Blackjack Encyclopedia of Casino Twenty-One: Numbers

THE NUMBERS OF 21

1. One of two values for the ace as declared by the player. If an ace is removed from a single-deck Las Vegas Strip (LVS) rule game it puts the player at a -.61% disadvantage. See 11.

1:x. Abbreviation for a bet spread of 1 to x, where x can be any number. (e.g., 1:10, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2)

2. A low card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game gives the player a +.38% advantage.

2-6. A stiff card. When the dealer has one of these up-cards the dealer has what is referred to as a potentially stiff hand.

2:1. Abbreviation for a blackjack game in which naturals pay 2 to 1 instead of the normal 3 to 2.

3. A low card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game, gives the player a +.45% advantage.

3:2. Abbreviation for a blackjack game in which naturals pay off the normal 3 to 2. In otherwords, a $10 wager will win $15 if the player receives a natural and the dealer does not also have a natural 21. See 6:5.

4. A low card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game gives the player a +.55% advantage.

5. 1) A low card unique in the sense that it can convert all stiff hands into pat hands. It is the most valuable card for the dealer. If removed from a single-deck LVS rule game it gives the player a +.69% advantage. 2) Acronym for Five Card 21 pays 2 to 1.
[2) Wong Current Blackjack News]

6. 1) A low card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game gives the player a +.46% advantage. 2) Acronym for six card unbusted hand wins automatically.
[2) Wong Current Blackjack News]

6:5. Abbreviation for a blackjack game in which naturals pay off at 6 to 5. In otherwords, a $10 wager will win only $12 if the player receives a natural and the dealer does not also have a natural 21. House edge for a typical single deck game with the 6:5 rule is about 1.45%*, compared with 0.18% for a typical single deck game with the normal 3:2 rule. This is a definitely a rule all players should avoid and protest. See 3:2. * Note: In some 6:5 single deck games, a player's natural wins regardless of what the dealer has -- which reduces the house edge in the game slightly to 1.24%.
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7. A card that can be considered a low card or a neutral card. If removed from a single-deck LVS rule game it gives the player a +.28% advantage.

8. The most neutral of all cards which, if removed from a deck has little or no effect on advantage.

9. A card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game puts the player at a 0.18% disadvantage.

10. A ten valued card which can be a ten, jack, queen, or king. There are 16 ten valued cards in a deck of cards. A card which, if removed from a single-deck LVS rule game puts the player at a 0.51% disadvantage. See ten.

21. The best sum of card values a player can obtain. This value is called a blackjack if it is from the player's original two cards (ten valued card plus an ace).

21e. Acronym for naturals pay even money instead of 3 to 2.
[Wong Current Blackjack News]

21l. Acronym for dealer blackjack beats player blackjack.
[Wong Current Blackjack News]

21p. Acronym for dealer blackjack with 10 up pushes player's 21.
[Wong Current Blackjack News]

21w. Acronym for blackjack wins regardless of dealer's hand.
[Wong Current Blackjack News]

52. The number of cards in a standard deck of playing cards, excluding jokers.

86'd. Abbreviation for being kicked out of a casino and usually with a threat of being arrested if you return.

6-7-8. A popular bonus hand in social blackjack games and in some casinos. Some casinos have experimented with paying players a bonus if they receive this hand suited but only if they win the hand. In other words, the player does not receive the bonus if he ties the dealer or the dealer turns up a natural. Typically, any 6-7-8 pays double or there is a bonus for this hand. See Royal 21. See 7-7-7. See A-J bonus.
[9/92 Schlesinger Lost in the Maze..BJF]
[92 Wong Basic Blackjack]

7-7-7. A Royal 21. A popular bonus hand in social blackjack games and in some casinos. Typically, any 7-7-7 pays double or there is a bonus for this hand. See 6-7-8. See A-J bonus.
[9/92 Schlesinger Lost in the Maze.. BJF]
[92 Wong Basic Blackjack]

5-5-5-5. A bonus hand offered in some casinos. Typical payoff was 2 to 1.
[92 Wong Basic Blackjack]

The two exotic rule options above have appeared in the casinos in the following formats:

Winning 6-7-8 suited pays 2 to 1

Winning 7-7-7 suited pays 3 to 2

In each case above the advantage to the player is small (PA = +0.01%). According to Wong's Blackjack Analyzer software the only basic strategy change is for the 6-7-8 case where it is correct to hit 6-7 suited versus a dealer 2.
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