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Illustrious 18 Blackjack Strategy Guide | LeoVegas

Mastering the Illustrious 18 Blackjack Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide

Imagine being seated at the blackjack table, already knowing which move to make to increase your winnings. Contrary to popular belief, blackjack isn't simply a game of luck; once you learn strategies like the Illustrious 18, it also becomes a game of skill in a way that few casino games can. Strategy separates the beginner from the seasoned, because while casual players rely solely on chance to win, seasoned blackjack players know that mastering strategies like the Illustrious 18, reduces the house edge and maximises their odds. This is why we have designed a comprehensive guide to provide you with everything you need to know about the Illustrious 18. So read on if you're serious about your blackjack gameplay and ready to master this powerful strategy.

Table of Content:

The History of the Illustrious 18

Illustrious 18 is a card counting strategy coined by Donald Schlesinger - a revered figure in the blackjack arena. This blackjack strategy first made its debut in September 1986, however, its origins can be traced back to the evolution of blackjack card counting techniques that started out in the 1960’s.

Though Don Schlesinger is credited as the sole creator in the development of the eventual Illustrious 18, it is fair to say, he may not have succeeded without a little help from key figures who came before him. For instance, he may not have done so without the foundations laid by the card counting strategies of Dr Edward O Thorp.

Nor that of Juliuan Baum, whose research and tireless simulations by computer refined card counting blackjack. Next came Stanford Wong (John Ferguson) whose 1975 book Professional Blackjack introduced Blackjack Strategies to the masses, resulting in popularization of card counting strategies. Needless to say, over time, this heavily influenced the adaptation of the now famed Illustrious 18.

In simple terms, Illustrious 18 is a sophisticated collection of indices designed to give players a strategic edge while seated at the blackjack table.

The Mathematics Behind the Strategy

Given that Illustrious 18 is heavily influenced by card counting strategies, it should come as no surprise that it involves what Don Schelesinger referred to as ‘simple arithmetic’. So, in this section, let's discuss the mathematics behind the strategy.

Probability in Blackjack

Understanding the mathematics behind Illustrious 18 may sound complex, but it’s essential for mastering the strategy. At its core, this strategy relies on a solid grasp of statistics and probability. For instance, the probability for drawing a specific card face from a standard 52 card deck is 4/52 or about 7.69%. This is your chance of drawing any one of the four cards with the same face value. Likewise, the probability of drawing a high value card (10, K, J Q, A), is 16/52 or 30.77%. Learning these probabilities will help you ‘predict’ the likelihood of favourable outcomes in different situations.

The House Edge and How to Reduce It

As you probably already know, the house edge is the advantage the casino has over players. In blackjack, this is generally 0.5%, which means that for all bets placed, the casino will win 0.5% of all those bets. But, by mastering Illustrious 18, this can be reduced. One way, (which we briefly touched on) is through card counting and keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards. This strategy works by increasing your bets when the odds are in your favour and decreasing the amount when they’re not. Another way to reduce the house edge is of course using the Illustrious 18 key plays. For instance, doubling down on 10 vs. ace when faced with a high count situation.

We’ll cover this in more depth later in this guide, to help you reduce the house edge when faced with a number of different situations.

Statistical Foundations of the Illustrious 18

Illustrious 18 refers to a collection of 18 key plays in blackjack as identified by Don Schelesinger. The aim is to maximise your chances (and in turn reduce the house edge). Backed by extensive research these key plays deviate from basic blackjack strategy, allowing skillful players to make calculated decisions based not only on their own hand, but that of the dealers. So you may be asking, how is that possible? The answer is: card counting. When used alongside Illustrious 18, players can tip the odds to their advantage.

