How many is the most number of cards the dealer can recieve in any one game.

My question is in regards to your classic Casino Black jack. Either hitting or standing on 17.

My question is two parts. Part A, and Part B. I think I have the answer for A, but need help with B. Can someone help me?

A) (Dealer stands on all 17's) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game
For A, I am thinking that the answer is 6 cards. It is probable that the dealer could receive four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces giving a total of 18. ===> 2,2,2,2,A,A





B) (Dealer hits soft 17) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game

Quote: SnapBack

My question is in regards to your classic Casino Black jack. Either hitting or standing on 17.

My question is two parts. Part A, and Part B. I think I have the answer for A, but need help with B. Can someone help me?

A) (Dealer stands on all 17's) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game
For A, I am thinking that the answer is 6 cards. It is probable that the dealer could receive four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces giving a total of 18. ===> 2,2,2,2,A,A





B) (Dealer hits soft 17) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game

How many decks ?

Quote: AxelWolf

How many decks ?

Yeah this is important. Though even with only a single deck you can get more then 6 with the sequence A,A,A,A,2,6,2,2,2 for a total of 9 cards.

With 8 decks you could go A,A,A,A,A,A,6,A,A,A,A,A for 12 cards. Both of those are S17 if you go with hits 17 you can put another A in the last sequence and replace the 6 with a 5.

Quote: SnapBack

My question is in regards to your classic Casino Black jack. Either hitting or standing on 17.

My question is two parts. Part A, and Part B. I think I have the answer for A, but need help with B. Can someone help me?

A) (Dealer stands on all 17's) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game
For A, I am thinking that the answer is 6 cards. It is probable that the dealer could receive four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces giving a total of 18. ===> 2,2,2,2,A,A





B) (Dealer hits soft 17) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game

I'll take part B. With four or more decks it's 13 cards.

A. Is 10 cards.

B. I am not so sure about.

Quote: SnapBack

My question is in regards to your classic Casino Black jack. Either hitting or standing on 17.

My question is two parts. Part A, and Part B. I think I have the answer for A, but need help with B. Can someone help me?

A) (Dealer stands on all 17's) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game
For A, I am thinking that the answer is 6 cards. It is probable that the dealer could receive four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces giving a total of 18. ===> 2,2,2,2,A,A





B) (Dealer hits soft 17) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game

How many decks?
1 deck
A) and B) AAAA26222
2 decks
A) and B)AAAAAA6AA22
6 decks
A) AAAAAA6AAAAA
B) AAAAAAA5AAAAA

Twelve card 21

Edit: See above

Quote: SnapBack

...A) (Dealer stands on all 17's) How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game
For A, I am thinking that the answer is 6 cards. It is probable that the dealer could receive four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces giving a total of 18. ===> 2,2,2,2,A,A

I think you already have good answers to your questions, but I thought I would point out the error you made in your initial answer to part A.

If the cards are dealt to the dealer in the order shown, he should stop when the first Ace gives him a total of 19. All of the cards shown would total 20, not 18 as stated, but the last one shouldn't be dealt. I thought you just made a typo and slipped in an extra 2, but before that you specifically said "four cards with a value of 2, and then two Aces...."

Quote: Tanko

Twelve card 21

And, if no one has mentioned it, on S17 you could have a 13 card 21. (Just saw that Miplet referred to it.)

Quote: SnapBack

How many is the most number of cards a dealer can receive in any one black jack game

The others have answered, but they may not have explained the why.

The dealer must hit on all 16's. So, the answer is, however many cards it takes to make 16, plus 1.

In S17, the most cards you can make 16 with are A,A,A,A,A,A,6,A,A,A,A. Dealer must hit, but only 1 more time - answer is 12. To do this, there need to be at least 3 decks in play.

In H17, the most cards you can make 16 with are A,A,A,A,A,A,A,5,A,A,A,A. Dealer must hit, but only 1 more time - answer is 13. Again, minimum of 3 decks in play.

Note that a player could have a larger hand, since they're not obligated to stand on 17/18/19/20. It wouldn't be any kind of recommended strategy (they should have split the opening pair of aces), but it's possible for a player to just keep drawing until they make 21 or bust.

