Card counting is meant to achieve two objectives – to help the player assess when to raise his/her bet based on the count and to help him/her assess when to use certain variations to the basic strategy, again taking into consideration the count. To employ variations to the basic strategy at the proper moment of time will usually benefit the player.
Let us illustrate with an example. Imagine that you participate in a six-deck game with S17 and you hold 7-4, while the upcard of the dealer is an Ace. In case you conform to the basic strategy rules, you need to abstain from action in these conditions. At the same time, at your table there could be someone who decides to double down on that hand and has a success. Logically, you would blame yourself for not being decisive and courageous enough to double down on the same hand – you would have doubled your balance. However, professional blackjack players claim that your long-term win from hitting 7-4 represents 0.147 times the original bet you placed, while the long-term win from doubling down on the same hand represents 0.127 times that bet. Or, in case your original bet is $100, your average gain for that hand will be $14.7, while if you double down, you will gain $12.7 on average (13.61% less than what you would have scored as profit, in case you followed basic strategy guidelines).
If you happen to hold such a hand, you may double down, when your true count is +1 or higher! If you play this hand in such a manner, your expectation will move up to 0.148 from 0.147. Although the change may seem insignificant, you may play the hand in such a way by placing a larger bet. This is just one among the 18 basic strategy variations, which experts recommend. In case you play a six-deck game, all 18 variations could ensure you over 33% to the profit, which basic strategy alone grants you. These variations, which could add even more in a single-deck or a double-deck game, are famous for being the Illustrious 18. We shall dig deeper into them right after we discuss four variations to the basic strategy for games having the option to surrender. These four variations are known as the Fab Four.
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There are upwards of 90 Evolution Gaming Live Blackjack games to play but we've picked the top 5 to bet on right now. Does your favourite make the cut? The X axis of this chart is the generation number (with a maximum of 200), and the Y axis is the average fitness score per generation. The first few generations aren't shown to emphasize the differences as we reach the later generations. The flat white line along the top of the chart is the fitness score for the known, optimal baseline strategy. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators. Live Blackjack is one of Evolution Gaming's flagship products and the title the well-known software provider has become famous for. Played with eight decks of cards, the game features standard European rules, with Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side wagers creating additional betting opportunities and improving potential for big wins.
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The Fab Four
While the Illustrious 18 are variations to the basic strategy for any blackjack game, the Fab Four are variations to help a player increase his/her profit in a game where the surrender option is offered. Don Schlesinger came up with the 'Fab Four' term, which refers to the top-four late-surrender plays based on the Hi-Lo system. You may play in such a manner, in case your true count is 0 or higher. Let us have a look at the Fab Four variations to the basic strategy, which are used in multi-deck games:
Running Count Keeping Hints
Learning to Keep a True Count
True Count Drills
Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation
The Illustrious 18
1. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is 9 and your true count is +3.
2. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is 10 and your true count is 0.
3. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is an Ace and your true count is +2 (in S17) or -1 (in H17).
4. You need to surrender, if your hand is 14, the dealer's upcard is 10 and your true count is +4.
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How it all began
The origin of Blackjack history is one of the most debatable points in the history of all gambling games. Some say the game traces its roots to back to the French game 'vingt-et-un' (21), which was popular in French casinos in the 17th century. Others believe the history of blackjack started from Italy, as an Italian game 'Thirty one' appeared a lot earlier, in the 13th century. Let's find out all about these games.
Blackjack Evolution
The Game of Thirty One
The Italian game Thirty one was first mentioned in the XIV century.
The aim of the game was to get a hand totaling 31.
The Italian game 'Thirty One' has lots of similarities with the current game of blackjack, though the aim of it was to get a hand totaling 31 from 3 cards. The fact the game appeared in the XIV century makes this game the first predecessor of blackjack as we know it today. The first time this game was mentioned was in an anti-gaming sermon by an Italian monk - St. Bernardine of Siena. This sermon led to public burnings of dice, cards and backgammon boards. This sermon dates back to 1440.
Fun Fact: The first deck of cards was printed by Johan Guttenberg, also famous for printing the first Bibles. The deck had 22 trumps and 4 suits of 14 cards. Each suit had 10 numbered cards, a King, a Queen, a Knight and a Valet (Jester).
The game 'Thirty One' was also mentioned in the classic and famous work by Francois Rabelais - 'Gargantua and Pantagruel'. The game was listed in Chapter XXII as one of the 100 games played by Gargantua: '… Then the carpet being spread, they brought plenty of cards, many dice, with great store and abundance of chequers and chessboards. There he played at flush, primero, the beast, trump…one-and-thirty….'. The reference dates back to between 1532 and 1542.
