12 Against A 2
Written by Jack Jones
We have said time and time again that the never-bust strategy in blackjack is a bad bet and the players need to focus in on playing perfect basic strategy. This means that there are no real hard and fast rules that can be broken down in a single line, but there are a few nuances worked in.
One involves a 12 against a two or a three. Even if we do not consider the depletion of the deck, the 12 hand is different from most other stiff hands because you have 9 cards that will improve your hand if you hit, whereas there are only 4 bust cards. Your chances of winning with a 12 if you decide to stand ride entirely with the dealer busting, who will have the same 69.2% of making his hand that you did.
The down side of hitting a 12 is that if you do take a hit, then over the long haul the odds work out so that you still will lose money, since a 12 against a dealer 2 or 3 is a losing situation. However, you should always hit a 12 against a 2 or 3 since it will save 2-5% of the money wagered in comparison to if you stood pat. Thus it won’t help you win any money, but will help keep you from losing more than you should.
Don’t get frustrated if you bust with a 10 and then watch the dealer flip over a 12. Sure, he would have busted this time, but over the course of a long session these breaks will even out. Disciplined players who work the odds in their favor will lose less money, have longer sessions, and have a more enjoyable time at the tables.
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