If you ever see any of these hands come out for the dealer, leave the table. The ace supply is woefully depleted, and it's unlikely that you'll be getting many blackjacks until the shuffle.

I can't wait for the story of the forum member who had this happen with a big bet out. A,A,A,A,A,A,A,5,A,A,A,A

Quote: AxelWolf

I can't wait for the story of the forum member who had this happen with a big bet out. A,A,A,A,A,A,A,5,A,A,A,A

I think the worst I've personally seen was a 9 card 21.

There were a few upset players, and a few players who insisted on staying in until the count fell.

Technically in the UK you don't split Aces vs Ace or Ten; also you hit soft 18. Thus you could get AAAAAAAA (18) 4AAAA(16) any = 14 cards.
Strangely today I saw six jacks as the only hands. There's a sidebet that pays 35/1 for trips (your two and dealer's) but the player, who was playing both hands, only had done the "21+3". It's sad but recently it seems more people play the high risk sidebets and don't care much about the Blackjack result.

Hi Doc,

I forgot to mention that 6 or 8 decks would be the maximum number of decks used. Despite the fact that I did not mention the number of decks, I still don't think I have a good answer from anyone on the forum.


Well let me just rephrase the question to just one situation where the dealer hits soft 17. Suppose a Black Jack game is being played with 8 decks. You are at a Casino in Las Vegas, and the dealer hit's soft seventeen. How many is the max number of cards the dealer can be dealt.

Here is my answer, and I hope you or someone else can correct me if I am wrong. Answer : the maximum number of cards would be 9, because if the first two cards are Aces, the dealer must count one of them as a 12

A, A, A, A, A, A, A = 18

Quote: Greasyjohn

And, if no one has mentioned it, on S17 you could have a 13 card 21. (Just saw that Miplet referred to it.)

I don't see how that could happen.

[Edit: Never mind, got it.]

Quote: SnapBack

Hi Doc,

I forgot to mention that 6 or 8 decks would be the maximum number of decks used. Despite the fact that I did not mention the number of decks, I still don't think I have a good answer from anyone on the forum.


Well let me just rephrase the question to just one situation where the dealer hits soft 17. Suppose a Black Jack game is being played with 8 decks. You are at a Casino in Las Vegas, and the dealer hit's soft seventeen. How many is the max number of cards the dealer can be dealt.

Here is my answer, and I hope you or someone else can correct me if I am wrong. Answer : the maximum number of cards would be 9, because if the first two cards are Aces, the dealer must count one of them as a 12

A, A, A, A, A, A, A = 18

That's not true. An ace is either 1 or 11 so the answer is 13 cards for H17 and 12 cards for S17. Your example is showing a soft 17.

Quote: SnapBack

Hi Doc,

I forgot to mention that 6 or 8 decks would be the maximum number of decks used. Despite the fact that I did not mention the number of decks, I still don't think I have a good answer from anyone on the forum.


Well let me just rephrase the question to just one situation where the dealer hits soft 17. Suppose a Black Jack game is being played with 8 decks. You are at a Casino in Las Vegas, and the dealer hit's soft seventeen. How many is the max number of cards the dealer can be dealt.

Here is my answer, and I hope you or someone else can correct me if I am wrong. Answer : the maximum number of cards would be 9, because if the first two cards are Aces, the dealer must count one of them as a 12

A, A, A, A, A, A, A = 18

It depends on what sequence the cards come out. just look at this 2 2 2 2 2 2=12 A must now =1 then comes 2 A A =17

That's 10 cards and standing on 17

That's not even the most cards you can get.

Edit: For a single deck, 22223AAAA(3-6) in that order, is a 10 card hand.

Quote: SnapBack

Hi Doc,

I forgot to mention that 6 or 8 decks would be the maximum number of decks used. Despite the fact that I did not mention the number of decks, I still don't think I have a good answer from anyone on the forum.


Well let me just rephrase the question to just one situation where the dealer hits soft 17. Suppose a Black Jack game is being played with 8 decks. You are at a Casino in Las Vegas, and the dealer hit's soft seventeen. How many is the max number of cards the dealer can be dealt.

