Ask The Wizard #13
I’m an 18-year-old from South Africa, and I’ve recently developed a strong interest in blackjack Having visited four different casinos in South Africa, I found that they all offer the early surrender option. I'm curious to learn if there are additional circumstances in which one might consider early surrender besides the four specific cases related to late surrender. Additionally, I would like to know how significantly this rule affects the house edge and how useful it is to apply this strategy when employing a card counting technique. Any advice or guidance on these topics would be greatly appreciated.
My blackjack appendix 6 provides a comprehensive approach for utilizing early surrender.
When the dealer checks their hole card and doesn't have blackjack, what’s the rationale behind hitting a soft 18 against an ace? And is there a reason not to double down on an 11?
In the game of blackjack, straightforward answers are quite rare. You must take into account all possible scenarios and evaluate each outcome based on its likelihood. The most advantageous play is the one that yields the highest expected return. According to my calculations, blackjack appendix 9b the expected return for hitting a soft 18 against an ace in a double deck game stands at -0.1004, while the expected returns for standing falls at -0.1005. Therefore, hitting offers a marginally better option. When it comes to 11 against an ace, it's also a very nuanced decision, reliant on the specific composition in both single and double deck games—meaning that the two cards that make up the total of 11 dictate how to proceed. Nevertheless, if you prefer not to remember the composition-dependent basic strategy nuances, it's advisable to double down on an 11 against an ace in both single and double deck games while choosing to hit when playing with four or more decks. As a casual craps player keen on maximizing my complimentary perks, could you provide some insights on the most effective betting strategy in craps? I attempted to locate this information on your excellent website.
Unlike many gambling authors, I don’t place heavy emphasis on various betting strategies. Given the same game and wager, there isn't a singularly correct or incorrect strategy. Each one performs differently in the short term, but over time, you'll inevitably be giving the house the same proportionate cut of your bets.
I discovered your website through a bulletin board on VEGAS.com, and I'm really intrigued by it. Could you share the odds regarding dealer qualification in Caribbean Stud? I've heard estimates varying between 40% and 55%. I’ve been playing 'blind,' thus eliminating some of the personal decision-making from the game, and I’ve seen success by not folding from hands that I might typically abandon. I’d appreciate your guidance on this matter. Thank you!
There are 1,296,420 combinations out of 2,598,960 that can create a pair or better. Additionally, I mention on that same page that there are 167,280 possible combinations for forming an ace and king. Consequently, there are a total of 1,463,700 qualifying ways, giving a probability of 56.32%.
According to my probabilities in poker By playing without cards, you are countering a house edge of 16.607%. If you applied the three suggested guidelines outlined in my section on
Mathematically accurate strategies and insights for a range of casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and numerous others that can be enjoyed. Caribbean stud you would lower the house edge to 5.225%.