Blackjack Probability Tables
- Blackjack Probability Calculator
- Blackjack Probability Tables For Dummies
- Blackjack Probability Tables Definition
- Blackjack Math And Probabilities
- Appendices
- Miscellaneous
- External Links
Introduction
Blackjack Probability Calculator
Perfect blackjack strategy has been determined using probability theory and computer simulations which have figured out the best play in each situation. In this article, I'll explain perfect blackjack strategy and how to use it to your advantage. I've focused on playing at a casino, but the same strategies apply if you're playing online or at a. If you’re willing to put in a little work, blackjack offers the best odds. I’m talking about a.5 percent casino edge, depending on which table you’re sitting at. (Meaning for every dollar you gamble, you’ll lose only half a penny on average.) But to get these ultra-good odds, you have to know what you’re doing.
The following tables display expected returns for any play in blackjack based on the following rules: dealer stands on a soft 17, an infinite deck, the player may double after a split, split up to three times except for aces, and draw only one card to split aces. Based on these rules, the player's expected value is -0.511734%.
To use this table, look up the returns for any given play, the one with the greatest return is the best play. For example suppose you have two 8's and the dealer has a 10. The return by standing is -0.5404, by hitting is -0.5398, doubling is -1.0797, and by splitting is -0.4807. So splitting 8's you stand to lose the least, 48.07 cents per original dollar bet, and is thus the best play.
Stand
Player's Expected Return by StandingExpand
| Player's Hand | Dealer's Up Card | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace | |
| 0-16 | -0.292784 | -0.252250 | -0.211063 | -0.167193 | -0.153699 | -0.475375 | -0.510518 | -0.543150 | -0.540430 | -0.666951 |
| 17 | -0.152975 | -0.117216 | -0.080573 | -0.044941 | 0.011739 | -0.106809 | -0.381951 | -0.423154 | -0.419721 | -0.478033 |
| 18 | 0.121742 | 0.148300 | 0.175854 | 0.199561 | 0.283444 | 0.399554 | 0.105951 | -0.183163 | -0.178301 | -0.100199 |
| 19 | 0.386305 | 0.404363 | 0.423179 | 0.439512 | 0.495977 | 0.615976 | 0.593854 | 0.287597 | 0.063118 | 0.277636 |
| 20 | 0.639987 | 0.650272 | 0.661050 | 0.670360 | 0.703959 | 0.773227 | 0.791815 | 0.758357 | 0.554538 | 0.655470 |
| 21 | 0.882007 | 0.885300 | 0.888767 | 0.891754 | 0.902837 | 0.925926 | 0.930605 | 0.939176 | 0.962624 | 0.922194 |
Hit
Player's Expected Return by HittingExpand
| Player's Hand | Dealer's Up Card | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace | |
| 4 | -0.114913 | -0.082613 | -0.049367 | -0.012380 | 0.011130 | -0.088279 | -0.159334 | -0.240666 | -0.289198 | -0.253077 |
| 5 | -0.128216 | -0.095310 | -0.061479 | -0.023979 | -0.001186 | -0.119447 | -0.188093 | -0.266615 | -0.313412 | -0.278575 |
| 6 | -0.140759 | -0.107291 | -0.072917 | -0.034916 | -0.013006 | -0.151933 | -0.217242 | -0.292641 | -0.337749 | -0.304147 |
| 7 | -0.109183 | -0.076583 | -0.043022 | -0.007271 | 0.029185 | -0.068808 | -0.210605 | -0.285365 | -0.319055 | -0.310072 |
