when i looked this chart http://blackjackinfo.com/bjtourn-doublechart.php i just start to wonder thare we cant double 5/5 against 9 ,must surrender 7/7 against T,7/9 vs T
But in the calculator said that almost double 10 vs 9 and hit 14 vs T
What to do?
12 vs. 4 is a rather close decision. Closer decisions in BJ are doubling down A-4 vs. 4 in a DAS game - and the closest decision of all in a DAS game is doubling down A-2 vs. 5
basic strategy (composition dependent or otherwise) will have you playing 12 vs. 4 by standing at 8 decks only.
If you played BJ for the next 20 yrs at 20 hrs a week with an average bet of $20 playing this last example (A-2 vs, 5) incorrectly OR randomly on EVERY occassion would not cost you enough money to toke the cocktail waitress ONCE.
You must learn, if you are ever to play this game correctly, that hands like these should be played WRONG if you are counting cards because the wrong play will cost you almost nothing and provide a bit of "cover" for you. This is part of "Counter Basic Strategy" The Best example: I would NEVER hit 16 vs. a dealer TEN because at neutral and negative counts the cost to me in lost equity is pennies and at positive counts when I have real money wagered it is CORRECT by a wide margin - when it counts! Meanwhile pit critters watch how you vary your play of 16 vs TEN when they think that you are a card counter - so this is a valuable stratagem.
