Basic Strategy for some Simplified Blackjack Variants

TL;DR

This paper develops basic strategies for simplified Blackjack variants with limited decisions and rule variations, analyzing their expected outcomes and asymptotic behavior as deck numbers grow.

Contribution

It introduces a basic strategy framework for simplified Blackjack variants and proves a theoretical result on asymptotic behavior with increasing decks.

Findings

Basic strategies are derived for various simplified Blackjack rules.

Expected outcomes are analyzed under different rule modifications.

Asymptotic behavior of the strategy and expectation is mathematically established.

Abstract

In this paper, we calculate a basic strategy for several variations of a simplified version of Blackjack. In short, for these variants the player has only the two options of hit or stand, and they may only make either decision once. Other minor variations including rule modifications, changes in number of decks, alternate payout structures, and different given information about dealer's hand are also considered. An interesting theoretical result regarding the asymptotic behavior of the basic strategy and overall expectation as the number of decks increase is also proved.