Doubling question in blackjack?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjack

Look at the "Soft totals" chart with the aces and the doubling. I'm so confused as to why double A and 2-7 combinations and why the variety depeding on the dealers card. Ex: Why would I double on A and 2 when the dealer has a 4 and not a 3. Bah. I'm just not getting it. Since I'm only allowed one more card after doubling and get something like a 9 then my entire total would be 13. That's a low number and I just doubled on it. Not understanding the doubling on the Ace combinations.

PS: I have not played blackjack in a casino before. I'm just learning off the internet before going in there

Answer 1

You don't need to know the logic behind the charts. In fact, many people start making mistakes because they want to rationalize a move they think does not make sense.



All you really have to know is that the MATH is the reason each move is indicated. The charts were made by taking every possible starting hand, making every possible move (hit, stand, split or double down) and then running every possible outcome based on those moves through a computer. They would then find out which move results in the most amount of money for the player (on average) for any given hand.



When you see a spot on the chart where the correct play for one hand is different than the correct play than a slightly different hand, all that means is that the odds swing slightly different. In the case of your example, the dealer is going to bust slightly more often when he's showing a 4 than a 3, which is enough (mathematically) to justifying doubling down rather than simply hitting.



I suggest you study the soft hand charts thoroughly, or take a copy with you to the blackjack tables. That is the area where a lot of players give away a substantial edge to the casino because they are afraid to double down. You have to remember, that anytime you are supposed to double down, it means you're getting a substantial edge over the house. You're going to win that hand more often than not, which is why you are supposed to get as much money on the table as possible. When you throw away those opportunities, you're wasting your best money making opportunities.

Answer 2

If the dealer has a 4 5 or 6 you'll always stand on 12 or higher, assuming that the dealer has a face card under and will bust the worst hands in blackjack are 14, 15, and 16,



If you have A and 2 its a very good idea to double against the dealers 4, 5, or 6. Your chances of getting a 9 or higher is about half. And even if you get a 10 and end up with 13 the dealer still has a very high chance of busting out. Its a very smart bet if you got the money to spend.

Answer 3

It's all about the numbers. That chart is what you follow (Basic Strategy) to lessen the house's odds. It is a combination of your cards and the dealer's cards that determine if you will win. It doesn't help to have 20 every hand...if the dealer has 21. When a dealer has a 4, he will bust more often than when he has a 3 exposed. Follow the chart and you will be fine, and enjoy playing. If you don't follow basic strategy then you will upset some of your fellow players...not sure if you care or not, but that's how it is! Have fun and good luck!!

Answer 4

Its has to do with the "expected value" or EV of the action.





It is difficult to "see" in blackjack because there are millions of permutations as to how a single hand can play out when 8 decks are in play, but the sum of them can be figured, and it has been done in the past.



To make the concept easier to understand, i will first use the example i always use being that of a bizzare roullete wheel.



You can win by standing, and you can win by hitting, but it all depends on what happens after you make your action, somethign that you cannot predict, but rather only speculate on the probibilities governing it. Once your money is in the betting circle and you are dealt cards, the only think you can do is give the money the best chance it can of winning, even if it means its goign to lose most fo the time.



Compare it to a bizzare roullette wheel, where once you have your money on the felt, you must move it to either red or black, only...on this roullette wheel, there are

30 red spaces

40 black spaces

and 30 green spaces but unfortunately, you cant bet on green.



If you bet on red, you will win only 30 % of the time, and lose a frusterating 70% of the time



However, if you bet on black, you will stll lose a frusterating 60% of the time, but now you will win 40% of the time.



Obviously, the best action you could take, if you were forced to bet on this wheel, would be to simply always bet on black.



This is just as it is in blackjack, sincce once, you money is on the table and you are dealt your cards, you cannot retreive it, and once you know your cards, there is a plying action, that in the sum of all possible events(just like the total of all the spaces on the roullette wheel) that will cause you to win more often than **any OTHER action you can make****



That is how and why basic strategy is what it is, for infor on the EV of every action, for every hand you coudl possibly be dealt under a variety of playing conditions, check out this link....

http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/appendix9-6ds17r4.html

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About soft doubling, it is a little more difficult to explain because when doubling down becomes the most favorable option, it is because of the EV, not so much weather you win or lose, (Ev is the measurment used to formulate ALL playin decisions, howveer, winning and losing is easiest to illustrate by example.)







EV is the hypothetical percentage of your exhisting bet, that you are expecting to win/lose on average in the sum of every possible way the random events governing your money in the game can play out. This includes, times when you win double you bet, and lose double your bet, and is what



When you double down, more money goes into action, so weather you win or lose has less of an impact for comparable events where you dont double down. Often the likly hood of a win in conbination to putting more money into action will boost the ev substancially for double down, and plit opotunities to make them the most valuable action.

Answer 5

Double Down is the term for increasing your bet (up to double your original wager) after you see your first 2 cards. This is usually only done when your first 2 cards are between 8 and 11, or you have a soft hand, meaning an ace and another card. This is usually best done against a dealer's bust card. But, if you want to play more aggressively, you can also double on a 10 for example against a dealer's 7 or 8, hoping to get a 10/face as your next card. It's a little more risky than doubling against a bust card but it can also pay-off.

Answer 6

Good read:



http://www.ildado.com/blackjack_strategy.html