B.S. with Dealer Ace up

Do the Basis Strategy grids take into account that the dealer is checking to see if he has blackjack with an Ace or 10 up? Given that Basic Strategy grids reflect the better of 2 (or 3) expected outcomes, doesn't the expected outcome (and thus your play) change with the knowledge that the dealer does not have blackjack? For example, should I not double down on 10 versus a dealer Ace given that he has only a 1 in 9 chance (we know he doesn't have a 10) of making 20 on his next card where I have a 5 in 13 chance of making 20 or better on my next card? I have an 8 in 13 chance of making a pat hand where the dealer has only a 4 in 13 chance of making a pat hand on his next card. If I am right about this, is there a Basic Strategy grid out there that reflects the fact that the dealer is checking for blackjack?

If the Dealer has an Ace-up, then he/she will offer the Insurance bet...which, if all you are playing is B.S., you would not take. If the Dealer has a BJ, the hand is over. Otherwise, you would/should play out your hand according to B.S.

If the Dealer has a 10-up, then they will usually check for BJ. Again, if they have it, the hand is over. If not, again B.S. is played.

If Dealer does not check the hole card under the Ace, then the hand is played as usual, as long as any extra bets (Splits, DD's) are returned to you if Dealer does have a snapper. If extra bets are NOT returned, then likely the game should NOT be played by ANY strategy, all else being equal.

I have a little problem following your examples. Normally, you would NOT DD a 10 vs. Dealer Ace-up, except at TC of +6 or better. Yes, the Dealer may only have a 1/9 chance of making a 20 "ON THE NEXT CARD", BUT the Dealer will get to take additional hits until he gets a Pat hand or busts.

I believe that with an Ace-up, the Dealer will only Bust 12% of the time.....thus you would not DD 10 vs. Ace unless YOUR chances of a "Good Hit" are increased, i.e., high TC's.

Hope this helps.

phantom007.

To answer your question, all reputable BS charts are based upon conditional expectations when there is a 10 or Ace up. That is, they are based upon your expectation, under the assumption that the dealer does not have BJ.

More specifically, the doubling strategy against an Ace is to double 11 vs Ace in H17 games, and in single deck. In multiple deck S17 games, the BS is to hit.

There are some differences if you are playing with European Hole Card Rules, but I don�t think your question is getting into that.

until the round is over, cause they don't have the the little device to check for it (nowadays you aren't offered the peak\tell exploitation). As long as you get your splits and doubles back when dealer has natural, it bears no immediate difference.