The game was then mentioned in one of the stories of the famous Spanish writer - Miguel de Cervantes, where he described a great blackjack, or 'Trentuno', cheat. The story was called 'Riconete and Cortadillo' and was published in 1613, which is over 150 years later than the first mention of 31 in Bernardine's sermon.
Evolution Blackjack Chart Printable
Seven and a Half
Seven and Half was very popular in Italy and brought lots of its features to modern blackjack.
Unlike in modern blackjack, the dealer could choose what to do in the game.
Another Italian game of the 17th century brought lots of features that make blackjack today the way we know and love it.
The Italian game 'Seven and a Half' was very popular entertainment pastime with some similarities with the game of blackjack you will definitely notice. According to the rules of the game, it was played with only 8's, 9's, 10's and face cards. The values of cards were the following: Aces were counted as 1; Face cards all counted as a ½ and all the rest cards were counted according their values. The King of diamonds in the game was considered as a wild card. Any player that received a total higher than 7.5 would automatically go bust. The player who got a value of 7 ½ won and was paid more than even money. The dealer unlike in modern blackjack, was allowed to hit and stand when he wanted.
French Vingt-et-un
The game Vingt-et-un differed in many aspects from the game blackjack as we know it today, though there are still many common features. The cards in this game were dealt in rounds allowing players to bet on each of the rounds. Though the aim of the game was partly the same - to get a hand of 21, the game was different as only dealer could double and if he got a Natural, all the players would pay him triple. Player's Natural paid double and a busted hand was an automatic loser. In Vingt-et-un the Ace could be 1 or 11 which has carried on to the modern game
As you can see, the game of Vingt-et-un is similar to blackjack game, therefore it is mostly considered to be the true predecessor of modern Blackjack.
Vingt-et-un more than any other game is similar to modern blackjack.
The game was loved by the French elite and was even played by the mistress of the king Louis XV.
Fun fact: Vingt-et-un was very popular among French and even the mistress of Louis XV, Madame du Barry loved this game so much she made the king organize 'Vingt-et-un' parties to make her happy. Another interesting fact is that Napoleon, who was against card games as they distracted his soldiers, played Vingt-et-un daily on his exile on Elba to kill time.
All in All
All things considered, there are no hard facts and no one can say for sure what the origin of blackjack is. Some researchers believe this game has derived from other similar French game , however those games are based on accurate and well-balanced calculations. Also the fact that casino games very rarely mutate into other games is a strong argument that blackjack did not come from vingt-et-un or any other game.
Still, there are such scholars that think blackjack belongs to the family of games that includes Baccarat, Seven-And-A-Half and Vingt-et-Un, 21 and Pontoon. These games may be very familiar to you, and as there are lots of common features they all are considered to be the ancestors of modern blackjack.
Blackjack in America
When the game of 21 came to America it started a new era and soon became the most popular gambling game.
From its origins in Europe, blackjack has spread out throughout the world and came to America after the French Revolution in 1789. The game became hugely popular after casino owners offered amazing bonuses (for a hand of Jack and Ace of Spades the player got a 10 to 1 payout which brings us to the origin of the name of Blackjack).
The first name for the game however was Twenty-One which has been used in New Orleans since 1823.
As in Europe the game of blackjack was mainly a game of entertainment, then professional gamblers in the USA tried to make it a source of gain by manipulating gaming odds and varying bets. There were no specific governmental regulations for the gambling industry and that is why the game developed quickly and became more and more popular. It continued like this until the 19th century when the government of the US found out how gambling, influenced corruption and led to organized crime.
According to many researchers, the modern history of the game of blackjack started with the Nevada Gambling Act of 1931 that legalized gambling in all Nevada casinos.
This led to many changes for blackjack history. As most of US states criminalised gambling, Las Vegas in Nevada attracted gamblers from all over the world to its casinos, and blackjack became one of the most popular games at all casinos. The interest in the game grew and was boosted with the book by Edward Thorp 'Beat the dealer', and you can read about it in the History of card counting.
Modern Blackjack
The first green-felted table was made in 1919 and the game was the third most popular after Roulette and Craps in 1931. In the next 15 years blackjack overtook Roulette to become the second most popular game, after Craps. The first variant of blackjack basic strategy appeared in 1958, around the same time as card counting (1949 - first version, though the first blackjack basic strategy that gave the odds appeared in 1962 according to the history of card counting) as blackjack became the most popular gambling game. Nowadays each and every online and land casino has not only traditional but several more blackjack variations.
