1. Dealer Upcard
2. Dealer Upcard
3. Dealer Upcard Chart

Blackjack Appendix 9 — Six deck, dealer hits on soft 17, no hole card. Blackjack Appendix 9 — Five decks, dealer stands on soft 17, no hole card. Blackjack Appendix 9 — Five decks, dealer hits on soft 17, no hole card. Blackjack expected Returns for eight decks and dealer stands on soft 17. Blackjack Dealer Outcome Probabilities The dealer outcome probability charts on this page can be helpful in determining which of two tournament strategies is preferable. The values in these charts were calculated using a combinatorial analysis from a full deck after removing only the dealer’s upcard. Every hand combination vs. Dealer upcard possible has been analyzed by experts for optimal results. All you need to do is memorize the best action for every scenario. These strategy charts can be found online and in casino gift shops. Simply make sure the one you’re using matches the game you’re playing. Upcard definition is - the card turned up to start the play (as in rummy and stops games) —called also starter, turnup.

Contract Rummy

Contract Rummy is the general name given for a whole class of Rummy games, all sharing two centralfeatures:

• A specific number of deals comprise a game.
• In each deal a contract - a particular, predetermined pattern of melds - must be met in order to lay down any cards.

What is the history of Contract Rummy? David Parlett reports that all Contract Rummy games (of which there are numerous variations under a variety of names) date 'from the Contract Bridge boom of the 1930's'. Richard Fry notes that the first version was 'probably the game developed by Ruth Armson, called Zioncheck'. Albert Morehead stated in 1950 that Contract Rummy 'is one of the most popular games played by women's clubs and card-playing groups that meet regularly.'

The rules detailed below are representative of all Contract Rummy games, though there are numerous regional andlocal variations even among games with the same name. Some of the particular variations are:

• Carioca Rummy - A two-player South American version
• Continental Rummy - A version with only one contract
• King Rummy - A version with four contracts.
• Progressive Rummy - The number of cards deal increases each hand
• Liverpool Rummy - A version with fewer contracts and more jokers
• Shanghai Rummy - A version with more contracts and wilder scoring

Other names for Contract Rummy include 'Combination Rummy', 'Deuces Wild Rummy', 'Hollywood Rummy', 'Joker Rummy', 'Shanghai Rummy', and 'Zioncheck'.

Contract Rummy Rules

Number of Players: 3 to 8; each plays for himself (no partnerships).

The Deck: For 3 or 4 players, use two decks of 52 cards each, plus one joker, for a total of 105 cards. For more than 5 players, use three decks of 52 cards each, plus two jokers, for a total of 158 cards. The cards are ranked (hi) K-Q-J-7-6-5-4-3-2 (lo). An ace may be ranked either high or low. Jokers are wild.

Starting a Game: To determine who deals first, the deck is shuffled and cut, and each player draws a card. The player drawing the lowest card deals first. Thereafter, the deal passes from player to player to the left.

Dealing: In deals 1 through 4, ten cards are dealt to each player; in deals 5 through 7, each player receives twelve cards. Cards are dealt clockwise, starting with the player at the dealer's left. After dealing, one card is turned as the upcard, and the remainder of the deck is turned face-down to form the stock.

Objective: A game consists of seven deals. In each deal, the objective is to complete a certain meld, called a 'contract', which increases in difficulty as the game proceeds. The player who lays off all their cards first wins the hand. The player with thelowest cumulative score after seven deals wins the game.

Play: Each players turn consists of a draw, possible melding or laying off, and a discard. Each player's turnmust end with a discard, which is placed face-up on the discard pile.

Melds: Each meld consists of either a set, consisting of three or more cards of the same value, or a sequence,consisting of four or more cards of the same rank and consecutive value. An ace may rank either high (A-K-Q) or low (3-2-A), butsequences may not extend 'round the corner' (K-A-2). Jokers are wild, and can stand in for any card.

When two or more sequences are required, they must be in different suits, or if in different suits, not in consecutive order(i.e. they must be separated by at least one card).

Contracts: Each deal has a different contract, which consists of some combination of sets and sequences:

The Upcard: The player in turn may draw either the top card of the discard pile, or the top card of the stock.If he does not want the discard, he may decline it, and any other player may take it. The right to take it passes tothe player's left (clockwise around the table). If an out-of-turn player takes the top of the discard pile, he must alsodraw the top card of the stock (as a penalty), but he may not yet meld, lay off, or discard, since it is not yet his turn.

