BLACKJACK SHARKS: Aabida Mayet, Omar Bacerra, Eser Kaptan March 15, 2010

Playing with mathematical probabilities Betting with a progression system Managing your money Luck.

 Reinforcement learning is learning from interaction with an environment, from the consequences of action, rather than from explicit teaching.  Reinforcement Learning allows the machine or software agent to learn its behavior based on feedback from the environment.

 Possible blackjack hands:  First card is an A, second card is a 10, J, Q, or K ▪ 4/52 for Ace, 16/52 for second part ▪ = (4*16)/(52*52) = (or about 1 in 42)  First card is a 10, J, Q, or K; second card is an A ▪ 16/52 for first part, 4/52 for Ace ▪ = (16*4)/(52*52) = (or about 1 in 42)

 You will be dealt more blackjack hands  The dealer is less likely to also have a blackjack hand and tie you  You are more likely to draw a good card when you double down on 10 or 11.  All single deck games are dealt face down.

 Ace: playing card: a playing card that has a single mark on it.  Blackjack : an automatic winning hand containing both an Ace and a 10 value card.  Deck: pack of cards : a pack of playing cards  Ace five count: A simple card counting strategy that only counts aces and fives.  Cold deck: Refers to a deck with a bad ratio of cards for the player.  Push : Refers to the player and the dealer having the same total. Usually the player's bet is returned when there is a push.  Resplit : Splitting a second pair after receiving another pair after the initial deal. (Resplitting is often not allowed.)

 The goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21.  Face cards are worth 10. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever makes a better hand.  Each player starts with two cards, one of the dealer's cards is hidden until the end.  To 'Hit' is to ask for another card. To 'Stand' is to hold your total and end your turn.  If you go over 21 you bust, and the dealer wins regardless of the dealer's hand.  If you are dealt 21 from the start (Ace & 10), you got a blackjack.  Blackjack usually means you win 1.5 the amount of your bet. Depends on the casino.  Dealer will hit until his/her cards total 17 or higher.

 When the player receives additional cards, then his/her options are: stand, hit, double-down.  Stand: To decline another card.  Hit: To request another card.  Double Down / Doubling Down: To double the size of one's initial bet before taking one more card. Once a player doubles down, the player may receive only one more card. (

Hard Hands: Two starting cards that do not contain an ace. If you have eight or less, always hit. If you have Nine: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have Ten : Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 - otherwise hit. If you have Eleven: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 10, Hit if dealer has Ace. If you have Twelve: Hit if the dealer has 2 or 3, Stand if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have : Stand if the dealer has2 thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have : Always Stand.

Soft Hands: When one of your starting hands contains an ace. If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3: Double if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit. If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5: Double if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have Ace 6: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 - otherwise hit. If you have Ace 7: Stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double 3 -thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9: Always Stand.

If you have a pair of Aces or Eights: Always split. If you have a pair of twos or threes: Split if the dealer has 2 - 7, otherwise hit. If you have a pair of fours: Split if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit. If you have a pair of fives: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9, otherwise hit. If you have a pair of sixes: Split if the dealer has 2 thru 6, otherwise hit. If you have a pair of sevens: Split 2 thru 7 - otherwise hit. If you have a pair of nines: Split 2 thru 6, and 8 or 9. Stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.

 To play blackjack, low casino advantage will be beneficial for the player. Card Counting is a great advantage for blackjack. In the cases of winning setting a goal also prevents you going broke.  Chances to win are  To win play 3:2 instead playing 6:5 of single deck Blackjack because the 6:5 payout increases the house advantage.  Player has opportunity to drawn more cards by not doubling down.  Player most likely decreases losses by Doubling down with hands of 10 or 11 and only against dealer up cards of 3, 4, 5 or 6. Player prefers to double down when the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 up card.  Player will win more in the long run if he/she doubles down.  The high dealer bust rate plus the cards you draw that improve your hand. If the player has a larger than normal bet out, pass the double down.

 THANK YOU.