In general, as we have said, the lower the dealer’s up card, the more likely it is that he will bust. But specifically, what are the percentages that the dealer gets high in blackjack?
Here’s a quick mirror:
- Ace: 11.5%
- Kings, Queens, Jacks o 10: 21.2%
- 9: 22.8%
- 8: 24.5%
- 7: 26.2%
- 6: 42.3%
- 5; 41.5%
- 4: 39%
- 3: 37%
- 2: 35%
As you have surely guessed, in reality the progression is not exactly linear, because for the dealer having a 2, a 3 or a 4 as their first card is actually better than a 5 or a 6 , absolutely the worst possible cards.
Counting cards in blackjack
That of counting cards in blackjack is often confused with a cheating strategy, but in reality it is a legal trick, that simply is not frowned upon by casinos, but does not lead to charges of fraud.
Of course, this concept is valid if the count is done using only one’s own memory, while if you use automatic counting devices, this is seen as a scam and the situation changes radically.
Inspired by the story of the Mit Blackjack team , which remained in the collective imagination also thanks to the famous film 21, we tend to think that blackjack card counting is a complicated operation. It’s actually less difficult than it looks and there are techniques for doing it.
The trick of counting cards in blackjack is based on a mnemonic that allows you to determine whether the next cards dealt will be high or low.
The best known technique is that of “+1” “-1”, which works like this:
- if a low card is rolled (from 2 to 6) a +1 is scored
- if a high card comes out (from 10 to ace) a -1 is scored
In this way, if we have an obvious result, such as a +13, we know that low cards have come up so far, so it is much more likely that the high ones will arrive in the next served.
Blackjack table: what it is, how to use it
If you are a fan of this game, you have surely heard of the blackjack table (or tables, as there are a lot of them out there). This is a useful strategic mirror that suggests the best move to make based on the dealer’s up card.
The most famous and easiest to use blackjack table is this:
- If you have a 12 and the dealer shows a 3 : call card
- If you have a 16 and the dealer shows a 7 : call card
- If you have an 11 and the dealer shows a 10 : double
- If you have A / 3 and the dealer shows a 3 : call card
- If you have A / 7 and the dealer shows a 9 : double
- If you have 9/9 and the dealer shows a 9 : split
- If you have 8/8 and the dealer shows a 10 : split
- If you have blackjack and the dealer shows an ace : don’t settle for the 1: 1 payout
Blackjack: the most popular variants
The Blackjack has many variations , some popular some other ‘more niche, but just as interesting. Among the best as far as the player is concerned, because it gives an extra advantage, there is certainly the Blackjack Double Exposure : in this variant of blackjack, both the dealer’s cards are shown immediately.
In Vegas Strip Blackjack , however, the dealer must also be with soft 17 and it is possible to split up to 3 times in a row even with cards of the same value but not identical (such as a king and a queen), but it is not possible to split two times the axes.
The California Blackjack of decks it usually uses 6, but they are made of cards are even more 53. That is represented by the wildcard, which can be used to assume the best value on the basis of his or her hand.