Soft 19, Always Double Down against 6?

Wrong, you say! only against 6 and only when dealer hits soft 17.

And, that is correct, when the goal is lowest HE. This would be imperative for an AP.

I, however, don't play enough BJ to ever get into proper card counting. I have instead actually been seeking plays that increase variance at low expense of edge. Again, an AP does not want to increase variance, so this is all wrong for them, and dare I say I am advocating something on his site that would never get a Wizard stamp of approval, so, my apologies to him as well.

I pretty much have decided I don't like BJ all that much, as the variance for a flat bettor is too low for my taste. I'm practically desperate for more variance when I play, and I expect to play some DD soon for the first time.

Looking at the WoO appendix 1, which is for S17, and will show best HE as standing with player soft 19, I still wanted to see how much edge is lost. It shows against 6:

stand: 0.495977
double: 0.479599 [with an unknown but presumed increase in variance]
delta: 0.016378

at a $25 table that would be an edge 'error' of 41 cents occurring once or twice an hour I'd guess [I don't think you figure it against $50 each]

I think I am willing to pay the price. Am I nuts? Are there other such deviations to think about?

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/1/

You're nuts to think you get dealt an A8 vs a dealer 6 once or twice an hour. Maybe once every 5 hours if you're playing 200 hands/hr heads up.

If you want to have the thrill of doubling and splitting more, you're going to have to add a lot of basic strategy deviations. There just aren't enough close ones like A8v6 to be able to do this frequently enough without having a real impact on the effective house edge.

A,7 vs 2 and 11 vs A pretty much same story, EV diff almost nothing and increase variance. The soft doubles will come up less frequently than 11vs A.

Others that will cost a little more but not too horrible would be to double 8 vs 5-6, 9 vs 7, 10 vs A, splitting 6-6 vs 7 and 7-7 vs 8 (assuming you can double after split, those splits are correct BS in a DD game.)

Quote: sabre

You're nuts to think you get dealt an A8 vs a dealer 6 once or twice an hour. Maybe once every 5 hours if you're playing 200 hands/hr heads up

well then, full speed ahead on this one! Wizard, block this thread on your personal viewing

Quote: mcallister3200

A,7 vs 2 and 11 vs A pretty much same story, EV diff almost nothing and increase variance. The soft doubles will come up less frequently than 11vs A.

Others that will cost a little more but not too horrible would be to double 8 vs 5-6, 9 vs 7, 10 vs A, splitting 6-6 vs 7 and 7-7 vs 8 (assuming you can double after split, those splits are correct BS in a DD game.)

thanks! I might investigate some of those; let's see how just one or two goes to start.

Quote: odiousgambit

I have instead actually been seeking plays that increase variance at low expense of edge. . . . so, my apologies.

I think I am willing to pay the price. Am I nuts?

As per signature. Embrace the variance. Therein lies the fun.The excitement of losing and/or winning more at a time. Why apologise?

And if, with just a modicum of luck, you find yourself winning, then come back here and blow raspberries at the AP's who work hard to get and exploit an edge. $:o)

9 vs 2, A6 vs 2 are two others.

If you want variance, blackjack isn't the right game for you. At least not traditional BJ.

Perhaps a game like Super Fun 21 or Spanish 21 or Wizard 21 (I always forget the real name for this. BJ Switch I reckon?) or Freebet Blackjack and there are probably others. I don't know anything about those games....other than Freebet blackjack, I know the goal is to figure out a way to pocket one of those medallions unscathed.

Quote: RS

If you want variance, blackjack isn't the right game for you. At least not traditional BJ.

Perhaps a game like Super Fun 21 or Spanish 21 or Wizard 21 (I always forget the real name for this. BJ Switch I reckon?) or Freebet Blackjack and there are probably others. I don't know anything about those games....other than Freebet blackjack, I know the goal is to figure out a way to pocket one of those medallions unscathed.

For more fun you can double on hard 12 vs a 2 or a 3.

Quote: RS

If you want variance, blackjack isn't the right game for you. At least not traditional BJ.

Perhaps a game like Super Fun 21 or Spanish 21 or Wizard 21 (I always forget the real name for this. BJ Switch I reckon?) or Freebet Blackjack and there are probably others. I don't know anything about those games....other than Freebet blackjack, I know the goal is to figure out a way to pocket one of those medallions unscathed.

this time I have a reason to just try something new, a pitch game, and come back with a report on what is supposed to be the "best odds in the middle atlantic" . Meanwhile, add just a bit of variance if the HE cost is minimal - might suit me.

Quote: Hunterhill

For more fun you can double on hard 12 vs a 2 or a 3.

well, I suppose you could also double with blackjack - you'd get a 10 frequently and double your bet. Yes I am getting ridiculous, but I think you are reaching too [if you're not kidding]

btw, doubling 9 vs 2 is correct BS for double deck.

the Wizard appendix 1 chart is for infinite deck.

now I have come across appendix 9, stay tuned

for A8 against 6, in order stand, hit [crossed out], double:

0.489571 0.240709 0.481418

delta 0.008153

20 cents if $25, so now I am even more convinced, gotta do it

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/9/2ds17r4/

Quote: odiousgambit

this time I have a reason to just try something new, a pitch game, and come back with a report on what is supposed to be the "best odds in the middle atlantic" . Meanwhile, add just a bit of variance if the HE cost is minimal - might suit me.

well, I suppose you could also double with blackjack - you'd get a 10 frequently and double your bet. Yes I am getting ridiculous, but I think you are reaching too [if you're not kidding]

Yes just kidding i don't advocate dbl 12 versus 2 ,unless you know what card is coming😎

appendix 9 definitely where I should have been

Looking for doubling instead of standing only, these seem best, same stand, hit, double representation as previous post, you can do the math

dealer 2 ......... player 7,A -> 0.128632 0.064072 0.123539

dealer 5 ......... player 8,A -> 0.449866 0.214682 0.429365 [more doubtful]

some of the other suggestions are BS with DD

adding this one, doubling instead of hitting, per appendix 9 real close, for soft 14 against dealer 4

hitting 0.085205, doubling 0.083857

so I will give doubling a shot with soft 18 vs 2; soft 19 vs 6; soft 14 vs 4; and maybe soft 19 vs 5 if not snakebit by the others

all other, correct BS