Charity MBS
Slight changes to BS should also be implemented if you find yourself playing at a charity casino or at one of the increasingly popular native peoples’ casinos. Charity casinos and most European casinos generally do not permit their dealers to take hole cards. (Instead, dealers draw their second cards only after all players have completed their hands.) You risk losing twice your original bet on doubled or split hands if the dealer draws a blackjack, since there can obviously be no “peeking” whenever he shows a T or an Ace. Therefore, it makes sense that you should not double or split any hand versus a T or Ace up-card when you play under this rule.
Similarly, it is only reasonable that you split more conservatively when playing at a casino that forbids doubling-down after splitting. Under such conditions you would not want to split your 2s or 3s against the dealer’s 2s or 3s, your 6s versus a 2, nor your 4s at all. Without your opportunity to double these pairs after splitting, it is not a profitable move in the long run to break them up. The dealer simply makes too many pat hands with a 2 or 3 up-card to justify putting out any more money on these weak beginning totals. This is anothei- example of playing to lose less; you are further ahead to simply hit your hard 4s, 6s, 8s, or 12s in these cases.
Thus, with a little thought, you can save yourself the mindless memorization of dozens of BS charts. The one presented in chapter 3 is still all you ever need to know. Suppose, for the sake of argument, you decide to play a multiple-deck session in a casino that allows you to double-down only on beginning totals of 9,10, or 11 (in other words, no soft doubling allowed). Also imagine that no doubling after splitting is permitted. Aside from why you would play under such restrictive rules at all, the question you must ask yourself is, “What changes to my BS should I implement while playing here?”
Upon quick reflection, a twofold answer should come to mind: (1) Since no doubling is allowed after splitting, the same variations mentioned in the previous paragraph would apply, i.e., “I should not split my 2s or 3s against dealer’s 2s or 3s, my 4s, or my 6s versus 2s.” (2) No soft doubling suggests playing BS, as you do when you can no longer double soft totals, i.e., when your hand is comprised of more than two cards.
When playing in a casino that does not allow the surrender option, there is no need to be floored by the prospect of learning a whole new table for this occasion. Simply remember the BS chart, and just hit those four hands.