Card Counting Explained

The Role of Card Counting in the Strategy

Card counting is essentially tracking the ratio of high and low cards drawn from the deck and assigning a value based on the card to determine what’s known as the ‘true count’ . When the count is high, it indicates that the deck is rich in high cards, while a low count means the deck has more low cards. This is why when combined with the Illustrious 18 strategy, your decision-making is enhanced allowing you take the following actions:

  • Basic Strategy Deviation: This involves deviating from the basic blackjack strategy, such as doubling down or splitting, in favour of the key plays from the Illustrious 18. Utilizing these deviations offers significant advantages in reducing the house edge.
  • Adjusting Bet Size: Keeping track of the count gives players the opportunity to lower their bet sizes when the odds aren’t in their favour, and increasing the bet to take advantage of the profits waiting to be had.

Here we explore two of the most popular card counting systems: the Hi-Lo System and the Knock Out (KO) System. Each will not only help you keep track of the ratio of high to low cards, but will also help you make more strategic moves and make the best of your hand.

Hi-Lo System

The Hi-Lo system works by The Hi-Lo assigning the following values to cards:

  • High cards (10, J, Q, K, A) are counted as -1.
  • Low cards (2-6) are counted as +1.
  • Neutral cards (7-9) are counted as 0.

KO System

The KO system is another popular card counting method, known for its simplicity compared to the Hi-Lo system. Unlike Hi-Lo, the KO system is unbalanced, so it doesn’t require a conversion to the true count.

Here’s how the KO system assigns values to cards:

  • For card values 2 to 7: You add +1
  • For card values 8, 9: You do nothing - 0 value
  • For card values: 10, J, Q, K, Ace: You subtract -1

The key difference between the two is the starting count. The KO system begins at -4 in a single deck whereas it’s 0 for the Hi-Lo system. That said, both are highly effective when used alongside the Illustrious 18 strategy.

Detailed Breakdown of the Illustrious 18 Plays

Now that you have a deeper understanding of card counting and the role it plays in this strategy, let's move on to the Illustrious 18 key plays.

Doubling Down on Hard 11

When you have a hard 11 (e.g., 10-1), doubling down is almost always favourable because the chances of drawing a 10-value card are high (16/ 52 cards in the deck). Plus, with a favourable count, the deck contains even more 10s, increasing the probability of a strong final hand (21) and potential winnings.

Doubling Down on Hard 10

This is another golden opportunity, because again based on probability, the chances of drawing a 10-value card are increased. You could just hit, but if your count is high, doubling down increases your winning potential.

Doubling Down on Hard 9 Against a 2

When it comes to a hard 9 versus a dealer’s 2 (plus a high count), then your best bet is to double down. Again, because the probability of you drawing a 10 value card and winning is higher.

Doubling Down on Soft 18 Against 3-6

Besides taking advantage of the dealer's weaker card, doubling down improves your chances of achieving a total of 19 or better because of the higher probability of drawing a 10-value card.

Doubling Down on Soft 17 Against 2-6

A soft 17 is generally considered a stronger hand when facing a dealer's weak card (2 through 6), as the dealer is more likely to bust with these cards. Doubling down in this situation improves your chances of drawing to 18 or 19 and winning the hand.

Doubling Down on Soft 16 Against 4-6

Take this action because the dealer's card is considered weaker, so why not capitalize on the probability of them going bust? With more 10-value cards in the deck you could improve your hand to a 16 or 17.

Doubling Down on Soft 15 Against 4-6

This hand means there’s more 10-value-cards in the deck, so doubling down against the dealer's weaker hand improves the probability of a win.

Doubling Down on Soft 14 Against 4-6

When the count is high, there’s an increased chance of drawing a 10-value-card, which could improve your hand to a 14 or even 15.

Splitting 2s Against 2-7

Once split, each hand has a 30.77% chance of drawing a 10-value card, add in a high count and this further increases your chances of drawing advantageous cards.

Splitting 3s Against 2-7

Similar to splitting 2s, the probability of improving each hand with a 10-value card is 30.77%. The likelihood of maximizing your edge increases because there are more high cards remaining in the deck.

