Two Aces - a special kind of BJ

What do you think about this kind of BJ? Is it beatable with card counting? How to alter basic strategy?

- "goal" is not to reach 21 but 22 (you bust on 23)
- DD on 10,11,12
- no natural with 3:2, but two aces pay 2:1
- if dealer has 2 aces he wins all exempted player has also 2 aces (stand off)
- no insurance
- dealer stands soft 17
- splitt any two (not aces)
- DAS
- no surrender
- ENHC
- 6 deck
- penetration 80 %

max

This appears to be a lousy deal. The probability of getting rockets is just 1/88 rather than 1/21 for a blackjack. Also, in no way can this game be called "blackjack", it's only similar in being a hit-or-stand style game.

Dealer standing on 17 is somewhat of a weak point. But all other rules are almost as stingy as they get. BS would be notably different from blackjack, however. I can't tell for sure. Obviously 12 would be a hitting/doubling hand.

Counting would be of minimal utility due to halved bonus EV, lack of insurance, and fewer available strategy decisions.

I suspect that this game could be beaten by counting. You're placing more emphasis on aces and less on 10-count cards. So the counting needed might even be a touch easier - counting aces only would have an enhanced value.

No surrender, no split aces, and the shift from 3:2 on BJ to 2:1 on AA all will shift the edge towards the house, while moving the break point from 22 to 23 probably slightly helps the player. Are you sure about standing on S17? It seems like hitting 17 might make sense (17 would be the new 16...).

sounds beatable. which casino?

Quote: MSR

What do you think about this kind of BJ? Is it beatable with card counting? How to alter basic strategy?

- "goal" is not to reach 21 but 22 (you bust on 23)
- DD on 10,11,12
- no natural with 3:2, but two aces pay 2:1
- if dealer has 2 aces he wins all exempted player has also 2 aces (stand off)
- no insurance
- dealer stands soft 17
- splitt any two (not aces)
- DAS
- no surrender
- ENHC
- 6 deck
- penetration 80 %

max

Using the infinite-deck model and allowing splitting to four hands, I get a house advantage of only 0.46%. However, the player's EV would not become positive as often as in regular blackjack. My guess is that a counter's rate of profit would be less than 1/4 that of regular blackjack.

My basic strategy for the game is:
soft standing totals: 18 vs 7, 19 vs 2-6 and 8-9, and 20 vs 10 and ace
hard standing totals: 16 vs 5-6, 17 vs 2-4 and 7, and 18 vs 8-10 and ace
double: 12 vs 2-9, 11 vs 3-9, and 10 vs 6 (and don't double A9, ATen, or AA)
split: 2's vs 2-10, 3's vs 3-9, 4's vs 6, 7's vs 3-8, 8's vs 2-9, and 9's vs 3-10

Thank you for your fast answers.
The game is played in private pokerrooms in Austria because all casinos are only run by the government and so the pokerrooms are not allowed to offer regular blackjack.