Once the fate of the discard has been decided, the in-turn player must take the top card of the stock. Since he hasrefused the discard, he cannot take the top of the discard pile, even if a new card has been revealed.

Fulfilling The Contract: Once an in-turn player has drawn a card, he may fulfill the contract by laying downthe appropriate melds. He may only lay down the precise melds as called for in the contract; he may not lay offany additional cards at this time.

Laying Off: In the subsequent turns after a player's contract has been met, he may lay off additionalcards to any meld on the table, whether his own or his opponents. However, he may not create any new melds of his own.

A player may not lay off any cards until he himself has met the contract.

Jokers: A joker is a wild card, and may be used to in place of any other card as part of a meld. When doing so,the player must state its suit and rank. Any player in turn (providing he's already fulfilled his contract) may later trade the actual card for the joker, and may then either use the joker immediately, or hold it in his hand.

Going Out: When a player has discarded his last card, the hand is over, and scored. If the stock is exhaustedbefore any player has gone out, the discard pile is shuffled by the original dealer and turned face-down to form a new stock.

Scoring: At the end of a hand, each player scores the sum of all cards in his hand. For purposes of scoring, the cards remaining in the players hand have the following values:

The player with the fewest points at the end of the seven deals wins the game.

Variations

• Some play that dueces are also wild cards. If so, they also count for 25 points in scoring.
• In some variations, number cards (2 through 9) count as 5 points, rather than their index value.
• Some variations give bonus points for winning a hand, not using wild cards, etc.
• Some play that jokers may be substituted by any player at any time, regardless of whether it's theirturn or not. In this case, if more than one player claims a joker, precedence goes to whoever's turn is next.

Other Contract Rummy Rule Links

Other Contract Rummy Variations

• 12-Step Rummy - From Kate Hanratty
• 6 7 8 9 10 - From Alan Hoyle
• Continental Card Game - From Mike Gaston
• Crummy Rummy - From Mike Rosulek
• Rummy Rummy - From Bill Whitnack

Additional Information

Kenny Rogers once sang about how in poker, as well as in life, one must “know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em”. This is a very valuable piece of advice indeed but when it comes to blackjack, one must know when to hit, stand, split, and double down. And how do you know which of these moves is correct in any given situation at the blackjack table? You base your decisions on two factors when you follow total-dependent basic strategy – the sum total of your hand and the dealer’s upcard.

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Regardless of the number of decks in play, there are only 13 possible card denominations that can appear on the felt – Aces through Kings. Each of the 13 denominations is available in 4 different suits although these are largely irrelevant in the game of blackjack where suits are taken into consideration only when players post certain side bets like Lucky Ladies, King’s Bounty, and suited 777.

The above statement is true about the player’s cards as well as about the dealer’s exposed card, which is why it is of utmost importance for blackjack players to be able to spot the instances when the dealer’s upcard puts them at disadvantage. Similarly, players must be able to recognize which upcards pose as a threat, giving the dealer the upper hand.

Understanding the Rules Blackjack Dealers Abide By

Before a player proceeds to analyze the dealer’s exposed card, they must gain a good understanding of the fixed rules a blackjack dealer abides by. These rules may be different from one blackjack table to another but most of the time, the dealer receives one card facing up (their upcard) and a second one that remains hidden (their hole card) until the time comes for the dealer to act on their hand.

The trouble is blackjack dealers are always the last persons to complete their hand during a round of play. They reveal their hole card only after players have already made their decisions. Thus, the only information the player can work with when making a decision is the total of their hand and the value of the dealer’s exposed card.

Unlike players, the dealers are not allowed to hit their hands as many times as they want (or at least until they bust). Dealers are normally required to draw until they reach a total of at least 17. One exception to this rule is made in the so-called H17 games where the dealer must hit their hand if it is a soft 17, or A-6 (the Ace can be assigned a value of 1 or 11 which makes it impossible for the dealer to bust on the very next hit). Unlike players, the blackjack dealer never surrenders, splits pairs or doubles down regardless of what cards they have been dealt.

