Casino Rulesets

A strategy that wins in Vegas might lose in London. The math of blackjack changes drastically depending on the specific rules the casino enforces. StratPlay's GameRules engine allows you to replicate these conditions perfectly.

Key Rule Permutations

Deck Penetration

In a standard 6-deck shoe, the casino will insert a colored cut card near the back of the shoe. When the dealer reaches this card, they shuffle. The percentage of cards dealt before the shuffle is called "penetration."

This is critical for card counters. If a casino uses poor penetration (e.g., 50%), the True Count will rarely get high enough to offer a profitable betting opportunity. Good games offer 75% or higher penetration.

Dealer Hits on Soft 17 (H17 vs S17)

If the dealer's hand contains an Ace and a 6 (a Soft 17), some casinos require them to Stand (S17), while others require them to Hit (H17). H17 is worse for the player, increasing the house edge by about 0.22% because it gives the dealer a chance to improve a weak 17 into a stronger hand.

Surrender (Early vs. Late)

Surrender allows you to throw away half your bet and forfeit the hand immediately.

• Late Surrender: You can only surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack. If they have blackjack, you lose your whole bet.
• Early Surrender: You can surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack. This is highly advantageous for the player but rarely offered in modern casinos.

Splitting Rules

• Double After Split (DAS): Being allowed to double down on the new hands created after a split significantly reduces the house edge.
• Resplitting Aces: Most casinos only give you one card per split Ace. If they allow you to resplit a third or fourth Ace, it is a huge advantage.

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