basic strategy confusion

Ok, I will admit I am a novice. I head to Vegas in about a month and I would like to devour everything ab the game. I want to memorize "basic strategy," but I keep reading that basic strategy is different depending on different sets of rules. We plan on checking out numerous casinos, and I want to know if there is a basic strategy comprehensive enough to stick with no matter where I gamble. With that said, I know to steer clear of the 6:5 payouts and the continuous shuffle decks.
Thanks so much for any advice.

If you are going to be playing on the strip, stick with the chart on the right of this page.
You are correct about 6:5 games, but CSMs are actually your friends. Do not be scared of them.

Check out the wizard of odds site for info
and basic strategy charts.

The main rules to be aware of for basic strategy
are does the dealer stand or hit on soft 17 and
how many decks 1, 2 or more.

I find dealer stands on soft 17 and multiple decks
the easiest bs to memorize. There are not too
many of these tables in vegas and minimums
will vary from $15 to $100.

Most tables with $5-10 mim bets are dealer hits
soft 17 6-8 decks so perhaps you should start there.

Unless you are counting you do not have to avoid
continuous shuffle machines.

Also beware that some games do not allow double
after split or re-splitting aces so steer clear and find
a game that does.

Your right ab me wanting to start at the $5 or $10 min games, and I thank you for having laying out the general rules for those games. Let me ask this tho, if I learn basic strategy for a game for 6-8 decks, and I happen to find a single deck game I like, how different would the basic strategy be? Would I totally mess up if I use 6,8 deck strategy on a 2 deck game? Other example: having memorized the basic strat for a 6,8 deck, dealer hits on soft 17....and playing that on a table that may be 6,8 decks, but the dealer stands on a s17 at this table... in a nutshell, if I memorize a strategy I will be most likely to need to use, will it still apply on different types of tables?

No you won't totally mess up if you use
one strategy for another game as most of
the rules are the same. If one chart says to
hit and another says stand I believe the difference
in outcome is usually very small.

You can compare 4 of the basic strategy charts
on the wizard of odds site which is useful as
you can see the patterns that are similar
between them and those that are different.

You may not find too many 1 or 2 deck games on
the strip that are not also 6:5 so I wouldn't
worry about those ones too much.

Also don't beat yourself up about getting a few
of the less obvious calls wrong. Most of the
other players will probably not know basic
strategy either especially for a dealer hits 6
deck game.

By my count about 9 out of 10 players make some
kind of basic strategy error within the first 10
hands so no one will know the difference.

Quote: akd1217

I want to memorize "basic strategy," but I keep reading that basic strategy is different depending on different sets of rules. .

Pick one rule set and memorize the basic strategy for that. Then apply it to every game. You will make small errors when you use the wrong strategy, but the impact will be very small.
Use this, and set it for the rules you think you will most likely encounter:
Basic Strategy Calculator

I use 4+Decks, Stand on soft 17, and Double After Split allowed for every game. According to this article:
Uniform Basic Strategy , the differences in eV if you use that strategy on other games are not worth worrying about!


Note: edited to refer to the wizards calculator instead of the raw tables.

Quote: akd1217

Ok, I will admit I am a novice.

Then don't try to memorize every footnote and every exception and every fine point involved. Often the difference between the optimal response and the second best response is not that great. It is more important for you to be able to apply the most fundamental rules correctly than for you to know and apply the rules relating to rarely encountered situations.

If you to look for a 3:2 game if at all possible and to: Hit until 13 if Dealer's upcard is a 2 or a 3, Hit until twelve if the dealers upcard is 4, 5 or 6, and hit until 17 if dealers upcard is 7 or higher; Double if you have 9 and dealer has 3 thru 6, Double if you have 10 and dealer has 2 thru 9, Double if you have 11 and dealer has 2-10. Always split Aces and Eights.
If you know that cold you've got 80 percent of it already.

If you remember that even though it is optimal to hit on 16 if you really want to stand on 16, you can. Its not optimal but it ain't far behind what is optimal. The mathematical difference between hitting 16 and Standing on 16, can be used up in one tip to the cocktail waitress. So memorizing all the footnotes and rule options is not always required.

What is required is that you know the basics cold. I suggest some online practice, perhaps on this site. I suggest also that you attend a casino's introductory lessons (it won't hurt) but most of all I suggest you start out at a less than crowded casino where the dealer can take some time with you. Comp rates are often set for a table occupancy of 4 to 5. So if you play faster you still get comped at the casino's usual rate that is already in the computer. Playing more slowly such as at a crowded table means you get comped at a slightly better rate. Slightly!!

Good luck. And don't get worried if after a few drinks and few distractions, you forget some of the footnotes and special exceptions. They don't really matter all that much anyway.

Quote: FleaStiff

If you remember that even though it is optimal to hit on 16 if you really want to stand on 16, you can. Its not optimal but it ain't far behind what is optimal. The mathematical difference between hitting 16 and Standing on 16, can be used up in one tip to the cocktail waitress. So memorizing all the footnotes and rule options is not always required.

