4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

4/1/2022 admin

4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy Rating: 3,4/5 2628 votes

Hal Marcus, developer of the popular Blackjack 6-7-8 Strategy Cards, answers the question whether his unique Counter's Basic Strategy for 4-8 deck games can be used as is in 2-deck games. If you a Chicago area player or planning to visit, don't miss reading John Grochowski's report on the current state of blackjack playing conditions in this.
Blackjack Strategy Flashcard Maker: Justin Albright. 211 Cards – 3 Decks –. Sample Decks: 4-8 decks, Dealer stands on all 17s Show Class Blackjack.

WizardofOdds – The wizard has some great strategy charts but only for 4-8 decks. If you need more customized charts then BlackjackInfo has a good strategy chart builder. HolyMolyCasinos.com – Offers a how to guide on the rules and how to play blackjack as well as other popular casino games.

Great work Wiz!	7 votes (58.33%)
Meh.	1 vote (8.33%)
I don't understand a word you're saying.	1 vote (8.33%)
How does this match up with Griffin?	2 votes (16.66%)
I think you should do a Benford test.	No votes (0%)
You should assume different rules.	No votes (0%)
I disagree with the 0.563%.	No votes (0%)
I prefer to combinatorial analysis.	No votes (0%)
I play 6-5 blackjack and make all the side bets.	No votes (0%)
The Queen's Gambit.	3 votes (25%)

12 members have voted

Wizard
Administrator

Thanks for this post from:

I was taking to a friend a few months ago and this topic came up. His point was “the ratio of the cards is the same in 1 deck vs 8 decks”. That is, off the top, 1 out of 13 cards is an Ace, etc, no matter the number of decks. Honestly I’ve had the same thought and didn’t have a great answer for him. I’ll read this and try to wrap my head around the math answer for why # decks affects house edge

That's true, the first card has a 1/13 of being any given rank. However, the second card has a 1/17 of being the same in single deck and 1/13.4 in an eight-deck game.

It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.

ChumpChange

I keep looking all over the internet for these handy dandy Basic Strategy Cards. I just found a couple in your post. But I probably need more for 2 decks, 4 decks, 6 decks, not to mention the changes in strategy based on the true count for the 5 different deck strategies.
It does seem you do a lot more doubling down and splitting with one deck vs. 8 decks.
https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/strategy/calculator/

TinMan

Before my last Vegas trip, I printed out in color BS charts for 1,2,4-8 decks from WOO BS generator. Had versions with surrender and no surr. H17 and S17 for all but the single deck game. Laminated them double sided so each card has the surr and no surr charts. Total of 10 charts. Really handy. Obviously none of this captures true count adjustments just BS. I’d been meaning to do it for awhile.

If anyone gives you 10,000 to 1 on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude.

USpapergames

That is one of the essences of a well-designed casino game -- the player doesn't see where the house has the advantage. In blackjack and most poker games it is a player positional disadvantage. The idea to remove the 10's in Spanish 21 was also a good one.
I get asked from time to time by the other side about how to significantly increase the house edge, like by 1%, in blackjack without changing the 3-2 payoff, mandating a side bet, charging a commission on wins, nor change the deck composition in a way the average player won't notice. Nothing good has ever come to mind.

I couldn't agree more with you about having a house edge that isn't obvious to the players. Not to brag but I like to think my biggest accomplishment with my game 'Cards vs Dice' is the fact that it took you > 5 minutes to determine the game's house edge. There were a couple of minutes where I swear you were convinced there wasn't a house edge & that I had lost my mind lol.

Math is the only true form of knowledge

USpapergames

Second, it's always been my policy to teach to near the top. If you put everybody on the bell curve, I try to aim at the person about one standard deviation above average (meaning 84% are less intelligent and 16% are more). There are already plenty of advanced books for those 2 or 3 standard deviations above the norm and plenty of sources for those who need things simplified as much as possible. I aim for those in between.

