4-Deck to 8-Deck Blackjack Strategy Hard Totals Table confusion

Under the basic strategy tables on the wizard of odds main page, it lists that for hard player totals of 4-8 (in a 4-8 deck shoe), a player always "hits" regardless of the dealer up card. I've seen listed, both 4-8 and sometimes 5-8, as the first row of hard player totals on other web page strategy tables

Shouldn't the hard total table start with a 5-8 player hard total? There are only (2) ways that player cards can total 4, either 2-2 or A-3. 2-2 is covered in the split table, and the A-3 is a soft 14, shown in the soft total table. Both of these tables list other player options besides always/only hitting. Am I missing some math or is there overlap/error of the 4-8 hard total strategy table?

Basic strategy - always HIT hard 8 or less. There is no reason to show separate instructions for hard 5, 6, 7.

Similar to- always STAND hard 17 and up. No reason to display hard 18, 19, 20.

I think that is what you are asking.

It is to account for the fact that in some games you cannot double any two cards,
therefore you consider A-3 as 4 or 14 and hit it either way.
And in some games you cannot double after split and would therefore count 2-2 as 4 and hit it.

To clarify, the table hard total is listed 4-8 (that is any hard 2 card total of 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.) My confusion is that there is no hard total of 4. A total of 4 is either a pair of 2s or a soft 14 (A-3). Shouldn't the "Hard-Total" table start with a row value of 5 thru 8 and not 4 thru 8?

I see, I hadn't thought of different table rules or restrictions. Thanks, that's exactly what I was confused about.

Quote: drsamurai

Shouldn't the hard total table start with a 5-8 player hard total?

Yes.

You're right.

If you have a 2 card total of 4, you're supposed to look at the splits or soft section. The first line of the hard section SHOULD say 5-8.

Except....

Quote: WongBo

It is to account for the fact that in some games you cannot double any two cards,
therefore you consider A-3 as 4 or 14 and hit it either way.
And in some games you cannot double after split and would therefore count 2-2 as 4 and hit it.

In that case, the top line should be 3-8.


Bottom line, with the strategy card comes the assumption that you'll use the soft/splits section if it applies.

Well it does say "hard total". There is no hard 3. And I guess it is not counting A-3 in that case either.
I think it is just to cover the hard 4 of 2-2 in a game with no DAS.

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