Over/Under 13


So you've been to Reno or Lake Tahoe and seen this Over/Under 13 thing on the Blackjack table. You played it a couple of times. You lost a few and you won a few. But what exactly is it? A sucker's bet, that's what. Seriously, it's not that good of a bet. What you are betting on is the total value of your first two cards. You are betting that you will get either over 13 or under 13. If you get 13 you lose. An Ace is always counted as a 1 in the total, so if you get a hand of A,5 that equals 6 not 16. Your bet may not exceed your Blackjack bet, but it can be less, and is independent of the hand. It is paid out or taken even if the Dealer has Blackjack.

NEWS FLASH


Thanks to a gentleman named Erik (Last name withheld), I have made a MAJOR correction to the Over/Under table. In essence the chances have been flip-flopped. It is actually more likely to get an over combination than an under. However, there is also a higher chance of getting "13" than I previously posted.



Approximately 44.9% of the possible combinations are Under 13, and approximately 46.7% of the possible combinations are Over 13. And approxiamtely 8.3% of the possible combinations are 13. If you are going to bet it on every hand, then bet the Over. But you should only do this bet if you are counting cards. By counting cards, you will have a better chance of knowing which way to bet. Otherwise it's like betting Odd/Even or Red/Black in Roulette. You have a 47.4% chance to get either Red or Black, or Odd or Even on a 0/00 wheel.

Below is a table showing in detail the number of combinations and the percentages. It really doesn't vary much after you get beyond 2 decks. You have to go out to a couple of decimal places to see any difference.

Over/Under 13
# of Decks 1 2 3 4 5 6
Under 13 # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos
A 51 103 155 207 259 311
2 51 103 155 207 259 311
3 35 71 107 143 179 215
4 31 63 95 127 159 191
5 27 55 83 111 139 167
6 23 47 71 95 119 143
7 20 40 60 80 100 120
8 16 32 48 64 80 96
9 12 24 36 48 60 72
10 8 16 24 32 40 48
J 8 16 24 32 40 48
Q 8 16 24 32 40 48
K 8 16 24 32 40 48
Total 298 602 906 1210 1514 1818
Out of Total possible Combinations 663 1339 2015 2691 3367 4043
% Over 44.9% 44.9% 44.9% 44.9% 44.9% 44.9%


# of Decks 1 2 3 4 5 6
Over 13 # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos # Combos
A 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 16 32 48 64 80 96
5 20 40 60 80 100 120
6 24 48 72 96 120 144
7 27 55 83 111 139 167
8 31 63 95 127 159 191
9 35 71 107 143 179 215
10 39 79 119 159 199 239
J 39 79 119 159 199 239
Q 39 79 119 159 199 239
K 39 49 119 159 199 239
Total 309 625 941 1257 1573 1889
Out of Total possible Combinations 663 1339 2015 2691 3367 4043
% Under 46.6% 46.6% 46.6% 46.7% 46.7% 46.7%


# of Decks 1 2 3 4 5 6
# Possible "13's" 56 110 160 220 280 330
% "13's" 8.4% 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 8.3%


For a little bit of explaination of the tables. The left column is basically the first card you get, and then how many combinations for that card equal either over or under 13 depending on the table. e.g. you get an 8 for your first card. In a 6 deck shoe there are 191 cards or combinations that give you over 13 while 96 give you under.

Last updated 4/6/99

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