Analysis of the Dealer’s Upcards and Their Strength

The only information a total-dependent basic strategy player uses when making a move is their hand’s total and the value of the dealer’s upcard. The correct plays are always the same with basic strategy because the dealer always follows the same fixed rules regardless of what upcard they are showing or what you are holding.

It should be noted basic strategy does not take into account the cards that have been previously dealt or those of your fellow players, which is what card counters do when keeping track of the remaining decks’ composition.

Another important thing to bear in mind has to do with what is considered a “safe” zone for the blackjack player. The average winning total in blackjack is estimated to be 18.5 which is to say players need a hand that totals at least 19 to get into the said safe zone.

Meanwhile, it is estimated the cards that give the dealer an advantage over players appear on the felt 6 out of 13 times on average. The dealer would win most of their hands that start with a strong upcard. You can compensate for this by playing more aggressively, i.e. by splitting and doubling down, when the dealer shows a weak card that puts them at a disadvantage.

The Dealer’s Upcards Additonal TipsThe dealer’s upcard is crucial for yet another reason – it tells you the probability of the dealer breaking their hand by exceeding 21. Let’s now examine which dealer upcards pose as a threat for the player and which ones put the dealer in weak spots. Keep in mind the probability percentage figures we have listed below are accurate for six-deck games where dealers abide by the S17 rule.

Tread Carefully against a Dealer 2 or 3

Players are recommended to tread more cautiously when the dealer exposes cards of value 2 or 3. The only information you are getting in this case is that the dealer is certainly not sitting on a pat hand and will have to take at least one hit to reach their obligatory total of 17 or higher.

The probability of the dealer busting with these upcards is relatively decent. It stands at around 35% when the dealer shows a 2 and at 37.41% when their upcard is a 3. Respectively, the player holds an advantage of nearly 10% against the dealer’s 2 and almost 13.5% against their 3. Despite this, the basic strategy for both multiple-deck S17 and H17 games recommend you to stand on hard totals of 13 through 17 when the dealer shows a 2 or a 3.

Standing is the optimal play in this case because the dealer has higher chances of exceeding 21 with these small cards than improving their total. If you take a hit, you may break your hand yourself.

Play More Aggressively against Dealer Upcards 4, 5, and 6

Basic strategy is based on computer simulations where millions of hands were played against any of the 13 possible dealer upcards. These simulations established that the weakest upcards for the dealer are those of value 4, 5, and 6. This is slightly counterintuitive and gets some players confused causing them to make incorrect plays at the table.

But as British mathematician James Joseph Sylvester famously claimed, “Mathematics is the music of reason”. The dealer’s probabilities of busting with these upcards are 39.58% for the 4, 41.84% for the 5, and 42.28% for the 6. Why are these cards so harmful to the dealer?

The reason is actually quite simple and logical – each time the dealer exposes one of these values, they are bound to take at least one hit even if they have a ten-value card in the hole. When the dealer starts with a 6, for example, but their hole card is a Queen, they will be forced to draw another card on their hard 16. Any card with a value that ranges between 6 and 10 will break their hand and cause you to become an automatic winner (unless you have busted, of course).

The dealer starts their hand with these weak cards only 3 out of 13 times on average, which is why you should always take advantage of these favorable situations. How? By increasing the amount of action you have on the table. Basic strategy tells you to always double down on hard totals 9 through 11 and split pairs 2-2, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, and A-A when the dealer exposes these weak cards.

With soft totals 15 through 17, you are again recommended to double against a dealer with these upcards. If your cards do not allow you to split or double, you stand on hard totals of 12 or higher – there is no need to risk busting yourself when the dealer’s chances of doing the same are that high.

Proceed with Caution when the Dealer Exposes 7s or 8s

In blackjack, the cards with a pip value of 7 and 8 are considered neutral because they favor neither the house nor the player. Be careful when your dealer exposes a 7 or 8, though, even more so, if you hold a hand that you can easily break with a hit. The dealer’s chances of busting with these cards are slimmer at 26.19% for the 7 and 24.36% for the 8.

Basic strategy for a six-deck S17 game recommends you to hit hard totals 12 through 16 against a dealer 7 or 8 and stand on hard totals of 17 or higher. With soft hands, you hit soft 13 through 17. The pairs you can split against a dealer with a 7 are those consisting of 2-2, 3-3, 7-7, 8-8, and A-A. Pairs of 9-9 against a dealer 7 call for standing while pairs 8-8, 9-9, and A-A against a dealer 8 call for a split.

