Why Aces and Face Cards Help the Player
Written March 7, 2008 by Jack Jones
Card counters and even rookie players all seem to know that in blackjack, the more aces and face cards that are in the deck the better it is going to be for the player. If the deck is loaded with small cards, then most people know that the dealer has the edge. Many people change their bets according to how the deck is running, but do you know why it’s so advantageous to the player? Mark Pilarski dives in and explains.
There are two reasons aces and face cards help the player:
First, blackjacks will appear more often when there is a higher proportion of aces in the deck, and as you know blackjacks pay the player 3 to 2.
Second, the dealer will bust more when he has a “stiff” (12 through 16). The player, given the same opportunity, would stand on stiffs, whereas the dealer is forced by the rules of the game to hit away and hopefully bust.