Can I Use A Blackjack Strategy Card At The Table
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- Can I Use A Blackjack Strategy Card At The Tablet
- Can I Use A Blackjack Strategy Card At The Table Runner
Basic Blackjack Strategy is just as the name implies a basic strategy you should implement whilst playing the table game. However, this strategy does not cover certain advanced Blackjack strategy techniques that you should know about, especially if you play the game on a regular basis and want to win by making the right moves almost every time. Yes, it's fine to keep your strategy card on the table. I agree with Truman, though, that it's best to memorize the most common scenarios (which you can do quickly and easily) and only consult the strategy card for the pairs and soft hands you don't remember. Checking the card for every hand will really slow down the game. Example of how a Blackjack table may look, including details of the Payouts. Blackjack Definitions Hit. Hit means to draw another card. You can request a hit as many times as you like, but if your total goes over twenty-one, you will bust and lose the hand. Stand means the player receives no more cards. Have you ever wondered which is the right move to use when playing Blackjack Online? Our Blackjack strategy chart can guide you in making the right moves.
Introduction
Three Card Blackjack is an easy-to-play blackjack variant found in many Washington state casinos, especially the smaller ones. It made its Las Vegas debut on January 1, 2010, at the Monte Carlo.
Rules
- A single 52-card deck is used.
- Player makes an Ante wager and an optional Ace Plus side bet.
- Dealer gives the player and himself three cards. One dealer card is dealt face up, the other two face down. Player cards are dealt face down, which the player may look at.
- Hands will be scored according to the best blackjack hand that can be composed using any two, or all three, cards.
- After examining his cards, the player may fold or raise.
- If the player folds, he forfeits his Ante wager, but the Ace Plus wager, if made, will remain in play.
- If the player decides to raise, then he must make a Raise wager equal to his Ante wager.
- The dealer will turn over his two face-down cards.
- The dealer must have at least 17 points to open.
- If the dealer cannot open, and the player has a blackjack, then the player will be paid 1 to 1 on the Ante and the Raise will push.
- If the dealer cannot open, and the player does not have a blackjack, then the Ante and Raise will push.
- If the dealer can open, and the player has a blackjack, then the Ante and Raise shall pay 1 to 1, even if the dealer also has a blackjack.
- If the dealer can open, and the player does not have a blackjack, then the higher hand shall win. If the player has the higher hand, then the Ante and Raise shall pay even money. If the dealer has the higher hand, then the Ante and Raise shall lose. If there is a tie, then the Ante and Raise shall push.
- The Ace Plus side bet pays according only to the player's hand. The possible pay tables are listed towards the bottom of this page.
Ante Odds
The first table shows the probability of each number of points for the player or dealer hand.
Points Distribution
Points | Combinations | Probability |
---|---|---|
6 | 4 | 0.000181 |
7 | 24 | 0.001086 |
8 | 48 | 0.002172 |
9 | 92 | 0.004163 |
10 | 136 | 0.006154 |
11 | 200 | 0.009050 |
12 | 268 | 0.012127 |
13 | 356 | 0.016109 |
14 | 536 | 0.024253 |
15 | 788 | 0.035656 |
16 | 1,156 | 0.052308 |
17 | 2,016 | 0.091222 |
18 | 2,680 | 0.121267 |
19 | 3,336 | 0.150950 |
20 | 6,304 | 0.285249 |
21 | 1,532 | 0.069321 |
BJ | 2,624 | 0.118733 |
Total | 22,100 | 1.000000 |
The next table shows the probability of each possible outcome on the Ante bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 3.42%. The player will raise 63.66% of the time, so the average player wager will be 1.6366 units. Thus the element of risk, the ratio of expected player loss to the average wager, is 2.09%.
Ante Return Table
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Player wins | 2 | 341,489,680 | 0.279563 | 0.559127 |
Dealer doesn't open and player has blackjack | 1 | 25,599,648 | 0.020957 | 0.020957 |
Push | 0 | 257,354,144 | 0.210685 | 0.000000 |
Player folds | -1 | 443,840,928 | 0.363354 | -0.363354 |
Dealer wins | -2 | 153,226,800 | 0.125440 | -0.250881 |
Total | 1,221,511,200 | 1.000000 | -0.034151 |
The next table shows the expected value according to the player's hand and the dealer's up card. The player should fold on an expected value of less than -1. Cells have been conveniently colored red when the odds favor folding, and green for raising.