Be Very Careful when the Dealer Shows Cards 9 through Ace

A dealer exposing upcards with values 9 through Ace puts you in a rather tricky situation. You will lose most of your hands against those upcards because they are advantageous to the dealer and do not allow you to build much of an edge on your hands. On average, the dealer will pull these strong upcards 6 out of 13 hands because there are 4 ten-value cards apart from the Ace and the 9 (10, Jack, Queen, and King).

It would be best to refrain from playing aggressively and adopt a more conservative approach when you are at disadvantage. The probability of the dealer busting with a 9 or a ten-value card now drops to around 23% whereas that of them breaking their hand with an Ace in the hole stands at 16.70% for a six-deck S17 game.

In accordance with basic strategy, you are expected to hit hard totals 12 through 15 against a 9 and an Ace in a desperate attempt to outdraw the dealer. The game goes when you have hard hands 12 through 14 against a dealer 10. Surrendering is advisable with hard 16 against any of the three strong dealer cards. If this is not an option, you hit your hard 16.

Several Important Things to Bear in Mind

There are many myths about the game of 21 but tackle those in more detail in a separate article. For now, we shall only broach the subject of always assuming the dealer has a 10 in the hole and give you some handy tips on how to approach certain two-card totals depending on their upcard.

Dealer Upcard

The Incorrect Assumption the Dealer Has a 10 in the Hole

Many misguided blackjack players would recommend others to always assume the dealer’s hole card has a value of 10. However, one such assumption is utter rubbish from a probability perspective. This “tactic” fails to accomplish everything else but an increase in the house edge. Some would even go as far as to assure you that it is basic strategy this assumption is based on. Both statements hold no truthfulness and here is why.

In a full deck, only 16 cards are assigned a value of ten as there are 4 Tens, 4 Jacks, 4 Queens, and 4 Kings. The remaining 36 cards are of different values, which is to say the probability of a ten-value card appearing stands at 16/52, or roughly 30.8%. Respectively, the odds of one such card making an appearance are 36 to 16 which is to say a ten-value card is dealt once per every 3.25 hands on average. Why should one assume it is dealt more often than this is beyond us.

It goes without saying basic strategy does not recommend playing by this rule, either. If it did, some of the correct plays listed in the strategy charts would be vastly different. An example can be given with a hard hand of 17. If the dealer reveals an 8, for example, and we assume their hole card has a value of ten, you would have been recommended to hit your hard 17 because otherwise it cannot beat the dealer’s 18. Yet, basic strategy advises players to stand on their 17s when the dealer’s upcard is an 8.

Remember basic strategy is not based on information we do not have. The correct plays it recommends rely only on the cards you can see and making any other assumption will cost you a small fortune over the long run.

The Rule of 9 and How It Helps You with Some Soft-Doubling Decisions

The “Rule of 10”, as the above assumption is called, is absolute bosh but fortunately, we cannot say the same about the “Rule of 9”. The latter can be quite useful when you are struggling with a doubling decision on soft 13 through soft 18. Soft doubles are the hardest part of basic strategy to remember but the Rule of 9 can help you with that.

Dealer Upcard

This rule uses the dealer’s upcard as a reference point. You never double on anything when the dealer shows a deuce because you will lose too often with this play. Doubling on soft 13 through 18 is always a good idea when the dealer’s upcard is a 5 or a 6 because this puts them in the weakest possible spot and you want to take full advantage of the fact.

Doubling on soft hands gets trickier when the dealer exposes a 3 or a 4 but not when you abide by the Rule of 9. This is how it works. All you have to do is add up the value of the dealer’s upcard and that of the card next to your Ace, be it 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. If the result is equal to 9 or is higher, you must double on your soft hand.

Dealer Upcard Chart

Let’s finish off with a couple of quick examples to put the rule to practice. What do you do with A-6 against a dealer 4? You double because the sum total of 6 and 4 is higher than 9. What about A-4 against a dealer 3? You refrain from doubling and hit your soft 15 instead since the total of the two cards’ value is lower than 9. If you check the strategy chart, you will see you are indeed recommended to hit a soft 15 when the dealer’s upcard is a 3.