The game of blackjack is mostly played online nowadays allowing millions of players from all over the world to play this well-adored game even if the nearest casino is hundreds of miles away. Online blackjack has all the features of a land casino game and can offer players a lot more options. However, online blackjack leaves no chance for card counters as it is impossible to track the cards whilst playing online.
History of Blackjack - Summary
1440
First mentioning of a game Trentuno in a sermon by St. Bernardine of Siena.
1532 - 1542
Francois Rabelais mentioned the game one and thirty in 'Gargantua and Pantagruel'.
1613
The game was mentioned in a story by Miguel de Cervantes 'Riconete and Cortadillo'.
XVII beginning
The beginning of the XVII century brought us two games Seven and Half and Vingt-et-un, both believed to be predecessors of blackjack.
1789
After the French Revolution, the game came to America.
1931 Lenovo w520 ram slots.
Nevada Gaming Act legalized gambling in Nevada.
1958
Blackjack Basic Strategy appeared in its first form.
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The Fab Four
While the Illustrious 18 are variations to the basic strategy for any blackjack game, the Fab Four are variations to help a player increase his/her profit in a game where the surrender option is offered. Don Schlesinger came up with the 'Fab Four' term, which refers to the top-four late-surrender plays based on the Hi-Lo system. You may play in such a manner, in case your true count is 0 or higher. Let us have a look at the Fab Four variations to the basic strategy, which are used in multi-deck games:
Running Count Keeping Hints
Learning to Keep a True Count
True Count Drills
Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation
The Illustrious 18
1. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is 9 and your true count is +3.
2. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is 10 and your true count is 0.
3. You need to surrender, if your hand is 15, the dealer's upcard is an Ace and your true count is +2 (in S17) or -1 (in H17).
4. You need to surrender, if your hand is 14, the dealer's upcard is 10 and your true count is +4.
Related Articles
Related News
How it all began
The origin of Blackjack history is one of the most debatable points in the history of all gambling games. Some say the game traces its roots to back to the French game 'vingt-et-un' (21), which was popular in French casinos in the 17th century. Others believe the history of blackjack started from Italy, as an Italian game 'Thirty one' appeared a lot earlier, in the 13th century. Let's find out all about these games.
Blackjack Evolution
The Game of Thirty One
The Italian game Thirty one was first mentioned in the XIV century.
The aim of the game was to get a hand totaling 31.
The Italian game 'Thirty One' has lots of similarities with the current game of blackjack, though the aim of it was to get a hand totaling 31 from 3 cards. The fact the game appeared in the XIV century makes this game the first predecessor of blackjack as we know it today. The first time this game was mentioned was in an anti-gaming sermon by an Italian monk - St. Bernardine of Siena. This sermon led to public burnings of dice, cards and backgammon boards. This sermon dates back to 1440.
Fun Fact: The first deck of cards was printed by Johan Guttenberg, also famous for printing the first Bibles. The deck had 22 trumps and 4 suits of 14 cards. Each suit had 10 numbered cards, a King, a Queen, a Knight and a Valet (Jester).
The game 'Thirty One' was also mentioned in the classic and famous work by Francois Rabelais - 'Gargantua and Pantagruel'. The game was listed in Chapter XXII as one of the 100 games played by Gargantua: '… Then the carpet being spread, they brought plenty of cards, many dice, with great store and abundance of chequers and chessboards. There he played at flush, primero, the beast, trump…one-and-thirty….'. The reference dates back to between 1532 and 1542.
The game was then mentioned in one of the stories of the famous Spanish writer - Miguel de Cervantes, where he described a great blackjack, or 'Trentuno', cheat. The story was called 'Riconete and Cortadillo' and was published in 1613, which is over 150 years later than the first mention of 31 in Bernardine's sermon.
Evolution Blackjack Chart Printable
Seven and a Half
Seven and Half was very popular in Italy and brought lots of its features to modern blackjack.
Unlike in modern blackjack, the dealer could choose what to do in the game.
Another Italian game of the 17th century brought lots of features that make blackjack today the way we know and love it.
The Italian game 'Seven and a Half' was very popular entertainment pastime with some similarities with the game of blackjack you will definitely notice. According to the rules of the game, it was played with only 8's, 9's, 10's and face cards. The values of cards were the following: Aces were counted as 1; Face cards all counted as a ½ and all the rest cards were counted according their values. The King of diamonds in the game was considered as a wild card. Any player that received a total higher than 7.5 would automatically go bust. The player who got a value of 7 ½ won and was paid more than even money. The dealer unlike in modern blackjack, was allowed to hit and stand when he wanted.