I like this strategy. Might just have to borrow it for my 1st published book, whenever I get to complete it ;) So I'm assuming the target IQ level is 110-120 since you say 'aim at the person about one standard deviation' so I'm assuming 'about' means that they are almost or slightly above the 2nd standard deviation. I have trouble imagining this since I don't know my IQ to compare with. Your average human doesn't seem that intelligent to me but then again I don't care to teach the average person, but I also don't want only the brightest minds being able to contribute to my discussions since it could take forever to find someone that can contribute.
I like your solution but I find it hard for me to implement it, any suggestions on how to help? I know communication isn't my strong point but dumbing down my communication to its simplest form just doesn't seem to work either :/

Math is the only true form of knowledge

odiousgambit

reading on ...

... the reason the probability of getting the ace is higher in the single-deck game is the deck is richer in aces after you remove a 10 from it. The same is true if the first card is an ace; the remaining cards will be richer in tens in the single-deck game.
Furthermore, if the player does get a blackjack, the probability of the dealer’s getting one goes down as the number of decks goes down.

But isn't it just as likely that the dealer gets the first natural? I don't get how this applies until we know who gets the first .

Quote:

... The player wins an extra half unit with every winning blackjack.

this is well known, but is in effect without regard to who gets one first, so it doesn't seem like the entire answer.

the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder

Mental

But isn't it just as likely that the dealer gets the first natural? I don't get how this applies until we know who gets the first .
this is well known, but is in effect without regard to who gets one first, so it doesn't seem like the entire answer.

4-8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

One fifth of the time, they will push with each having 20. 40% of the time, dealer will have BJ and 40% of the time, the player will have BJ. The player will win a full unit every five hands, on average.
Now take out a ten, and the player wins a full bet every 4 hands, on average.

odiousgambit

I am not clear about the point that you are making here.
Consider a heads up game with a five-card deck composed of four tens and a single ace. Dealer and player will always stand because they will always have a 20 or BJ in the first two cards. Whenever dealer or player gets a BJ, they will get it first. There is only one BJ possible on each hand.
One fifth of the time, they will push with each having 20. 40% of the time, dealer will have BJ and 40% of the time, the player will have BJ. The player will win a full unit every five hands, on average.
Now take out a ten, and the player wins a full bet every 4 hands, on average.

4 Deck To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

OK, thanks, I guess the point you are making is that in a game rich in tens and in which BJ is possible once, though equally likely to go to player or dealer, it is always good for the player and sometimes 'really good'?
Likewise fewer decks are good for the player, sometimes really good, and it averages out so you can make a statement about what the HE is for one deck, two, etc and compare them. 4 deck to 8 deck blackjack strategy

The Wizard can decide if he wants to try to clarify, it's not obvious what he means in this section

Mental

My point is this: In the case where the dealer gets the BJ, it does hurt the chances for the player to get BJ. In fact, it extinguishes any chance. I thought this might have been the point you were asking about.
But, the reverse is true, as well. If the player gets a BJ, the dealer is shut out. In a 8-deck shoe game, the dealers chances of getting a BJ is hardly affected by me getting a BJ. In the four-card game, the probability goes from 100% to 0%. These correlation affects are always stronger the smaller the number of cards in play.

Wizard
Administrator

4 To 8 Deck Blackjack Strategy

Yes, I recall that, but not the details. Was it a player positional disadvantage as well?

It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.

Blackjack is a game that generally requires skills and knowledge. This is the only way that a player can win in the long run. It is very necessary to be aware of the rules of this game and you have to follow them so that you can win. A very famous rule is the basic strategy. The house edge of most casinos is usually estimated as long as the players follow this basic strategy. There is a blackjack strategy chart and it shows all the possible moves that players can make while playing Blackjack and in a particular situation of the game. Even though many players use the basic strategy, they don’t know how to apply it in the correct manner since they don’t understand the rules. Using the strategy chart is the best decision any Blackjack player would use to play any Blackjack game.

