Exchange Blackjack Strategy

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 strategy table exchange games
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 = HPlayer hits
Player has 10, 6 and 3 (19), dealer has 7. Player action = SPlayer stands
Player has Ace and 7 (A7), dealer has 7. Player action = H4Player 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)