Thank you for this piece of information. As I mentioned in that "mistakes" thread; After busting and busting and busting, the hell with it I am going to stand(on 16) this time. Glad to know it doesn't make that much difference.

what works for me is memorizing all the plays except when you have soft 13-18 and when you have a pair to split or not split. I take laminated cards for those [only], else use simple strategy.

Ok, so I made my flashcards according to the "blackjack school" but the strategy charts on this site have only a few changes, as in a 2,2 hand against a dealer 2, or 3 says to split, only if DAS is allowed, otherwise hit, where as I have it written down to always split 2,2 against a dealer 2 or 3. Moral of the story is, those things won't make any significant amount of difference? Btw, the advice on the hitting or standing on a 16 is really helpful, and I have really gotten a lot out of this post. Thank you to everyone.

As you say, splitting 2,2 (and 3,3) vs. a a dealer 2,3 is correct for DAS, but not if DAS is not allowed. However, the errors are not great and these hands occur rarely enough that you will not find appreciable difference. In any event, look for DAS rules when you play. It is better to learn one strategy well then several strategies not so well :)

Where do you plan to play? You can look at the likely rules you will face here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/guides/blackjack-survey/

Quote: akd1217

Ok, so I made my flashcards according to the "blackjack school" but the strategy charts on this site have only a few changes, as in a 2,2 hand against a dealer 2, or 3 says to split, only if DAS is allowed, otherwise hit, where as I have it written down to always split 2,2 against a dealer 2 or 3. Moral of the story is, those things won't make any significant amount of difference? Btw, the advice on the hitting or standing on a 16 is really helpful, and I have really gotten a lot out of this post. Thank you to everyone.

Ok so under that premise (split vs dealer 2 or 3 with a 2,2 hand), I would split and then immediatly double my bet? If not allowed then just don't split at all, and instead hit? That's a little confusing also...where the blackjack school says to always split a 2,2 vs a 2 or 3. I realize it may not make a diff according to which I memorize and use, I just wanna clarify why one would say one thing, and the other something different for the same rules. ;)

Learn the S17 BS for 2/D and 6/D for a HE around .30 .

Why would you play a H17 on the strip ? I understand the lower min. - but if you want that, play the the SD at the Tez for the same HE,and hit Palamino while your there :)

Quote: akd1217

Ok so under that premise (split vs dealer 2 or 3 with a 2,2 hand), I would split and then immediatly double my bet? If not allowed then just don't split at all, and instead hit? That's a little confusing also...where the blackjack school says to always split a 2,2 vs a 2 or 3. I realize it may not make a diff according to which I memorize and use, I just wanna clarify why one would say one thing, and the other something different for the same rules. ;)

What is meant is this: If the rules of the game allow Double after split, that it is favorable to split 2,2 vs dealer 2 or 3. It doesn't mean you will necessarily double the resulting hands, that will depend what you get. If you get an 8 on one of your deuces and a 5 on the other, you would double your 8,2 (=10) and just hit your 5,2 = 7.

Your statement:

If you remember that even though it is optimal to hit on 16 if you really want to stand on 16, you can. Its not optimal but it ain't far behind what is optimal. The mathematical difference between hitting 16 and Standing on 16, can be used up in one tip to the cocktail waitress. So memorizing all the footnotes and rule options is not always required.

This is correct on 16 vs 10 but not correct on 16 vs 7, 8, 9, or Ace.

Thank you everyone, this has all helped me tremendously! You are all wonderful for using your knowledge to help beginners like myself better understand the game and strategy!

Thank you everyone, this has all helped me tremendously! You are all wonderful for using your knowledge to help beginners like myself better understand the game and strategy!

Thank you everyone, this has all helped me tremendously! You are all wonderful for using your knowledge to help beginners like myself better understand the game and strategy!

Thank you everyone, this has all helped me tremendously! You are all wonderful for using your knowledge to help beginners like myself better understand the game and strategy!

Quote: JuniorWiz

Your statement:

If you remember that even though it is optimal to hit on 16 if you really want to stand on 16, you can. Its not optimal but it ain't far behind what is optimal. The mathematical difference between hitting 16 and Standing on 16, can be used up in one tip to the cocktail waitress. So memorizing all the footnotes and rule options is not always required.

This is correct on 16 vs 10 but not correct on 16 vs 7, 8, 9, or Ace.

Well, what fleastiff said is still correct though. The mathematical difference (at a $10 table) CAN be used up in one tip, since in the worst cases (standing 16 vs. 7 !?) the cost is about 7%, or 70 cents. For comparison, hitting 16 vs. a dealer 6 costs about $3.00 each time you did this at a $10 table. However, I don't recommend standing on 16 vs. 7, as if you do this too much it will add up fast.

Quote: weaselman

If you are going to be playing on the strip, stick with the chart on the right of this page.
You are correct about 6:5 games, but CSMs are actually your friends. Do not be scared of them.

The house edge is slightly lower with CSM's so if you are not counting go ahead and play them. Look for full tables to compensate for the 20% to 25% more hands per hour that will be dealt.