Appendices
1: Total dependent expected return table for an infinite deck
2a: Probabilities of dealer blackjack after peek
2b: Probabilities of dealer blackjack before peek
3a: Exceptions to single-deck S17 basic strategy
3b: Exceptions to double-deck S17 basic strategy
3c: Exceptions to single-deck H17 basic strategy
4: Blackjack standard deviation details
5: Infinite deck expected return by player hand and dealer upcard
6: Fine points of when to surrender
7: Effect of card removal
8: Analysis of blackjack side bets
9: Composition-dependent expected returns for 1 to 8 decks
10: Continuous shuffling machine vs. cut card
11: Value and strategy for 678 and 777 bonuses
12: Risk of ruin statistics
13: Probabilities in the first four cards
14: Value of each initial player card
15: House edge using total-dependent vs. composition-dependent basic strategy
16: Basic strategy when dealer exposes both cards
17: The Ace-Five card counting method
18: Basic strategy exceptions for three to six cards
19: Blackjack splitting strategy when a back-player is betting
20: Blackjack doubling strategy when doubling after splitting aces is allowed
21: Details on the Wizard\’s Simple Strategy
Miscellaneous
My comments on the movie "21"
Australian Blackjack
Introduction to Card Counting
Rule Variations
Blackjack "Charlie" Rule
Rummy (Blackjack variant popular in Costa Rica)
External Links
Macau Blackjack rules
Simple Blackjack Explanation
Composition-Dependent Strategy for Single Deck and Dealer Stands on Soft 17
Introduction
This appendix shows the composition dependent strategy when a single deck is used and the dealer stands on a soft 17. As far as I know the number of land casinos in the world with these rules is zero. At one time, when I created this page, you could find such rules at some Internet casinos.
This page is based on the defunct Boss Media blackjack rules, as follows:
Single deck
Dealer stands on soft 17
Dealer peeks for blackjack
Double after split allowed
Player may split only once
No surrender
Split aces get one card only
Using the ordinary total-depenendent basic strategy the player advantage under the Boss Media rules is 0.11%, and under the Microgaming rules the house edge is 0.13%. These strategies can be found in my Boss Media and Microgaming reviews. The total dependent basic strategy shows the best play based on the total of the player's cards. However sometimes, especially in single-deck, there are exceptions according to the exact cards in the player's hand. For example, all things considered it is better to stand than to hit a 13 against a dealer 2. However with a 10 and 3 against a dealer 2 it is better to hit. The following tables are the composition dependent basic strategy, which is the best play based on the exact composition of the player's hand. With three or more cards the strategies are the same. Using the composition dependent strategies on this page will lower the house edge by 0.04%, or to be specific under the Boss Media rules the player will have an 0.1541% advantage.
The following tables are appropriate for the Boss Media rules. They may also be used under the Microgaming rules, except the player should not double on 11 or split eights, against a 10 or ace, because the dealer does not peek for blackjack under the Microgaming Classic Blackjack rules. Microgaming also does not allow doubling on 8.
It should be noted that the six-card chart has some impossible situations involving five aces. For example, player A-A-A-A-3-9 vs. dealer ace. Please just ignore those situations.
Strategy Exceptions by Number of Cards
If the tables above are too much information, you can get nearly the effectiveness with the tables and lists below that show situations where the right play depends on the number of cards in the player's hand. This is also based on a single-deck game where the dealer stands on a soft 17.
1 Deck
2 to 8 Decks
There are only a few exceptions for 2 to 8 decks, as follows.
Always: Stand on 16 vs 10 with 3 or more cards.
Two decks, dealer stands on soft 17: Stand soft 18 vs A with 3 or more cards.
Four or six decks, dealer stands on soft 17: Stand soft 18 vs A with 4 or more cards.
Acknowledgements
Several player through the years have found some omissions in my charts. Here are some I can remember.
"Tank"
Scott E. (Scott claims the player edge is only 0.1531% under the Boss Media rules)
Don Schlesinger
Internal Links
Blackjack Side Bets
Introduction to Card Counting
The Hi-Lo Count
The Wizard's Ace-Five Count
When to Surrender in Blackjack
Value of a Free Ace
Dealer Exposes Both Cards
Splitting Strategy for the Back Players
Double after Splitting Aces Allowed
Continuous Shuffling Machines
Cut Card Effect
Variance in Blackjack
678 and 777 Bonuses in Blackjack
Risk of Ruin in blackjack
Total Dependent vs. Composition Dependent Basic
Expected Returns with Infinite Decks
Dealer Odds in Blackjack under U.S. Rules
Dealer Odds in Blackjack under European Rules
Effect of Card Removal in Blackjack
Blackjack Expected Values
Estimating Number of Decks in Online Blackjack
Composition-Dependent Strategy for Single Deck and Dealer Stands on Soft 17
Composition-Dependent Strategy for Single Deck and Dealer Hits on Soft 17
Composition-Dependent Strategy for Double Deck and Dealer Stands on Soft 17