| 8 | -0.021798 | 0.008005 | 0.038784 | 0.070805 | 0.114960 | 0.082207 | -0.059898 | -0.210186 | -0.249375 | -0.197029 |
| 9 | 0.074446 | 0.101265 | 0.128981 | 0.158032 | 0.196019 | 0.171868 | 0.098376 | -0.052178 | -0.152953 | -0.065681 |
| 10 | 0.182500 | 0.206088 | 0.230470 | 0.256259 | 0.287795 | 0.256909 | 0.197954 | 0.116530 | 0.025309 | 0.081450 |
| 11 | 0.238351 | 0.260325 | 0.283020 | 0.307350 | 0.333690 | 0.292147 | 0.229982 | 0.158257 | 0.119482 | 0.143001 |
| 12 | -0.253390 | -0.233691 | -0.213537 | -0.193271 | -0.170526 | -0.212848 | -0.271575 | -0.340013 | -0.381043 | -0.350540 |
| 13 | -0.307791 | -0.291210 | -0.274224 | -0.257333 | -0.235626 | -0.269073 | -0.323605 | -0.387155 | -0.425254 | -0.396930 |
| 14 | -0.362192 | -0.348729 | -0.334911 | -0.321395 | -0.300726 | -0.321282 | -0.371919 | -0.430930 | -0.466307 | -0.440007 |
| 15 | -0.416594 | -0.406249 | -0.395599 | -0.385457 | -0.365826 | -0.369762 | -0.416782 | -0.471578 | -0.504428 | -0.480006 |
| 16 | -0.470995 | -0.463768 | -0.456286 | -0.449520 | -0.430927 | -0.414779 | -0.458440 | -0.509322 | -0.539826 | -0.517149 |
| 17 | -0.536151 | -0.531674 | -0.527011 | -0.522986 | -0.508753 | -0.483486 | -0.505983 | -0.553695 | -0.584463 | -0.557300 |
| 18 | -0.622439 | -0.620005 | -0.617462 | -0.615260 | -0.607479 | -0.591144 | -0.591056 | -0.616528 | -0.647671 | -0.626515 |
| 19 | -0.729077 | -0.728033 | -0.726937 | -0.725991 | -0.722554 | -0.715450 | -0.713660 | -0.715574 | -0.729449 | -0.724795 |
| 20 | -0.855230 | -0.854977 | -0.854710 | -0.854480 | -0.853628 | -0.851852 | -0.851492 | -0.850833 | -0.849029 | -0.852139 |
| Soft 12 | 0.081836 | 0.103507 | 0.126596 | 0.156482 | 0.185954 | 0.165473 | 0.095115 | 0.000066 | -0.070002 | -0.020478 |
| Soft 13 | 0.046636 | 0.074119 | 0.102477 | 0.133363 | 0.161693 | 0.122386 | 0.054057 | -0.037695 | -0.104851 | -0.057308 |
| Soft 14 | 0.022392 | 0.050807 | 0.080081 | 0.111894 | 0.139165 | 0.079507 | 0.013277 | -0.075163 | -0.139467 | -0.093874 |
| Soft 15 | -0.000121 | 0.029160 | 0.059285 | 0.091960 | 0.118246 | 0.037028 | -0.027055 | -0.112189 | -0.173704 | -0.130027 |
| Soft 16 | -0.021025 | 0.009059 | 0.039975 | 0.073449 | 0.098821 | -0.004890 | -0.066795 | -0.148644 | -0.207441 | -0.165637 |
| Soft 17 | -0.000491 | 0.028975 | 0.059326 | 0.091189 | 0.128052 | 0.053823 | -0.072915 | -0.149787 | -0.196867 | -0.179569 |
| Soft 18 | 0.062905 | 0.090248 | 0.118502 | 0.147613 | 0.190753 | 0.170676 | 0.039677 | -0.100744 | -0.143808 | -0.092935 |
| Soft 19 | 0.123958 | 0.149340 | 0.175577 | 0.202986 | 0.239799 | 0.220620 | 0.152270 | 0.007893 | -0.088096 | -0.005743 |
| Soft 20 | 0.182500 | 0.206088 | 0.230470 | 0.256259 | 0.287795 | 0.256909 | 0.197954 | 0.116530 | 0.025309 | 0.081450 |
| Soft 21 | 0.238351 | 0.260325 | 0.283020 | 0.307350 | 0.333690 | 0.292147 | 0.229982 | 0.158257 | 0.119482 | 0.143001 |
Double
Player's Expected Return by DoublingExpand
| Player's Hand | Dealer's Up Card | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace | |
| Hard 4 | -0.585567 | -0.504500 | -0.422126 | -0.334385 | -0.307398 | -0.950750 | -1.021035 | -1.086299 | -1.080861 | -1.333902 |
| Hard 5 | -0.585567 | -0.504500 | -0.422126 | -0.334385 | -0.307398 | -0.950750 | -1.021035 | -1.086299 | -1.080861 | -1.333902 |
