Suggested Reading 1. Strategy Excel file Sheet1 for full size Sheet2 for pocket size print Dealer Upcard bj21.tearsjors.org your hand 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, A 8, H H H H H H H H H H 9, H D D D D H H H H H 10, D D D D D D D D H H 11, D D D D D D D D D H 12, H H S S S H H H H H 13, 14, S S S S S H H H H H 15, S S S S S H H H R H 16, S S S S S H H R R R 17, S S S S S S S S S S A,2;A,3 H H H D D H H H H H A,4;A,5 H H D D D H H H H H A,6 H D D D D H H H H H A,7 S D D D D S S H H H A,8;A,9 S S S S S S S S S S 2,2;3,3 P P P P P p H H H H 4,4 H H H P P H H H H H 5,5 D D D D D D D D H H 6,6 P P P P P H H H H H 7,7 P P P P P P H H H H 8,8 P P P P P P P P P R 9,9 P P P P P S P P S S T,T S S S S S S S S S S A,A P P P P P P P P P P 6 decks hit on S17 Estmated casino edge -0.44% key : H=hit S=stand P=Split D=Double R=surrender 2. The following table display the Probability value from high speady computer, You can Register & test your set your card as 8;8 dealer upcard as A test your strategy with 10000 Hand the Probability value for surrender is -0.6523 and split value is -0.6719 and Cost 0.0186 the only difference compare this table with all web side basic strategy is surrender On 8;8 with dealer’s A. Excel file Sheet3 : Wizard's Simple Blackjack Strategy — Incorrect Plays Player Dealer Probability Wizard Basic Wizard EV Basic EV Cost Hard 12 2 0.006281 S H -0.29339 -0.25296 0.000254 Soft 18 7 0.000881 H S 0.171872 0.401861 0.000203 Hard 12 3 0.006396 S H -0.25211 -0.23245 0.000126 7,7 7 0.000404 H P -0.33178 -0.04857 0.000114 Hard 15 10 0.020205 H R -0.50345 -0.5 0.00007 Soft 18 8 0.000919 H S 0.041028 0.108057 0.000062 Soft 15 6 0.000919 H D 0.118402 0.182917 0.000059 9,9 8 0.00044 S P 0.099261 0.229929 0.000058 Hard 16 A 0.00318 H R -0.51537 -0.5 0.000049 Soft 16 2 0.000919 D H -0.07343 -0.02283 0.000047 3,3 7 0.00044 H P -0.1538 -0.0511 0.000045 2,2 7 0.00044 H P -0.08883 0.008597 0.000043 Soft 14 6 0.000919 H D 0.140226 0.186374 0.000042 9,9 9 0.000404 S P -0.18524 -0.08156 0.000042 Soft 15 5 0.000919 H D 0.094352 0.133708 0.000036 Soft 13 6 0.000919 H D 0.162671 0.187925 0.000023 Hard 16 9 0.004557 H R -0.50463 -0.5 0.000021 Soft 14 5 0.000919 H D 0.115726 0.138428 0.000021 Hard 9 2 0.002719 D H 0.070004 0.07718 0.00002 4,4 6 0.00044 H P 0.124399 0.168189 0.000019 4,4 5 0.00044 H P 0.083624 0.1119 0.000012 Soft 17 2 0.000919 D H -0.00396 0.000693 0.000004 Soft 18 2 0.000919 D S 0.12098 0.124001 0.000003 Soft 15 4 0.000881 H D 0.059395 0.062389 0.000003 Soft 13 5 0.000919 H D 0.137333 0.139852 0.000002 Total 0.057301 0.001377 8,8: A -0.6523 R P -0.6719 0.0186 My test Key D=Double H=Hit P=sPlit S=Stand Blackjack - How to Count Cards The Hi Lo Method Point Values The Low cards: two, three, four, five and six are assigned a value of plus one. 2;3;4;5;6 = +1. The High cards:Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace are assigned value of minus one. A;10;J;Q;K = -1. The Neutral cards: seven, eight and nine have no value and are not counted. 7;8;9 = 0.. The first step in learning card counting is to get familiar with the point values of each card. Get a deck of cards and turn them over one at a time while reciting their value. Here is an easy tip to speed things up: Instead of saying “plus one” for low cards, just say, “One” and instead of saying, “Minus one.” for high cards, say, “M-one.” You don’t have to say anything for the neutral cards. For example you deal: King (M-one) 9 (say nothing) 6 (one) The Running Count Once you have practiced the point values it is time to start keeping the Running Count for the whole deck. This time you will add and subtract the cards as you go along. For example: 1st card = King. The count is: M-one. 2nd card= Ace. The count is: M-two. 3rd card = 9. The count is still: M-two. 4th card = Jack. The count is: M-three. 5th card =5. The count is: M-two. 6th card = 4. The count is M-one. 7th card = 3. The is: Even (You don’t have to see anything.) 8th card = 6. The count is One. 9th card = 7. The count is still: One When you first start out you should not worry about speed. It will be pretty slow but you should be more concerned with your accuracy. After counting down few hundred decks of cards your speed will increase. A good counter can count a deck in about 20 seconds. The True Count When you use the Hi Lo system you have to convert the running count into the True count to get a more accurate estimation whether or not you have an advantage. You do this by dividing the running count by the remainder cards. For example: a six deck game,the running count is 12. You look at that discard tray and see that three decks have been played which means that there are still three deck remaining. You divide the running count of 12 by 3 and you get a true count of four. Betting The way you get your advantage with card counting is by betting more when the count is positive and betting the minimum when it is negative. You determine the size of your bets by the true count. Each bet is a unit and it is determined by the size of your base bet. If you were playing at a $5 table one unit would be $5. If you are playing at a $25 table one unit would be $25. The amount of units you bet from minimum to maximum is known as the spread. When you play a double deck game you can get the advantage by spreading your bets from on unit to six. In a six or eight deck game you will have to spread from one to 12 units. The chart below shows you bet based on the true count. Spread Based on Count, when +4 may buy insurance, stand on 12 on dealer 2 or 3: True Count 2 Decks 6 Decks 0 or less 1 unit 1 unit +1 2 units 2 units +2 3 units 4 units +3 4 units 8 units +4 Insurance. Stand 12 with dealer 2 or 3 5 units 10 units