This is a new term for me. I've seen that the rules are liberal but offset by some stricter payouts/rules. Is this just a term for regular 21 with lots of "super fun" rules? Is it truly super fun to play and beatable?
SF21 cannot easily be beaten and is not worth the effort unless you are a full-time pro living in Las Vegas.
Oddfellow is correct, but if you want the optimal play, here's the link:
Actually that link does not really give optimal strategy for
SF21. For example, it says to double on A-2 v 5,6. In SF21
one can multiple card double. It is more optimal to hit A-2 v
5,6 with the option to double later. There are several other
errors in the strategy on that link.
LVBear is a real expert on SF21. If you want to know how it
can be beatable, find and read everything he's written on it.
SF21 is difficult to analyze exactly because (as far as I know)
no available programs simulate multiple card surrender, surrender
after double, and multiple card double -- all at once.
As a new player, I got interested in SF21, analyzed it (only
roughly) and played many hrs at a certain large Indian reservation
casino. Conditions are very important in SF21, and sometimes
exotic methods can be used. I was a new counter, and
I knew SF21 was considered a sucker's game. So I figured I could
use the game itself as camouflage and spread wildly. It worked
for awhile, with a nice net win. Then I was surprised by my first
tap on the shoulder. Recently SF21 conditions have tightened up alot.
I've never played Super Fun 21 or it's Southern kissing cousin, Single 21, so I am certainly no authority.
I've just never heard anyone before challenge OCKO's method as being the optimal play.
If The Bear would chime in, I sure would like to hear his comments.
I don't know how OCKO came up with that strategy.
But, for example regarding A-2,3 (soft 13,14), see
Stanford Wong, Professional Blackjack, Table 16, page 63
"Double, Not Last Chance, H17".
All of Wong's soft 13 doubling indices are positive,
and all soft 14 except v dealer 6 which index is -1.
Combine the other multiple card rules in SF21, and it
is resonable to guess that soft 14 v 6 index will also
go positive.
It would be nice if an available program could simulate
all these rules together -- does anyone know of such
a program?
Oddfellow and Titaniumman are correct to say that SF21 is not
easy to beat and not recommended except possibly for the full
time professional. The Bear has also written that.
But still, that OCKO strategy is way off. My guess is that he
simply combined single deck strategy with the 5 card 21 and 6 card
anything bonusses in SF21. OCKO did not understand the much more
important multiple card double, multiple card surrender, and
surrender after double. Also in SF21 several more indexes beyond
the "illustrous 18" are relevant.
SF21 is difficult to analyze exactly because (as far as I know)
no available programs simulate multiple card surrender, surrender
after double, and multiple card double -- all at once.
CVData supports all these. I just tried all at once and they appear to work together correctly. Also, CVData is the only sim that supports different indexes for different numbers of cards. And yes SF21 can be beaten.
features? It was about a year and a half ago when I was looking for
a SF21 simulator and came up short. I don't remember if I looked
specifically at CVData.
Some changes were made to better accomodate SP21. I haven't specifically looked at SF21.
If The Bear would chime in, I sure would like to hear his comments.
Some of the small potential soft doubles have higher EV if hit. Superfun appears to be on its way out, at least in Las Vegas. I would prefer not to discuss any specifics of it on a public board. Few playable games remain. If someone who knows me, or knows someone I know who'll vouch for them, wants more info, I would be happy to share by private email.