| Hard 6 | -0.564058 | -0.483726 | -0.402051 | -0.315577 | -0.281946 | -0.894048 | -1.001256 | -1.067839 | -1.062290 | -1.304837 |
| Hard 7 | -0.435758 | -0.359779 | -0.282299 | -0.202730 | -0.138337 | -0.589336 | -0.847076 | -0.957074 | -0.950866 | -1.130452 |
| Hard 8 | -0.204491 | -0.136216 | -0.066372 | 0.003456 | 0.087015 | -0.187730 | -0.451987 | -0.718501 | -0.746588 | -0.810746 |
| Hard 9 | 0.061119 | 0.120816 | 0.181949 | 0.243057 | 0.317055 | 0.104250 | -0.026442 | -0.300996 | -0.466707 | -0.432911 |
| Hard 10 | 0.358939 | 0.409321 | 0.460940 | 0.512517 | 0.575590 | 0.392412 | 0.286636 | 0.144328 | -0.008659 | -0.014042 |
| Hard 11 | 0.470641 | 0.517795 | 0.566041 | 0.614699 | 0.667380 | 0.462889 | 0.350693 | 0.227783 | 0.179689 | 0.109061 |
| Hard 12 | -0.506780 | -0.467382 | -0.427073 | -0.386542 | -0.341052 | -0.506712 | -0.615661 | -0.737506 | -0.796841 | -0.829344 |
| Hard 13 | -0.615582 | -0.582420 | -0.548448 | -0.514667 | -0.471253 | -0.587423 | -0.690966 | -0.807790 | -0.867544 | -0.880582 |
| Hard 14 | -0.724385 | -0.697459 | -0.669823 | -0.642791 | -0.601453 | -0.668135 | -0.766271 | -0.878075 | -0.938247 | -0.931821 |
| Hard 15 | -0.833187 | -0.812497 | -0.791198 | -0.770915 | -0.731653 | -0.748846 | -0.841576 | -0.948360 | -1.008950 | -0.983059 |
| Hard 16 | -0.941990 | -0.927536 | -0.912573 | -0.899039 | -0.861853 | -0.829558 | -0.916881 | -1.018644 | -1.079653 | -1.034297 |
| Hard 17 | -1.072302 | -1.063348 | -1.054023 | -1.045971 | -1.017505 | -0.966972 | -1.011965 | -1.107390 | -1.168926 | -1.114600 |
| Hard 18 | -1.244877 | -1.240010 | -1.234924 | -1.230519 | -1.214958 | -1.182288 | -1.182112 | -1.233057 | -1.295342 | -1.253031 |
| Hard 19 | -1.458155 | -1.456066 | -1.453874 | -1.451983 | -1.445108 | -1.430899 | -1.427320 | -1.431149 | -1.458898 | -1.449590 |
| Hard 20 | -1.710461 | -1.709954 | -1.709420 | -1.708961 | -1.707256 | -1.703704 | -1.702984 | -1.701665 | -1.698058 | -1.704278 |
| Soft 12 | -0.071570 | -0.007228 | 0.058427 | 0.125954 | 0.179748 | -0.183866 | -0.314441 | -0.456367 | -0.514028 | -0.624391 |
| Soft 13 | -0.071570 | -0.007228 | 0.058427 | 0.125954 | 0.179748 | -0.183866 | -0.314441 | -0.456367 | -0.514028 | -0.624391 |
| Soft 14 | -0.071570 | -0.007228 | 0.058427 | 0.125954 | 0.179748 | -0.183866 | -0.314441 | -0.456367 | -0.514028 | -0.624391 |
| Soft 15 | -0.071570 | -0.007228 | 0.058427 | 0.125954 | 0.179748 | -0.183866 | -0.314441 | -0.456367 | -0.514028 | -0.624391 |
| Soft 16 | -0.071570 | -0.007228 | 0.058427 | 0.125954 | 0.179748 | -0.183866 | -0.314441 | -0.456367 | -0.514028 | -0.624391 |
| Soft 17 | -0.007043 | 0.055095 | 0.118653 | 0.182378 | 0.256104 | -0.013758 | -0.255102 | -0.400984 | -0.458316 | -0.537198 |
| Soft 18 | 0.119750 | 0.177641 | 0.237004 | 0.295225 | 0.381506 | 0.219948 | -0.029917 | -0.290219 | -0.346892 | -0.362813 |
| Soft 19 | 0.241855 | 0.295824 | 0.351154 | 0.405972 | 0.479599 | 0.319835 | 0.195269 | -0.072946 | -0.235468 | -0.188428 |
| Soft 20 | 0.358939 | 0.409321 | 0.460940 | 0.512517 | 0.575590 | 0.392412 | 0.286636 | 0.144328 | -0.008659 | -0.014042 |