Splitting 6s Against 2-6

In this scenario, the probability of drawing a 10-value card for each new hand is 30.77%. When paired with a high count, this further increases your chances of a favourable outcome.

Splitting 7s Against 2-7

Given the dealer’s weaker hand, splitting gives you an opportunity to take advantage because each new hand gives you a 30.77% chance of significantly improving your hand.

Splitting 9s Against 2-9 (except 7)

This gives you the chance to gain two strong hands, especially with a high count. Here you could wind up with two 19’s.

Standing on 12 Against 2-6

This is a favourable option, because with this hand, it is more likely for the dealer to go bust (40% with a 4). Besides, if the count is high and there are fewer lower value cards, why risk your hand?

Standing on 13 Against 2-6

Again, the dealer is more likely to go bust with this hand. So making a stand is better than drawing a low card that does nothing for your hand.

Standing on 14 Against 2-6

This is a strategic move to protect your bankroll especially when there's a high probability of drawing a lower card.

Standing on 15 Against 2-6

The dealer’s bust probability is higher in this scenario. So standing is better than hitting and winding up with a lower total!

Standing on 16 Against 2-6

You don’t want to worsen your hand - which could potentially happen if you risk a hit. Rather, take advantage of the dealer’s increased probability of going bust.

Practical Application of the Strategy

Mastering the Illustrious 18 Blackjack strategy takes time and effort. You can practice by playing for free or using apps until you get the hang of it. Start with basic blackjack strategy so you can recognise when to tweak the strategy for play when faced with different blackjack games. After all, different types of games have different rules. When players first start using Illustrious 18 strategy, common mistakes include underestimating the importance of card counting or worse - not adjusting the bet amounts according to the count. Don’t let that be you! For the strategy to really work, you’ll need to get familiar with the nuances of it all.

The Pros and Cons of the Illustrious 18

Just as is the case for using any strategy playing blackjack, Illustrious 18 strategy has pros and cons. One of the main advantages for using Illustrious 18 is, it can boost your odds significantly when you focus on the most important plays. Not only will Illustrious 18 help you make better decisions (when combined with card counting), it will also reduce the house edge. However, as mentioned above, there are also drawbacks to using Illustrious 18. The strategy is more advanced for instance, and will take time to master compared with basic blackjack strategy. Therefore, skilled players will potentially gain bigger benefits using illustrious 18 than players new to blackjack.

FAQs

Is the Illustrious 18 a good tactic for a beginner blackjack player?

Given the fact players need an understanding of basic blackjack strategy and card counting, Illustrious 18 is not recommended for a beginner blackjack player. Mastering the strategy takes time and effort, therefore it's best to start with a solid understanding of the basics before moving on to Illustrious 18.

How does the Illustrious 18 work with different blackjack variations and deck sizes?

There are different variants of blackjack, some of which have different rules and even deck sizes. So in order for the Illustrious 18 to be most effective, it may be necessary to tweak the strategy to take these nuances into consideration.

What are the "Fab Four" for the Illustrious 18?

  • Stand on 16 vs. Dealer 10
  • Double Down on 10 vs.
  • Dealer Ace Double
  • Down on 11 vs. Dealer Ace
  • Split 10s vs. Dealer 5 or 6

Is card counting necessary for using the Illustrious 18?

Yes, card counting is necessary for using the Illustrious 18. The strategy relies on your knowing the deck card composition to make decisions. Without it, players will be unable to know when to deviate from basic blackjack strategy and use the Illustrious 18 key plays.

How does Illustrious 18 optimize gameplay based on card count?

Card counting provides information that informs your decisions. For instance, when your count indicates a higher number of high value cards, Illustrious 18 recommends key plays that deviate from basic blackjack such as doubling down or splitting to maximise winnings. Alternatively, when the card count is low, standing down will reduce your losses.

Learn about other blackjack strategies in our guides: