Blackjack 5 Under 21

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By Ion Saliu, Founder of Blackjack Mathematics

I. Probability, Odds for a Blackjack or Natural 21
II. House Edge on Insurance Bet at Blackjack
III. Calculate Double-Down Hands
IV. Calculate Blackjack Pairs: Strict or Mixed Ten-Cards
V. Free Blackjack Resources, Basic Strategy, Casino Gambling Systems

1.1. Calculate Probability (Odds) for a Blackjack or Natural 21

First capture by the WayBack Machine (web.archive.org) Sectember (Sect Month) 1, 2015.

I have seen lots of search strings in the statistics of my Web site related to the probability to get a blackjack (natural 21). This time (November 15, 2012), the request (repeated 5 times) was personal and targeted directly at yours truly:

  • 'In the game of blackjack determine the probability of dealing yourself a blackjack (ace face-card or ten) from a single deck. Show how you arrived at your answer. If you are not sure post an idea to get us started!'

Oh, yes, I am very sure! As specified in this eBook, the blackjack hands can be viewed as combinations or arrangements (the order of the elements counts; like in horse racing trifectas).

1) Let's take first the combinations. There are 52 cards in one deck of cards. There are 4 Aces and 16 face-cards and 10s. The blackjack (or natural) can occur only in the first 2 cards. We calculate first all combinations of 52 elements taken 2 at a time: C(52, 2) = (52 * 51) / 2 = 1326.

We combine now each of the 4 Aces with each of the 16 ten-valued cards: 4 * 16 = 64.

The probability to get a blackjack (natural): 64 / 1326 = .0483 = 4.83%.

2) Let's do now the calculations for arrangements. (The combinations are also considered boxed arrangements; i.e. the order of the elements does not count).

We calculate total arrangements for 52 cards taken 2 at a time: A(52, 2) = 52 * 51 = 2652.

In arrangements, the order of the cards is essential. Thus, King + Ace is distinct from Ace + King. Thus, total arrangements of 4 Aces and 16 ten-valued cards: 4 * 16 * 2 = 128.

The odds to get a blackjack (natural) as arrangement: 128 / 2652 = .0483 = 4.83%.

4.83% is equivalent to about 1 in 21 blackjack hands. (No wonder the game is called Twenty-one!)

Calculations for the Number of Cards Left in the Deck, Number of Decks

There were questions regarding the number of cards left in the deck, number of decks, number of players, even the position at the table.

1) The previous probability calculations were based on one deck of cards, at the beginning of the deck (no cards burnt). But we can easily calculate the blackjack (natural) odds for partial decks, provided that we know the number of remaining cards (total), Aces and Ten-Value cards.

Let's take the situation heads-up: One player against the dealer. Suppose that 12 cards were played, including 2 Tens; no Aces out. What is the new probability to get a natural blackjack?

Total cards remaining (R) = 52 - 12 = 40

Aces remaining in the deck (A): 4 - 0 = 4

Ten-Valued cards remaining (T): 16 - 2 = 14

Odds of a natural: (4 * 14) / C(40, 2) = 56 / 780 = 7.2%

(C represents the combination formula; e.g. combinations of 40 taken 2 at a time.)

The probability for a blackjack is higher than at the beginning of a full deck of cards. The odds are exactly the same for both Player and Dealer. But - the advantage goes to the Player! If the Player has the BJ and the Dealer doesn't, the Player is paid 150%. If the Dealer has the blackjack and the Player doesn't, the Player loses 100% of his initial bet!

This situation is valid only for one Player against casino. Also, this situation allows for a higher bet before the round starts. For multiple players, the situation becomes uncontrollable. Everybody at the table receives one card in succession, and then the second card. The bet cannot be increased during the dealing of the cards. Hint: try as much as you can to play heads-up against the Dealer!

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The generalized formula is:

Probability of a blackjack: (A * T) / C(R, 2)

  • A = Aces in the deck
  • T = Tens in the deck
    • R = Remaining cards in the deck.

    2) How about multiple decks of cards? The calculations are not exactly linear because of the combination formula. For example, 2 decks, (104 cards):

    ~ the 2-deck case:

    C(52, 2) = 1326

    C(104, 2) = 5356 (4.04 times larger than total combinations for one deck.)

    8 (Aces) * 32 (Tens) = 256

    Odds of BJ for 2 decks = 256 / 5356 = 4.78% (a little lower than the one-deck case of 4.83%).

    ~ the 8-deck case, 416 total cards:

    C(52, 2) = 1326

    C(416, 2) = 86320 (65.1 times larger than total combinations for one deck.)

    32 (Aces) * 128 (Tens) = 4096

    Odds of BJ for 8 decks = 4096 / 86320 = 4.75% (a little lower than the two-deck situation and even lower than the one-deck case of 4.83%).

    There are NO significant differences regarding the number of decks. If we round the figures, the general odds to get a natural blackjack can be expressed as 4.8%.

    The advantage to the blackjack player after cards were played: Not nearly as significant as the one-deck situation.

    3) The position at the table is inconsequential for the blackjack player. Only heads-up and one deck of cards make a difference as far the improved odds for a natural are concerned.

    • Axiomatic one, let's cover all the bases, as it were. The original question was, exactly, as this: 'Dealing yourself a blackjack (Ace AND Face-card or Ten) from a single deck'. The calculations above are accurate for this unique situation: ONE player dealing cards to himself/herself. The odds of getting a natural blackjack are, undoubtedly, 1 in 21 hands (a hand consisting of exactly 2 cards).
    • Such a case is non-existent in real-life gambling, however. There are at least TWO participants in a blackjack game: Dealer and one player. Is the probability for a natural blackjack the same – regardless of number of participants? NOT! The 21 hands (as in probability p = 1 / 21) are equally distributed among multiple game agents (or elements in probability theory). Mathematics — and software — to the rescue! We apply the formula known as exactly M successes in N trials. The best software for the task is known as SuperFormula (also component of the integrated Scientia software package).
    • Undoubtedly, your chance to get a natural BJ is higher when playing heads-up against the dealer. The degree of certainty DC decreases with an increase in the number of players at the blackjack table. I did a few calculations: Heads-up (2 elements), 4 players and dealer (5 elements), 7 players and dealer (8 elements).
      • The degree of certainty DC for 2 elements (one player and dealer), one success in 2 trials (2-card hands) is 9.1%; divided by 2 elements: the chance of a natural is 9.1% / 2 = 4.6% = the closest to the 'Dealing yourself a blackjack (Ace AND Face-card or Ten) from a single deck' situation.
      • The chance for 5 elements (4 players and dealer), one success in 5 trials (2-card hands) is 19.6%; distributed among 5 elements, the degree of certainty DC for a blackjack natural is 19.6% / 5 = 3.9%.
      • The probability for 8 elements (7 players and dealer), one success in 8 trials (2-card hands) is 27.1%; equally distributed among 8 elements, the degree of certainty DC of a blackjack natural is 27.1% / 8 = 3.4%.
    • That's mathematics and nobody can manufacture extra BJ natural 21 hands... not even the staunchest and thickest card-counting system vendors! The PI... er, pie is small to begin with; the slices get smaller with more mouths at the table. Ever wondered why the casinos only offer alcohol for free — but no pizza?

    1.2. Probability, Odds for a Blackjack Playing through a Deck of Cards

    The probabilities in the first chapter were calculated for one trial. That is, the odds to get a blackjack in the first two cards. But what are the probabilities to get a natural 21 dealing an entire deck?

    1.2.A. Dealing 2-card hands until the deck is dealt entirely

    There are 52 cards in the deck. Total number of trials (2-card hands) is 52 / 2 = 26. SuperFormula probability software does the following calculation:
    • The probability of at least one success in 26 trials for an event of individual probability p=0.0483 is 72.39%.

    1.2.B. Dealing 2-card hands in heads-up play until the deck is dealt entirely

    There are 52 cards in the deck. We are now in the simplest real-life situation: heads-up play. There is one player and the dealer in the game. We suppose an average of 6 cards dealt in one round. Total number of trials in this case is equivalent to the number of rounds played. 52 / 6 makes approximately 9 rounds per deck. SuperFormula does the following calculation:
    • The probability of at least one success in 9 trials for an event of individual probability p=0.0483 is 35.95%.

    You, the player, can expect one blackjack every 3 decks in heads-up play.

    2. House Edge on the Insurance Bet at Blackjack

    “Insurance, anyone?” you can hear the dealer when her face card is an Ace. Players can choose to insure their hands against a potential dealer's natural. The player is allowed to bet half of his initial bet. Is insurance a good side bet in blackjack? What are the odds? What is the house edge for insurance? As in the case of calculating the odds for a natural blackjack, the situation is fluid. The odds and therefore the house edge are proportionately dependent on the amount of 10-valued cards and total remaining cards in the deck.

    We can devise precise mathematical formulas based on the Tens remaining in the deck. We know for sure that the casino pays 2 to 1 for a successful insurance (i.e. the dealer does have Ten as her hole card).

    We start with the most easily manageable case: One deck of cards, one player, the very beginning of the game. There is a total of 16 Teens in the deck (10, J, Q, K). The dealer has dealt 2 cards to the player and one card to herself that we can see exactly — the face card being an Ace. Therefore, 52 – 3 = 49 cards remaining in the deck. There are 3 possible situations, axiomatic one:

    • 1) The player has 2 non-ten cards; there are 16 Teens in the deck = the favorable situations to the player if taking insurance. There are 49 – 16 = 33 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 16 favorable cards amount to 32, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 33 – 32 = +1 unfavorable situation to the player but favorable to the casino (the + sign indicates a casino edge). In this case, there is a house advantage of 1/49 = 2%.
    • 2) The player has 1 Ten and 1 non-ten card; there are 15 Teens remaining in the deck = the favorable situations to the player if taking insurance. There are 49 – 15 = 34 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 15 favorable cards amount to 30, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 34 – 30 = +4 unfavorable situations to the player but favorable to the casino. In this case, there is a house advantage of 4/49 = 8%.
      • This can be also the case of insuring one's blackjack natural: an 8% disadvantage for the player.
      • This figure of 8% represents the average house edge regarding the insurance bet. I did calculations for various situations — number of decks and number of players.
    • 3) The player has 2 Ten-count cards; there are 14 Teens in the deck = the favorable situations to the player if taking insurance. There are 49 – 14 = 35 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 14 favorable cards amount to 28, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 35 – 28 = +7 unfavorable situations to the player but favorable to the casino. In this case, there is a house advantage of 7/49 = 14%. This is the worst-case scenario: The player should never — ever — even think about insurance with that strong hand of 2 Tens!

    Believe it or not, the insurance can be a really sweet deal if there are multiple players at the blackjack table! Let's say, 5 players, the very beginning of the game. There is a total of 16 Teens in the deck (10, J, Q, K). The dealer has dealt 10 cards to the players and one card to herself that we can see exactly — the face card being an Ace. Therefore, 52 – (10 + 1) = 41 cards remaining in the deck. There are many more possible situations, some very different from the previous scenario:

    • 1) The players have 10 non-ten cards; there are still 16 Tens in the deck = the favorable situations to the player if taking insurance. There are 41 – 16 = 25 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 16 favorable cards amount to 32, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 25 – 32 = –7 favorable situation to the player but unfavorable to the casino (the – sign indicates a player advantage now). In this case, there is a house advantage of 7/41 = –17%. The Player has a whopping 17% advantage if taking insurance in a case like this one!
    • 2) The players have 10 Ten-count cards; there are 6 Teens in the deck = the favorable situations to the player if taking insurance. There are 41 – 6 = 35 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 6 favorable cards amount to 12, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 35 – 12 = +23 unfavorable situations to the player but favorable to the casino. In this case, there is a house advantage of 23/41 = 56%. This is the worst-case scenario: None of the players should ever even think about insurance with those strong hands of 2 Tens per capita!
    • 3) Applying the wise aurea mediocritas adagio, there should be an average of 3 or 4 Teens coming out in 11 cards; thus, 12 or 13 Tens remaining in the deck. There are 41 – 13 = 28 unfavorable cards to insurance. However, the 12.5 favorable cards amount to an average of 25, as the insurance pays 2 to 1. The balance is 30 – 25 = +5 unfavorable situations to the player but favorable to the casino. In this case, there is a house advantage of 5/41 = 12%. Unfortunately, even if we consider averages, taking insurance is a repelling bet for the player.
      A formula? It would look complicated symbolically, but it is very easy to follow.

      HA = {(R – T) – T*2} / R

      where —

    • HA = house advantage
    • R = cards remaining in the deck
    • T = Tens remaining in the deck.

    • Axiomatic one, buying (taking) insurance can be a favorable bet for all blackjack players, indeed. Of course, under special circumstances — if you see certain amounts of ten-valued cards on the table. The favorable situations are calculated by the formula above.
    But, then again, a dealer natural 21 occurs about 5%- of the time — the insurance alone won't turn the blackjack game entirely in your favor.

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    3. Calculate Blackjack Double-Down Hands

    Strictly-axiomatic colleague of mine, writing software leads me into new-ideas territory far more often than not. I discovered something new and intriguing while programming software to calculate the blackjack odds totally mathematically. By that I mean generating all possible elements and distinguishing the

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    favorable elements. After all, the formula for probability is the rapport of favorable cases, F, over total possible cases, N: p = F/N.

    Up until yours truly wrote such software, total elements in blackjack (i.e. hands) were obtained via simulation. Problem with simulation is incomplete generation. According to by-now famed Ion Saliu's Probability Paradox, only some 63% of possible elements are generated in a simulation of N random cases.

    I tested my software a variable number of card decks and various deck compositions. I noticed that decks with lower proportions of ten-valued cards provided higher percentages of potential double-down hands. It is natural, of course, as Tens are the only cards that cannot contribute to a hand to possibly double down. However, the double-down hands provide the most advantageous situations for blackjack player. Indeed, it sounds like 'heresy' to all followers of the cult or voodoo ritual of card counting!

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    I rolled up my sleeves and performed comprehensive calculations of blackjack double-downs (2-card hands). The single deck is mostly covered, but the calculations can be extended to any number of decks.

    At the beginning of the deck (shoe): Total combinations of 52 cards taken 2 at a time is C(52, 2) = 1326 hands. Possible 2-card combinations that can be double-down hands:

    • 9-value cards AND 2-value cards: 4 9s * 4 2s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • 8-value cards AND 2-value cards: 4 8s * 4 2s = 16 two-card configurations
    • 8-value cards AND 3-value cards: 4 8s * 4 3s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • 7-value cards AND 2-value cards: 4 7s * 4 2s = 16 two-card configurations
    • 7-value cards AND 3-value cards: 4 7s * 4 3s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • 7-value cards AND 4-value cards: 4 7s * 4 4s = 16 two-card configurations
    • 6-value cards AND 3-value cards: 4 6s * 4 3s = 16 two-card configurations
    • 6-value cards AND 4-value cards: 4 6s * 4 4s = 16 two-card combinations
    • 6-value cards AND 5-value cards: 4 6s * 4 5s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • 5-value cards AND 4-value cards: 4 5s * 4 4s = 16 two-card combinations
    • 5-value cards AND 5-value cards: C(4, 2) = 6 two-card hands (5 + 5 can appear 6 ways).
    • Ace AND 2-value cards: 4 As * 4 2s = 16 two-card combinations
    • Ace AND 3-value cards: 4 As * 4 3s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • Ace AND 4-value cards: 4 As * 4 4s = 16 two-card hands
    • Ace AND 5-value cards: 4 As * 4 5s = 16 two-card possibilities
    • Ace AND 6-value cards: 4 As * 4 6s = 16 two-card hands
    • Ace AND 7-value cards: 4 As * 4 7s = 16 two-card combinations.
    • Total possible 2-card hands in doubling down configuration: 262. Not every configuration can be doubled down (e.g. 4+5 against Dealer's 9 or A+2 against 7).
    • We look at a double down blackjack basic strategy chart. Some 42% of the hands ought to be doubled-down (strongly recommended): 262 * 0.42 = 110. That figure represents 8% of total possible 2-hand combinations (1362), or a chance equal to once in 12 hands.
    • The chance for double-down situations increases with an increase in tens out over the one third cutoff count. The probability for a natural blackjack decreases also — one reason the traditional plus-count systems anathema the negative counts. But what's lost in naturals is gained in double downs — and then some.
    • A sui generisblackjack card-counting strategy was devised by yours truly and it beats the traditionalist plus count systems hands down, as it were.
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    4. Calculate Blackjack Pairs: Strict or Mixed Ten-Cards

    The odds-calculating software I mentioned above (section III) also counts all possible blackjack pairs. The software, however, considers pairs to be two cards of the same value. In other words, 10, J, Q, K are treated as the same rank (value). My software reports data as this fragment (single deck of cards):

    Mixed Pairs: All 10-Valued Cards Taken 2 at a Time

    Evidently, there are 13 ranks. Nine ranks (2 to 9 and Ace) consist of 4 cards each (in a single deck). Four ranks (the Tenners) consist of 16 cards. Total of mixed pairs is calculated by the combination formula for every rank. C(4, 2) = 6; 6 * 9 = 54 (for the non-10 cards). The Ten-ranks contribute: C(16, 2) = 120. Total mixed pairs: 54 + 120 = 174. Probability to get a mixed pair: 174 / 1326 = 13%.

    Strict Pairs: Only 10+10, J+J, Q+Q, K+K

    But for the purpose of splitting pairs, most casinos don't legitimize 10+J, or

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    Q+K, or 10+Q, for example, as pairs. Only 10+10, J+J, Q+Q, K+K are accepted as pairs. Allow me to call them strict pairs, as opposed to the above mixed pairs.

    There are 13 ranks of 4 cards each. Each rank contributes C(4, 2) = 6 pairs. Total strict pairs: 13 * 6 = 78. Probability to get a mixed pair: 78 / 1326 = 5.9%.Total strict pairs = 78 2-card hands (5.9%, but...).

    However, not all blackjack pairs should be split; e.g. 10+10 or 5+5 should not be split, but stood on or doubled down. Only around 3% of strict pairs should be legitimately split. See the optimal split pairs

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    The card game blackjack at certain Bay Area cardrooms has changed a bit in recent months, as places such as Lucky Chances in Colma, Rogelio's Restaurant, Casino, Hotel & Cocktail in Isleton (Sacramento County) and others have embraced a new and improved version of traditional 21 that's perfectly legal in California.

    The game, dubbed Pure Blackjack, varies from other blackjack-style games such as California Blackjack or 21st Century Blackjack. Still, technically none of these games is blackjack - state Penal Code 330 outlaws house-banked games everywhere but at Indian casinos, which are governed under the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

    The biggest difference between Pure Blackjack and California Blackjack is the blackjack itself: While players in the latter game race to 22, players in the former game strive to get 21.5. Another big difference: California Blackjack incorporates jokers; Pure Blackjack eliminates jokers.

    In order to play pure blackjack, one player must be designated as banker. Players volunteer to serve this role, and each competes against this player-banker as if he were the dealer. This player-banker can lose only as much as he places in the betting circle; the money is used to pay off opponents in a clockwise fashion until it is gone.

    The game moves quickly. All picture cards and 10s are worth 10 points, unless they are initially dealt with an ace, in which case their value goes up to 10.5 points, making a 'natural' worth 21.5. In most cardrooms, this hand pays 6 to 5, but if the player-banker has three 8s, everyone pushes or ties - even those players with 21.5.

    Beyond this, the similarities to Vegas-style blackjack are many. Dealers must hit on soft 17s. Players may double down on any two cards, split pairs, double after splits (though they get only one card when they split aces) and surrender a hand for one-half of their original bets.

    'When you're playing the game itself, it feels no different (from Vegas-style blackjack),' says Bill Marsden, director of gaming operations at 101 Casino in Petaluma, which expects to add the game by the end of the year. 'There aren't that many new rules to memorize; you just play.'

    Since Pure Blackjack players compete against each other, the house has to make money somehow. The solution: a standard collection ranging from $1 to $3 (depending on the bet) from each player to play. While this may not seem like too much, cardrooms generally round up on the rake. This means that even on a $25 bet, you've got to part with at least $1 just to see cards.

    Some cardrooms collect an additional amount from players who wish to serve as player-banker. Players can serve in this role for a maximum of two consecutive hands, and then must relinquish the designation to someone else. Not surprisingly, people usually line up to assume this role. In blackjack, even when the house isn't banking, the odds still slightly favor the bank.