French Vingt-et-un
The game Vingt-et-un differed in many aspects from the game blackjack as we know it today, though there are still many common features. The cards in this game were dealt in rounds allowing players to bet on each of the rounds. Though the aim of the game was partly the same - to get a hand of 21, the game was different as only dealer could double and if he got a Natural, all the players would pay him triple. Player's Natural paid double and a busted hand was an automatic loser. In Vingt-et-un the Ace could be 1 or 11 which has carried on to the modern game
As you can see, the game of Vingt-et-un is similar to blackjack game, therefore it is mostly considered to be the true predecessor of modern Blackjack.
Vingt-et-un more than any other game is similar to modern blackjack.
The game was loved by the French elite and was even played by the mistress of the king Louis XV.
Fun fact: Vingt-et-un was very popular among French and even the mistress of Louis XV, Madame du Barry loved this game so much she made the king organize 'Vingt-et-un' parties to make her happy. Another interesting fact is that Napoleon, who was against card games as they distracted his soldiers, played Vingt-et-un daily on his exile on Elba to kill time.
All in All
All things considered, there are no hard facts and no one can say for sure what the origin of blackjack is. Some researchers believe this game has derived from other similar French game , however those games are based on accurate and well-balanced calculations. Also the fact that casino games very rarely mutate into other games is a strong argument that blackjack did not come from vingt-et-un or any other game.
Still, there are such scholars that think blackjack belongs to the family of games that includes Baccarat, Seven-And-A-Half and Vingt-et-Un, 21 and Pontoon. These games may be very familiar to you, and as there are lots of common features they all are considered to be the ancestors of modern blackjack.
Blackjack in America
When the game of 21 came to America it started a new era and soon became the most popular gambling game.
From its origins in Europe, blackjack has spread out throughout the world and came to America after the French Revolution in 1789. The game became hugely popular after casino owners offered amazing bonuses (for a hand of Jack and Ace of Spades the player got a 10 to 1 payout which brings us to the origin of the name of Blackjack).
The first name for the game however was Twenty-One which has been used in New Orleans since 1823.
As in Europe the game of blackjack was mainly a game of entertainment, then professional gamblers in the USA tried to make it a source of gain by manipulating gaming odds and varying bets. There were no specific governmental regulations for the gambling industry and that is why the game developed quickly and became more and more popular. It continued like this until the 19th century when the government of the US found out how gambling, influenced corruption and led to organized crime.
According to many researchers, the modern history of the game of blackjack started with the Nevada Gambling Act of 1931 that legalized gambling in all Nevada casinos.
This led to many changes for blackjack history. As most of US states criminalised gambling, Las Vegas in Nevada attracted gamblers from all over the world to its casinos, and blackjack became one of the most popular games at all casinos. The interest in the game grew and was boosted with the book by Edward Thorp 'Beat the dealer', and you can read about it in the History of card counting.
Modern Blackjack
The first green-felted table was made in 1919 and the game was the third most popular after Roulette and Craps in 1931. In the next 15 years blackjack overtook Roulette to become the second most popular game, after Craps. The first variant of blackjack basic strategy appeared in 1958, around the same time as card counting (1949 - first version, though the first blackjack basic strategy that gave the odds appeared in 1962 according to the history of card counting) as blackjack became the most popular gambling game. Nowadays each and every online and land casino has not only traditional but several more blackjack variations.
The game of blackjack is mostly played online nowadays allowing millions of players from all over the world to play this well-adored game even if the nearest casino is hundreds of miles away. Online blackjack has all the features of a land casino game and can offer players a lot more options. However, online blackjack leaves no chance for card counters as it is impossible to track the cards whilst playing online.
History of Blackjack - Summary
1440
First mentioning of a game Trentuno in a sermon by St. Bernardine of Siena.
1532 - 1542
Francois Rabelais mentioned the game one and thirty in 'Gargantua and Pantagruel'.
1613
The game was mentioned in a story by Miguel de Cervantes 'Riconete and Cortadillo'.
XVII beginning
The beginning of the XVII century brought us two games Seven and Half and Vingt-et-un, both believed to be predecessors of blackjack.
1789
After the French Revolution, the game came to America.
1931 Lenovo w520 ram slots.
Nevada Gaming Act legalized gambling in Nevada.
1958
Blackjack Basic Strategy appeared in its first form.
TOP 3 US blackjack casinos
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