: $30,610

Here standing on A8 vs 6 is better than doubling.


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 14,703
final cash: $124,620

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 18,098
final cash: $141,370

[RoyalFlush]

Maybe the chart is right after all for 11 vs A. I thought just standing might be better than doubling but the 100k simulation says otherwise.


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 35,787
final cash: -$209,980

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 35,712
final cash: -$214,520

Ran on the http://www.blackjack-trainer.net/ simulator.

[RoyalFlush]

The chart seems to be wrong on A, 8 vs 6. Standing on 19 looks like the best play.


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 59,387
final cash: $515,160

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 72,346
final cash: $562,750

Ran on the http://www.blackjack-trainer.net/ simulator.

[RoyalFlush]

The chart could be wrong on A7 vs 2. In this 100k hand simulation standing is better than doubling:


Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 48,870
final cash: $115,000

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 49,367
final cash: $121,530

Ran on the http://www.blackjack-trainer.net/ simulator.

[RoyalFlush]

Ran more hands on hard 11. It's close but I think the chart is right after all - double against an ace:


6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: 11 vs A

Player 1 Action: Double/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 35,690
final cash: -$212,970

Player 2 Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 35,713
final cash: -$213,890

[RoyalFlush]

Ran soft 19 vs 6 again. Our chart is wrong at the time of this writing. Standing is better than doubling:

6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 59,502
final cash: $517,460

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 72,380
final cash: $561,710

[RoyalFlush]

Soft 18 vs 2 is closer but I think our chart is wrong at the time of this writing with this decision as well. I think standing is better than doubling:


6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 48,669
final cash: $107,740

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 100,000
games won: 49,378
final cash: $123,170

[RoyalFlush]

We'll have to change the chart for A8 vs 6.


6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A8 vs 6

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 14,710
final cash: $124,980

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 25,000
games won: 18,107
final cash: $141,390

[RoyalFlush]

A7 vs 2 is close but I think our chart is wrong:



6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,182
final cash: $47,880

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,666
final cash: $62,820

[RoyalFlush]

Standing on A7 vs 2 wins again.



6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,375
final cash: $56,320

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,576
final cash: $59,520

[RoyalFlush]

And again.



6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Hand: A7 vs 2

Player 1 Action: Double/Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,397
final cash: $55,560

Player 2 Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
Results:
games played: 50,000
games won: 24,537
final cash: $58,810

[RoyalFlush]

Ran some sims for tables where the dealer stands on soft 17.

15 vs T and 15 vs A.


6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer stands on soft 17
Testing the Player's Hand of 15 vs Dealer's up card of T

Default Action: Surrender/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 50,000 hands played, these are the results:
Games Won: 0
Final Balance: -$268,605
Net Profit/Loss: -$269,605

Alternative Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 50,000 hands played, these are the results:
Games Won: 10,035
Final Balance: -$267,310
Net Profit/Loss: -$268,310


6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer stands on soft 17
Testing the Player's Hand of 15 vs Dealer's up card of A

Default Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 50,000 hands played, these are the results:
Games Won: 7,725
Final Balance: -$319,880
Net Profit/Loss: -$320,880

Alternative Action: Surrender/Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 50,000 hands played, these are the results:
Games Won: 0
Final Balance: -$325,840
Net Profit/Loss: -$326,840

[pinetop]

The game I mostly play is 6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17. I am a newbie BJ player and I've noticed that my bets don't always match your chart. I think I've found the reason why. Your chart is strictly BS whereas I've modified the strategy a bit. I'm a recreational player as opposed to a professional. The modifications I make are playing composition-sensitive hands, which are hands that are so close that by observing the composition of the cards in the hand, you would ignore BS, which is based on a hand at the beginning of the shoe. The two compositions are called, "Rule of 45" and, The Dr. Pepper Rule". The rule of 45 is followed when you have a 16 vs a dealer's 10. It says that if your 16 has any 4's or 5's in it, you stand instead of hitting. The Dr. Pepper rule says that if you are holding a 10, 2 against the dealer's 4, you hit instead of standing as per BS. The reason for these two variations is that the odds are so close whether you hit or stand, the specific cards that make up the hand are enough to override BS. The book give a further explanation of these two changes to BS. I figured why take the time to learn BS and then relearn the modifications, just go ahead and learn the mods first off. Let me know what you think of this strategy. Thank you.

Pinetop

[Lucky]

Great job Eric. I have another request "Analyze this!" :))
12 versus 6.
· Dealer draws on 16 or less and stands on all 17 or greater
· After each round, used cards are returned to the deck and deck is shuffled
· The player may not split a split hand
· Only one card is drawn to split AA (aces)
· The player may double after splitting
· Dealers BJ AT beats Players Double. BJ TA — chop
· Surrender is not allowed

[RoyalFlush]

Lucky,

Ok, I'll run some simulations on 12 vs 6.

[RoyalFlush]

Couldn't do all the rules you mentioned but this might be helpful:

Blackjack strategy simulation from www.blackjack-trainer.net
6 decks, double allowed after split, dealer hits on soft 17
Testing the Player's Hand of 12 vs Dealer's up card of 6

Default Action: Stand
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 10,000 hands played, these are the results:
Hands Won: 4,396
Hands Lost: 5,604
Hands Tied: 0
Final Balance: -$11,080
Net Profit/Loss: -$12,080

Alternative Action: Hit
Starting cash $1,000, starting bet $10
After 10,000 hands played, these are the results:
Hands Won: 3,965
Hands Lost: 5,616
Hands Tied: 419
Final Balance: -$15,510
Net Profit/Loss: -$16,510

[Lucky]

Couldn't do all the rules you mentioned but this might be helpful:
Thanks Eric. Expectable results probably… Basic strategy is not cheap fake…

1. About the rules (re: “Couldn't do all the rules you mentioned…”) That exceptions are from real online good casinos (William Hill and Betfair — absolutely the same (great) software and same developer (I can’t find the Company — saw somewhere but didn’t memorize) with absolutely the same terms (Las Vegas Strip with above exceptions) but with different betting limits. So, IMHO, you’d make tough job to include that exceptions to your trainer.

2. Trainer doesn’t work for me (maybe we are not allowed to use it?). Mozilla — Gecko, (Firefox, SeaMonkey). Maybe for IE only?

3. How do you simulating games? Full play with all splits, doubles etc? Can you export 1,000 shoes (or 10 thous. or 100...) to any reasonable DB TXT File (JSON, Tab del, Comma del... sql? Excel workbook...)? As Wizard od Odds did it here: http://wizardofodds.com/games/baccarat/1000-baccarat-shoes-8-deck.txt I think that many players will be very grateful to you. It is very usable for checking out various beting strategies etc... with one deck with returned cards and shuffled after each hand — this will be very tough! I coludn’t find anyusable Blackjack shoe in the Internet so I am creating my own (with the same idea and similar format as that Baccarat shoes).

I can write some RNG with W/L/T events only and play with that but that is not trustworthy solution imho...

Thanks again.

[RoyalFlush]

Lucky,

You're welcome. I'm not sure why the trainer isn't working for you. I've used it at various times in chrome, ff and safari.

For #3 our programmer could probably put it in txt output.

I'll ask him about it.

Cheers,
Eric