Blackjack in Australia

For blackjack in Australia where the dealer gets one card face up.

If the player gets an eleven, should they double?

Note, if the dealer gets a blackjack, the player who doubles will only lose half his double bet?

You didn't specify the dealer's upcard, so we'll cover all of them.😊 Double vs. 2-T; hit vs. A.

Don

What? I guess it depends. Is it Hit-17 or Stand-17?

Yes, that's true. I shouldn't have just assumed S17.

Don

Thanks Don. 

The Dealer up card is an Ace.

In this game, a player only loses half his split or double if the Dealer has Blackjack.

I’m often very rude. You must thank aceside too. The strategy depends on the rules.

"I’m often very rude."

Maybe you can explain to us why that is. Do you figure it helps you to gain respect? My grandfather used to say, "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." Words of wisdom.

Don

He is referring to himself by name in third person. And as you know his posts are often a little disconnected. And he tends not to have the emotional reaction that others might when confronted. He is not like you and me, I’ll put it that way; it may help to keep that in mind.

To answer this question, more details about the rules are needed. Specifically, how many decks of cards being used in this game and whether the dealer hits her soft 17 hand or not. 

Hi Robbie,
While playing around with Australian Pontoon, I noticed your blackjack in Australia post. At the risk of being redundant, I'll try to add a couple extra details to your thread. 

You seem to be a basic strategy player—that's great because in terms of blackjack in Australia, most tables use CSMs, so basic strategy is all you can do.
Also most tables are H17, and as you point out they're all NHC rules. 

Now if you get into counting cards someday, you'll want to get into the high limit rooms where games are dealt from shoes and not CSM machines.  Also, the S17 rule frequently becomes available. 

How does this all twist up the basic strategy?

Well, with your play of 11 vs. Ace at an H17 table the correct play is to double down, as the experts told you above.  That's the first pass look,  but the European NHC rule would suggest a basic strategy where you do not double due to the risk of losing double to a dealer natural. 

However, welcome to Australia, where casinos include NHC with OBO rules, or what some call the BB+1 or the OBBO rule where, as you mention,  you don't lose double, only the original bet. Therfore with 11 vs. Ace or Tens you do double again. 

Now what if you go to a higher limit table that has the S17 rule? Then basic strategy reverts back to that you do not double on 11 vs. A, but you do double on 11 vs. 2 through Ten when OBO exists.

These flip-flops are a little confusing, but that's what makes you the expert at the blackjack table.

Forgive me for throwing this in,  but  I cover this in my Universal Basic Strategy Chart within my new book called Advantage Blackjack from Huntington Press, (highlighted on another thread here in BJ21.com).  ABJ has a whole chapter on extensive basic strategy that you may find helpful. 

Cheers, 
Ole