Expected Return According to Player Total and Dealer Up CardExpand
Player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | -1.198582 | -1.400709 | -1.570922 | -1.691489 | -1.647163 | -1.750000 | -1.835106 | -1.900709 | -1.964539 | -1.939716 |
7 | -1.198582 | -1.393617 | -1.542553 | -1.684397 | -1.640071 | -1.744681 | -1.828014 | -1.893617 | -1.957447 | -1.934397 |
8 | -1.195745 | -1.372340 | -1.523303 | -1.677305 | -1.632979 | -1.738475 | -1.820922 | -1.887411 | -1.951241 | -1.930851 |
9 | -1.186613 | -1.358447 | -1.512691 | -1.670213 | -1.626349 | -1.732347 | -1.814292 | -1.881129 | -1.947117 | -1.925686 |
10 | -1.172716 | -1.346336 | -1.501082 | -1.663475 | -1.624086 | -1.727576 | -1.808824 | -1.877451 | -1.943680 | -1.921464 |
11 | -1.160938 | -1.333718 | -1.491671 | -1.657144 | -1.622263 | -1.723569 | -1.805745 | -1.875177 | -1.941064 | -1.918085 |
12 | -1.150270 | -1.323772 | -1.482011 | -1.650887 | -1.617612 | -1.720871 | -1.803016 | -1.872658 | -1.938340 | -1.915423 |
13 | -1.137891 | -1.311755 | -1.472290 | -1.643099 | -1.613256 | -1.717045 | -1.799437 | -1.868804 | -1.936011 | -1.913337 |
14 | -1.127030 | -1.304801 | -1.467954 | -1.637029 | -1.606136 | -1.712907 | -1.796782 | -1.867458 | -1.935575 | -1.914244 |
15 | -1.117876 | -1.296842 | -1.458041 | -1.630912 | -1.601026 | -1.708667 | -1.793447 | -1.864429 | -1.933488 | -1.912748 |
16 | -1.098594 | -1.274028 | -1.439573 | -1.618587 | -1.595245 | -1.700223 | -1.784653 | -1.857419 | -1.928355 | -1.907273 |
17 | -0.902922 | -1.073912 | -1.226339 | -1.268578 | -1.326859 | -1.321114 | -1.611843 | -1.711354 | -1.819351 | -1.816612 |
18 | -0.559604 | -0.713710 | -0.732127 | -0.591323 | -0.734567 | -0.644870 | -0.884957 | -1.402702 | -1.546080 | -1.575111 |
19 | -0.238346 | -0.251290 | -0.140474 | 0.046776 | -0.080634 | -0.017875 | 0.023597 | -0.468811 | -1.139250 | -1.198903 |
20 | 0.264071 | 0.406365 | 0.535628 | 0.719856 | 0.642774 | 0.713253 | 0.782869 | 0.788370 | 0.116521 | -0.657262 |
21 | 0.733564 | 0.902661 | 1.055977 | 1.234992 | 1.198258 | 1.297247 | 1.369686 | 1.450641 | 1.204872 | -0.361228 |
BJ | 1.511082 | 1.601961 | 1.687655 | 1.780186 | 1.771266 | 1.828191 | 1.876197 | 1.917465 | 1.957863 | 1.960106 |
Ace Plus Odds
The next table shows the return for the most common pay table for the Ace Plus side bet, known as 'pay table 2.' An A represents an ace, a T any 10-point card, and x a 2-9 card. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 2.75%, which for a side bet isn't bad.
Ante Return Table for Pay Table 2
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
AAA | 100 | 4 | 0.000181 | 0.018100 |
AAT | 25 | 96 | 0.004344 | 0.108597 |
AAx | 15 | 192 | 0.008688 | 0.130317 |
ATT | 6 | 480 | 0.021719 | 0.130317 |
ATx | 3 | 2,048 | 0.092670 | 0.278009 |
Axx | 1 | 1,984 | 0.089774 | 0.089774 |
No aces | -1 | 17,296 | 0.782624 | -0.782624 |
Total | 22,100 | 1.000000 | -0.027511 |
The next table shows all six pay tables available from the game maker and the house edge for each.
Ante Return Table
Hand | P.T. 1 | P.T. 2 | P.T. 3 | P.T. 4 | P.T. 5 | P.T. 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAA | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
AAT | 20 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 40 | 25 |
AAx | 10 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 10 |
ATT | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Atx | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Axx | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
House Edge | 2.46% | 2.75% | 3.19% | 4.92% | 6.08% | 7.10% |
Strategy
As shown in the table above, the player should raise according to his best hand as follows:
- 16 or less: Never
- 17: Dealer 2
- 18: Dealer 2-8
- 19: Dealer 2-9
- 20-BJ: Always
For purposes of comparing one bet to the other, I recommend using the element of risk. For the Ace Plus side bet, the element of risk is the same as the house edge. The element of risk on the Ante bet is 2.09%, which is lower than any pay table on the Ace Plus. So, if you want to lose as little as possible, then I recommend betting the Ante only.
Be warned, if you don't bet something on the Ace Plus, it never fails that the dealer and other players will falsely tell you that the side bets are 'where the money is.' If you don't bet the Ace Plus, and get three aces, I can guarantee you that you'll really get lectured. With this game, and any casino game, follow such advice at your own peril.
Methodology
This analysis was based on a combinatorial program in C++. Thus, the results can be considered exactly correct.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank gaming mathematician Eliot Jacobson for answering my many questions about the game and confirming and analysis.
Written by:Michael Shackleford
With one of the lowest house edges found in casinos, and defined rules about the best way to play, blackjack is a great game if you want to have a good chance of winning some money.
