Losses from Cover Play
|
Decks, Rules |
Loss |
|
Do not hit hard 18, 19 |
1.0% |
|
Do not hit hard 17 |
1.2% |
|
Do not hit A8 against 20 |
0.08% |
|
Split 88 with dealer 10, 11 against LC |
>.01% |
|
Do not split TT against HC |
0.2% |
|
Do not split TT against LC |
0.1% |
|
Do not split 99 against HC |
0.05% |
|
Do not split 44 against 13 HC |
>.01% |
|
Do not soft double against Ace up |
0.01% |
|
Do not soft double A9 against HC |
0.02% |
|
Do not double 10 against Ace up |
0.01% |
|
Do not double 5-9 against HC |
0.46% |
|
Do not double 5-6 against LC |
0.02% |
|
Do not hit 14-16 against LC |
0.22% |
|
Insure only 11, 12, hard17-20, soft 18-20, AA, BJ |
1.4% |
|
Do not insure 11, 12 |
0.2% |
The sum of all cover plays above is 5%. Compare this to a 12.5% edge with optimal play. Of course this assumes you will have perfect information on every hole card, which is highly unlikely.
Insurance is very tricky since you will always win if you do not purposely lose. This is particularly obvious if you have a partner at the table and are both insuring at the same time. On the other hand, insurance wins are not that common and you should be okay with short sessions. Of course insurance is also a problem in normal play since average players rarely insure bad hands. You can insure a stiff and say to the dealer, “I have to bet on you, because my hand stinks,” or words to that effect.
Partial Information
At times you will see a corner of the card, but not enough to determine the exact card. Following the cover play strategies on the next two pages, you will find strategies to be used if you have partial information about the hole card. For example, if you know the hole card is an ace, 2 or 3 (no pip in the corner). Rather than give tables for pitch and shoe games, I compromised with double-deck.
© 2009 Norman Wattenberger
