Double Deck Basic Strategy Exceptions

Last Update: May 10, 2006

In blackjack every card that is played has an impact on the distribution of the remaining cards. The following lists will show exactly how to play your cards immediately after a shuffle in a double deck game where thedealer stands on a soft 17.

To use this guide first go to the list according to the number of cards in your hand. Then note the basic strategy changes and finally the exceptions to the changes. For example if you have a 16 composed of a 10, 4, and 2 against a 10 look under the 3 card list. You will see that with three cards you should stand on 16 against 10. Going further you will see there are some exceptions, for example with a 16 composed of a 6, 6, and 4 you should hit. However 10+4+2 is not listed as an exception so you should stand. It should not be interpreted that this is a card counting guide. Everything is based on exact cards and no numbers represent a count. Some of these plays will not agree with even the best card counting strategies. These tables are always right while card counting is an estimate of the best play. Counting cards does not take into consideration the exact composition of the remaining deck as this analysis does.

Basic Strategy Changes: None

Exceptions:

1. 11 (9+2) vs Ace = Hit
2. 11 (8+3) vs Ace = Hit
3. 12 (10+2) vs 4 = Hit

Basic Strategy Changes:

1. 16 vs 10 = Stand
2. Soft 18 vs A = Stand

Exceptions:

1. 16 (6+6+4) vs 10 = Hit
2. 16 (7+6+3) vs 10 = Hit
3. 16 (8+6+2) vs 10 = Hit
4. 16 (9+6+A) vs 10 = Hit
5. 16 (10+3+3) vs 10 = Hit
6. Soft 18 (A+A+6) vs A = Hit

Basic Strategy Changes:

1. 16 vs 10 = Stand
2. Soft 18 vs A = Stand

Exceptions:

1. 16 (6+6+2+2) vs 10 = Hit
2. 16 (6+6+3+A) vs 10 = Hit
3. 16 (7+6+2+A) vs 10 = Hit
4. 16 (8+6+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
5. 16 (10+2+2+2) vs 10 = Hit
6. 16 (10+3+2+A) vs 10 = Hit
7. 16 (4+4+4+4) vs 9 = Stand
8. 16 (5+4+4+3) vs 9 = Stand
9. 16 (5+5+3+3) vs 9 = Stand
10. 16 (5+5+4+2) vs 9 = Stand
11. 16 (5+5+5+A) vs 9 = Stand

Basic Strategy Changes:

1. 16 vs 10 = Stand
2. Soft 18 vs A = Stand

Exceptions:

1. 16 (6+3+3+2+2) vs 10 = Hit
2. 16 (7+6+A+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
3. 16 (10+2+2+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
4. 16 (6+6+2+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
5. 16 (4+4+4+3+A) vs 9 = Stand
6. 16 (4+4+4+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
7. 16 (4+4+3+3+2) vs 9 = Stand
8. 16 (4+3+3+3+3) vs 9 = Stand
9. 16 (5+5+3+2+A) vs 9 = Stand
10. 16 (5+4+4+2+A) vs 9 = Stand
11. 16 (5+4+3+3+A) vs 9 = Stand
12. 16 (5+5+2+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
13. 16 (5+4+3+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
14. 16 (5+3+3+3+2) vs 9 = Stand

Basic Strategy Changes:

1. 16 vs 10 = Stand
2. Soft 18 vs A = Stand

Exceptions:

1. 12 (4+4+A+A+A+A) vs 3 = Stand
2. 16 (A+A+2+4+4+4) vs 7 = Stand
3. 16 (A+A+3+3+4+4) vs 7 = Stand
4. 16 (A+2+2+3+4+4) vs 7 = Stand
5. 16 (A+2+3+3+3+4) vs 7 = Stand
6. 16 (A+3+3+3+3+3) vs 7 = Stand
7. 16 (2+2+2+3+3+4) vs 7 = Stand
8. 16 (2+2+3+3+3+3) vs 7 = Stand
9. 16 (A+3+3+3+3+3) vs 8 = Stand
10. 16 (2+2+3+3+3+3) vs 8 = Stand
11. 16 (3+3+3+3+3+a) vs 9 = Stand
12. 16 (3+3+3+3+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
13. 16 (4+4+4+2+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
14. 16 (4+4+3+3+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
15. 16 (4+4+3+2+2+a) vs 9 = Stand
16. 16 (4+3+3+3+2+a) vs 9 = Stand
17. 16 (4+4+2+2+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
18. 16 (4+3+3+2+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
19. 16 (5+5+3+a+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
20. 16 (5+4+4+a+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
21. 16 (5+5+2+2+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
22. 16 (5+4+3+2+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
23. 16 (5+3+3+3+a+a) vs 9 = Stand
24. 16 (5+4+2+2+2+a) vs 9 = Stand
25. 16 (5+3+3+2+2+a) vs 9 = Stand
26. 16 (5+3+2+2+2+2) vs 9 = Stand
27. 16 (6+6+A+A+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
28. 16 (6+3+2+2+2+A) vs 10 = Hit
29. 16 (6+2+2+2+2+2) vs 10 = Hit

The fine points of basic strategy was determined using a combinatronic and recursive program thatmade the optimal play at every step considering the exact distribution of remaining cards. This programwas also used to create the basic strategy charts for one and multiple decks.

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Go to blackjack appendix 3A, finepoints of single deck basic strategy.