| Soft 21 | 0.470641 | 0.517795 | 0.566041 | 0.614699 | 0.667380 | 0.462889 | 0.350693 | 0.227783 | 0.179689 | 0.109061 |
Split
Player's Expected Return by SplittingExpand
| Player's Hand | Dealer's Up Card | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace | |
| 2,2 | -0.084336 | -0.015650 | 0.059088 | 0.151665 | 0.226890 | 0.006743 | -0.176693 | -0.386883 | -0.507175 | -0.433570 |
| 3,3 | -0.137710 | -0.056273 | 0.029932 | 0.126284 | 0.201318 | -0.053043 | -0.231843 | -0.436607 | -0.553507 | -0.482405 |
| 4,4 | -0.192325 | -0.108712 | -0.020395 | 0.081913 | 0.151377 | -0.166452 | -0.326068 | -0.511152 | -0.625044 | -0.560206 |
| 5,5 | -0.290154 | -0.208718 | -0.119335 | -0.019231 | 0.045404 | -0.293928 | -0.454237 | -0.634113 | -0.729969 | -0.668811 |
| 6,6 | -0.212560 | -0.119715 | -0.021320 | 0.080912 | 0.153668 | -0.264427 | -0.425122 | -0.610576 | -0.716103 | -0.653362 |
| 7,7 | -0.131478 | -0.043733 | 0.049255 | 0.146678 | 0.247385 | -0.050148 | -0.391981 | -0.577584 | -0.657268 | -0.651641 |
| 8,8 | 0.073852 | 0.146187 | 0.220849 | 0.297475 | 0.409329 | 0.321042 | -0.022736 | -0.387228 | -0.480686 | -0.372535 |
| 9,9 | 0.195625 | 0.258548 | 0.323474 | 0.391987 | 0.471339 | 0.364837 | 0.234447 | -0.078010 | -0.317336 | -0.136810 |
| 10,10 | 0.134774 | 0.212836 | 0.293403 | 0.380367 | 0.468117 | 0.296633 | 0.064443 | -0.206733 | -0.371278 | -0.249494 |
| A,A | 0.470641 | 0.517795 | 0.566041 | 0.614699 | 0.667380 | 0.462889 | 0.350693 | 0.227783 | 0.179689 | 0.109061 |
Here are basic strategy tables for infinite decks.
The only differences between infinite and four decks is to hit soft 13 vs. 5, and soft 15 vs 4 only when the dealer stands on soft 17.
I have had a lot of requests for my actual spreadsheet through the years. It is available to the public at Google docs. Note that this document allows for infinite re-splitting, while the tables above are based on a maximum of three splits (except aces).
Blackjack Probability Tables For Dummies
Written by: Michael ShacklefordBlackjack Probability Tables Definition
Blackjack is a game that may look simple on the outside, but beneath the surface, you’ll find that it’s all about odds and making the correct mathematical decisions. It’s easy to let your intuition take over and base your decisions at the table on that. To be able to play perfectly and master blackjack, it is, however, crucial to understand what the odds are for every scenario you face and only base your decisions on those odds. It’s important to be aware of how the house is getting an edge in the game and what advantages us players have to our disposal, which can be used to lower the house edge.
Blackjack Math And Probabilities
In the following article, we’ll be covering the basics for the optimal blackjack strategy, known as basic strategy, which makes it possible to lower the house edge a great deal. We’ll take a look at how the house is getting its edge; what our own advantages are; give a few examples on the odds on certain outcomes and show you how basic strategy is applied at the tables. The goal is to create a good understanding of the importance of odds and how the use of basic strategy can help you improve your game when you’re playing for real money.