What is the logic the players hands follow?
Betfair has commissioned the development of a perfect player strategy to fit in with the version of Blackjack played in the game. This strategy produced by www.wizardofodds.com encompasses the following key rules;
- There is an infinite deck
- Doubling & splitting are not allowed
- 5 Card Charlie (5 cards under 22 points) beats a Blackjack
The table below summaries the logic the players hands will follow:
Optimal Player Strategy Table | |
Dealer’s Up Card | |
Player’s Total | |
Key to table | |
H | Player always hits |
H3 | Player hits with 3 or more cards otherwise stands |
H4 | Player hits with 4 or more cards otherwise stands |
S | Player stands |
Player Strategy – Reading the table
Look up the players hand total along the left vertical edge and the dealer’s ‘up card’ along the top to see the decision the player will make.
- For the player’s total a 10 and a 6 (16) are considered the same as a 6, 5, 3 and a 2 (16)
- A7 means an Ace and card(s) totaling 7, eg an Ace and 7 or an Ace, 2 and 5
- When a hand has an Ace and further cards totaling more than 10, the Ace must count as 1 and the total with the Ace as 1 is used. For example, an Ace, 6 and 8 is considered to be 15 (not A14)
Examples:
Player has 10 and 6 (16), dealer has 7. Player action = H – Player hits
Player has 10, 6 and 3 (19), dealer has 7. Player action = S – Player stands
Player has Ace and 7 (A7), dealer has 7. Player action = H4 – Player stands as they have 2 cards
Player has Ace, 2, 3 and 2 (A7), dealer has 7. Player action = H4 – Player hits as they have 4 cards
Dealer Strategy
As with standard blackjack, the dealer will hit on all 16 or below and stand on all 17 or higher including ‘soft’ 17 (A6)