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As mentioned in the first paragraph, the Blackjack basic strategy is a good way for players to make a profit in the long run. However, for them to be able to do so, they have to put a lot of effort so that they get to understand how the chart works and what the secret behind the pattern of the chart is. A very important thing that players have to put in mind is the fact that they should stick to the Blackjack chart from the beginning of the game to the end.

A Blackjack strategy chart consists of the game’s patterns, mathematical equations that are based on odds and probability and the rules of the game. It is very obvious that nothing can ever go wrong. It is important to note that by using this chart, players won’t always win but in the end they will be winners. However, for any player to make a profit they have to have solid skills and knowledge but they have to have money management.

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The most important things to know about Blackjack are the Blackjack basic strategy chart. Playing according to this strategy chart is the best way to play in whichever possible situation. When it comes to beating Blackjack, the strategy chart makes everything easier. For you to memorise this chart, it takes a lot of practice. The chart is more applicable to visual learners. At the end of it, you should be able to look at your hand total, and recite the rule in your head immediately. Memorising the chart makes you faster and have less mistakes.

There are some phrases such as surrenders, splits, soft totals, and hard totals. By learning the basic rules of these decisions a player stands a chance of winning as they play Blackjack. You can even print out the Blackjack strategy chart and tape it on the PC, this way you will be able to memorise it even faster.

4-deck To 8-deck Blackjack Strategy

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According to professionals, there is only one correct basic strategy for Blackjack. But all the casinos offer different rules that is why there are different strategy charts from game to game. Another factor that affects the chart type is the number of decks used. Nowadays, there are so many variations of the original Blackjack chart. This works to the advantage of most players since they are able to find the basic strategy that works best for them. However, it is recommended you follow a well-established chart that has been proven successful and reliable.

The type of strategy chart depends on some factors such as whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. There is a 4 deck to 8 deck Blackjack strategy. For you to use the basic strategy, you look up your hand from the vertical edge and the upcard of the dealer. In these two cases, an A stands for an Ace. From the top to bottom of the chart are hard totals, the soft totals, and hands that can be split. If a player plays a mixture of 6-deck Blackjack games, the dealer hits a soft 17, and at some point stands. It is highly recommended players to read the chart where the dealer stands on soft 17.

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4-Deck to 8-Deck

Split if double after split is allowed, otherwise hit

The mathematical way of playing Blackjack is known as the Blackjack basic strategy chart. This basic strategy has the ability for cutting the casino’s edge to 0.5%. The game’s chart was derived from a computer simulation. It is believed that someone taught a computer how to play Blackjack, how to play several hands of the game and record what happens. Through the trial and error of the computer, it got to figure out the decisions that were best for the players and giving the best combination of the player’s starting hands and the dealer up card.

The so-called “best decisions” are those decisions that make the player lose the least amount of money to the casino. Basic strategy doesn’t overcome the house edge of a casino until card counting is added. One of the most efficient ways to deal with things is using technology and especially computers. The basic strategy of this game was “created” by a computer which makes it one of the best methods to win Blackjack. So basically, if you memorise the strategy chart in the right way you stand a high chance of winning at this game. So the answer is yes, you can trust the strategy chart if you value making some real profit at any Blackjack game.

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Many players are always asking how to win at Blackjack and there is certainly a way that this is achievable. The Blackjack basic strategy chart is one of the best ways to win this game. It is not a guarantee that you will always win when you use the strategy chart but it is very possible for you to make a profit in the long run.

But first, you have to memorise the chart and learn what count indexes you require in order to deviate from the strategy chart. The deviations depend on the rules of the game that is offered and the rules of the region a player is playing on. For instance, in some of the games the dealer has to stand on soft 17; an Ace and any combination of cards that total to 6. That is why such a game is referred to as a “Stand 17”.

In some other games, the dealer has to hit on any soft 17, and such a game is called a “Hit 17”. In Europe and Canada, the dealers don’t have a hole card resulting in the name “European” or “European No-Hole” Blackjack.

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