It’s also a great game for having fun, particularly in a live casino.
Online blackjack can be fun as well, and offers several advantages over playing in a real casino. It’s certainly more convenient, and the live dealer games available at many online casinos bring the experience much closer to actually playing live.
There is just something about sitting at a busy blackjack table with other players that can’t be matched.
If you’re going to play live, then you should be aware of the correct etiquette. Behaving in the right way at the table will make the experience more enjoyable for you, and also for your fellow players.
It will also ensure you don’t get any hassle from the casino staff. They are usually pretty relaxed about inexperienced players making honest mistakes, but they take a dim view of players who continuously make the same mistakes or annoy other players.
On this page, we provide a few tips on how to act at the blackjack table in a live casino. These include some hard and fast rules about what you can and can’t do, but for the most part, they are about the unwritten rules of how to behave.
Before you join a table, make sure there is an available spot. Some players play multiple hands, so there may be available seats but no available betting circles.
If there is an available spot, then take a seat and wait until the current hand finishes before buying in. If the game you are joining prohibits entry mid-deck, then you will have to wait until the next shuffle.
Buying Chips
To buy chips, you should place your money in the middle of the table and tell the dealer what denomination you require. He or she will then give you the required number of chips.
It’s rare that they make mistakes, but it’s always a good idea to just check that you have the right amount.
To place a bet, you should place the relevant number of chips inside your betting circle. If you are betting a stack of chips, make sure the stack is reasonably neat.
If the stack includes different chip denominations, the highest value should be at the bottom.
The vast majority of blackjack games are played face up. This means that all the cards are dealt exposed, and you are not allowed to touch your cards under any circumstances.
If you’re playing in a face down game, you will be allowed to touch them, but you should use one hand only and always keep your cards above the table.
Making Decisions
You need to make it clear to the dealer what decision you want to make. You should state your decision audibly, or use one of the accepted hand signals. You can tap the table to indicate you want another card, or wave your hand over your cards to indicate you want to stand.
If you want to split, you can point to your cards with two fingers, or simply place the required number of chips next to your initial stake.
You can also double by placing the required number of chips next to your initial stake. A dealer will usually know whether you want to double or split based on your hand.
To be absolutely sure, though, it is best to state your intention verbally if you are doubling on a hand that could be split or vice versa.
If you win a hand, the dealer will place the relevant chips next to your initial stake.
Rather wait until they have settled all wagers at the table and collected all the used cards.
Can I Use A Blackjack Strategy Card At The Tablet
Most casinos will allow you to consult a strategy card at the table, and in fact many of them even provide strategy cards for players who want them. There is, therefore, no problem at all in using one at a table, but try not to slow the action down by doing so.
You will frustrate the other players if you spend ages looking over your card every time you have a decision to make.
Strategy cards are designed in such a way that makes it easy to find the right decision, so it should only take you a few seconds to determine what to do.
Talking to Other Players
Talking with other players at a blackjack table is part of the fun for many people. It’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do, but there are a few caveats. First, not everyone wants to talk.
Can I Use A Blackjack Strategy Card At The Table Runner
If you join a quiet table, then you shouldn’t try to force everyone to start talking if that’s not what they want to do. You can try and encourage some chat by all means, but if you don’t get much response, then it’s best just to leave it be.
You should also try not to tell other players what to do, unless they specifically ask for help, and you absolutely should not berate them if they make what you perceive to be a bad decision.
It’s their money, they don’t have to stick to basic strategy rules if they don’t want to, and you have no right to criticize their play. They can’t affect your chances of winning, so just let them play the way they want.
It’s important to respect the dealers. Much like your fellow players, some of them will be chatty and some of them less so. You can try and get some dialogue going if you want, but remember to be respectful.
You should certainly refrain from abusing them if they don’t deal the cards you want.
In terms of tipping the dealers, you are not obligated to do this and should not feel under any pressure to do so. It is considered good practice to tip from time to time, however, particularly if you are on a hot streak, but it’s your money and as such entirely up to you.
At most blackjack tables, you have the option of playing behind another player. This is basically just gambling on another player’s hand.
To do this, you place chips behind their betting circle, and you lose or win in the same way as you normally would. You have no say as to how the hand is played, though; this is up to the player.
If you want to play behind another player, it is a common courtesy to ask them beforehand. It’s unlikely they will say no, but some players feel extra pressure and prefer you not do so. If they say yes, then remember it is their hand and don’t try to influence their decisions.
Don’t criticize them if they make a bad play either.
You can leave a table any time you choose. However, if a table is running hot and everyone is winning, you might want to consider waiting until the next shuffle.
Even though leaving will not affect the chances of anyone else winning or losing, a lot of players are superstitious and might get annoyed if they think you are going to break their good run.
When you do leave, it is good practice to color up your chips if appropriate. Coloring up is exchanging your chips for a higher denomination. For example, exchange 20 $5 chips for a $100 chip.
If you have a lot of low denomination chips, they may be needed at the table, and coloring up can make things easier for the dealer.