Composition dependent values in blackjack

Last Update: Mar 27, 2005

The following menu is for tables that list the expected value for every initial hand in blackjack. The values in the table are "composition dependent", meaning at every point the best decision was made according to the exact cards held in the players hand, as opposed to just the total points.

All numbers in the tables assume the dealer already peeked for blackjack, with a ten or ace up, and did not have it.

• 1 deck, dealer stands on soft 17
• 1 deck, dealer hits on soft 17
• 2 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
• 2 decks, dealer hits on soft 17
• 4 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
• 4 decks, dealer hits on soft 17
• 5 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
• 5 decks, dealer hits on soft 17
• 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
• 6 decks, dealer hits on soft 17
• 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
• 8 decks, dealer hits on soft 17

Other sources for these expected values are Cacarulo's at http://www.bjmath.com/bjmath/ev/ev.htm and Cindy's former site, gamblingtools.net. Among Cacarulo, Cindy, and me we seem to agree exactly for standing, hitting, and doubling. For splitting we are all slightly off from one another. Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger has such tables but are total dependent. Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong has similar tables for 1 and 6 decks but are simulation based.