Live Blackjack Table Rules That Change the Right Play: S17, H17, DAS, Surrender

Two tables that look identical can need different decisions. The rules are usually printed on the felt or visible in the buttons — here is what to look for and what changes.

Dealer stands or hits on soft 17 (S17 / H17)

Look for text on the felt such as "Dealer must stand on all 17s" (S17). If the dealer hits a soft 17 (H17), the dealer makes more hands, which costs the player about 0.2% — the figure our bankroll model uses — and a few basic-strategy cells change:

With late surrender available, H17 also adds surrender with 15 vs A, 17 vs A and a pair of 8s vs A.

Double after split (DAS)

If you may double after splitting, splitting small pairs like 2s, 3s, 4s and 6s becomes better against more dealer cards. You can usually tell by watching another player split and then double.

Surrender

Surrender lets you give up half your bet instead of playing a very weak hand, such as hard 16 against a 9, 10 or Ace. If there is no Surrender button, assume it is not offered.

Does the dealer peek?

Some tables check the hole card for blackjack before players act; others only reveal it at the end. On the Playtech tables we recorded, the dealer checked only when showing an Ace. This affects insurance timing and the estimate of what the hole card is.

Blackjack pays 3 to 2

Check the felt. Tables that pay 6 to 5 for a blackjack give back a large part of what a counter could ever gain — counting will not fix that rule.

Setting the rules in CountPilot

CountPilot's table settings cover decks, S17/H17, DAS, surrender and peeking. With H17 selected it uses the H17 strategy table above but does not give count-based deviations, because we have only verified those index numbers for S17.

Check that counting aids are allowed where you play — many casinos' terms prohibit them.

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