A question about blackjack chart?

Question

Hello.

I am testing this bj system with play money before hitting to a real casino. But I have a question concerning this.

I want to ask about the A-7 vs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Concerning the chart the correct play is to double. But what happens when I don't have A-7 but I do have lets say A-5-2, A-4-3, A-6-A which are all like A-7 but I can't double them.

Due to the fact that A-7 vs 2, 7, 8 is stand I cannot understand whether the correct play is to hit or stand.

Thank you.

John

Answer 1

stand u tool

Answer 2

100% Stand

Answer 3

It will be a lot clearer we start by looking at what happens when you hit a soft 18. There are only three cards (A, 2 and 3) that will give you a better hand. There are six cards (4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) that will give you a worse hand. That means you will end up with a worse hand more often when you hit a soft 18, and a worse hand will lose more often. Consequently, you do not want to hit a soft 18 when you cannot double down.

However, when you can double down the ability to double your bet size with a favorable hand that advantage is greater than the disadvantage of losing more often.

Simple example:

Assume you would win 65% of the time if you did not double down, but you would only win 60% of the time if you did double down. For simplicity, assume your initial bet is always $1 and you play 100 hands like these.

If you stand on soft 18 you will, on average, win 65 times ($65) and lose 35 times ($35) giving you a profit of $65 - $35 = $30.

If you hit on soft 18 (without doubling down) you will, on average, win 60 times ($60) and lose 40 times ($40) giving you a profit of $60 - $40 = $20.

If you double down on soft 18 you will, on average, win 60 times ($120) and lose 40 times ($80) giving you a profit of $120 - $80 = $40.

That is why against a dealer's 3, 4, 5, or 6 you should double down with a soft 18 when you can, but stand when you cannot.

Answer 4

that is even a tough play to double in taht situation with the A-7 unless against a 5 or 6..  i would much rather double on against those cards

Answer 5

This is a very important question, a question that i once asked when learning to play, many articles explaining basic strategy leave it out.  When you have a soft 18 or higher and strategy calls for a double, you STAND if you are not allowed to double such as you already have three or more cards, this is not true for soft 17s where if you cannot double you need to continue to hit.

This also applies when doubling soft 19 and soft 20 when caled for by the count, though its more obvious with these plays