Blackjack Appendix 18

Last update: January 4, 2007

The usual basic strategy tables, such as these for one, two, and four to eight, decks are the best way to play each hand assuming two player cards and without considering the specific two cards. I also have appendices for specific composition dependent exceptions, for example for one deck, dealer stands on soft 17.

What this appendix endeavors to do is take the middle road, showing basic strategy exceptions according to the number of cards, but not extending the breakdown to the specific cards. For two-card player hands the standard basic strategy tables can be used. This appendix shows when exceptions should be made for 3 to 6 cards in the player hand.

There are only a few exceptions for 2 to 8 decks, as follows.

• Always: Stand on 16 vs 10 with 3 or more cards.
• Two decks, dealer stands on soft 17: Stand soft 18 vs A with 3 or more cards.
• Four or six decks, dealer stands on soft 17: Stand soft 18 vs A with 4 or more cards.