Here is my answer, and I hope you or someone else can correct me if I am wrong. Answer : the maximum number of cards would be 9, because if the first two cards are Aces, the dealer must count one of them as a 12

A, A, A, A, A, A, A = 18

The dealer is not required to count the first 2 cards as 12. They can, but say they hit and got a face card. They haven't busted; they still have 12 with the aces now each worth 1. If, on the other hand they hit their aces and got a 9, then they have 21, not 11.

The answer is obviously 12 cards for S17 and 13 cards for H17 as others said.
But you are never going to see that. Probably nobody has ever seen that.
In S17 6 decks the odds of 12 card Dealer Hand is 1 in 13 trillion (10^13)

A rough guestimate
Say that are 10.000 BJ tables been played around the world at any time with 100 Hands per hour.
That's 10.000 x 100 x 24 x 365 = Around 10 billion hands a year (10^10)
Say for 100 years that is 100 billion (10^11) Hands ever played. Not even close.

For 11 Card Hand (S17) the odds are 1 in 22 Billion (10^10).
So maybe a few persons have seen an 11 Card Hand.

10 Card Hands (S17) are 1 in 158 million.
9 Card Hands are 1 in 2,6 million.

For a Full time pro playing 1.000 Hours per year, that is 100.000 hand per year, say in 40 years that is 4 Million Hands.
Such a person would expect to see once in their playing career a 9 card Dealer Hand.

8 Card Hands are 1 in 75 thousand.
So for most players 8 card Dealer Hand is the most they will ever see.

7 Card Hands are 1 in 3.500.
That is relatively common to be seen once every 35 hours of play.

Wow! That really puts it in perspective. I wondered why the question was asked in the first place but sometimes these things can be fun.

Thank you so much.

Hey so for a Six deck hand, you could potentially get these cards which would be a 12 card hand, right?

2,2,2,2,3,A,A,A,A,A,A,A = 18

To me the ultimate answer for N >= 2 decks is 12 cards. If you agree or disagree, please let me know.

Quote: SnapBack

... To me the ultimate answer for N >= 2 decks is 12 cards. If you agree or disagree, please let me know.

A 12-card hand is the maximum for N=2.

N>=3: A,A,A,A,A,A,A,5,A,A,A,A,A = 18 (13 cards, H17)

[Edit: Added the H17 qualification for clarification of the obvious. ]

Quote: SnapBack

Thank you so much.

Hey so for a Six deck hand, you could potentially get these cards which would be a 12 card hand, right?

2,2,2,2,3,A,A,A,A,A,A,A = 18

To me the ultimate answer for N >= 2 decks is 12 cards. If you agree or disagree, please let me know.

No, and certainly not that hand.

The highest value hard hand the dealer will hit is a 16. The dealer would have stopped at 17 on that hand.

Read my earlier, lengthy post.

Thanks AceTwo,

Thanks for the mathematical explanation, the probability stuff is really cool. My question is not really meant to be slanted twords probability. My question is more functional in nature. More visual in nature, as opposed to the likely hood of something happening.

Visually, that's all the possible 12 card permutations. (1 means Ace)
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 10

For 11 cards possible permutations (S17) they are the following 169 permutations:
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 10
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 10
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 10
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 6 2 1 1 10
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 10
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 10
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 1 10
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 3
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 4
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 5
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 6
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 7
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 8
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 9
1 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 10
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 2
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 3
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 4
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 5
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 6
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 7
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 8
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 9
1 1 2 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 10
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 2
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 3
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 4
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 5
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 6
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 7
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 8
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 9
1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 10
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 2
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 3
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 4
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 5
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 6
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 7
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 8
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 9
2 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 10
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 4
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 5
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 6
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 7
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 8
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 9
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 10
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 2
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 3
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 4
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 5
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 8
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 9
2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 10
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 3
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 4
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 5
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 8
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 9
2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 10
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 4
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 5
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 8
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 9
2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 10
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 4
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 5
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 8
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 9
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 10
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 4
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 5
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 6
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 7
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 8
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 9
3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 10

Wow, you are Awesome. Thanks so much for your help.