======================================= The Cold Deck ======================================= A cold deck in Blackjack is a set of cards that consistently produces poor outcomes for the player. ======================================= Objective --------------------------------------- Find the longest cold deck sequence of cards for a game of Blackjack. The cold deck sequence should be difficult to disrupt by the player using tactics such as intentionally stand with low cards or bust. Help needed: Once a collection of the best cold deck sequences are found we will publish it. ======================================= Simplified Blackjack rules to follow programatically when working on the objective --------------------------------------- 0 Blackjack Face cards have 10 value Aces can be 1 or 11 All other cards have face value The dealer has a soft 17 when the total can be 17 or 7 The dealer has a hard 17 when the total can only be 17 without exceeding 21 A hand total exceeding 21 is bust 1 SHUFFLE Do not shuffle but stack the deck(s) in the best cold deck sequence you can find 2 DEAL If 2/3 or more of the cards have been dealt then start a new SHUFFLE (1) The first and third cards are dealt to the player The second and fourth cards are dealt to the dealer 3 Dealer has ace up If the dealer's first card is an ace and the second card is a 10 value then the HAND IS OVER (6) 4 Player's Turn The player can draw cards until the hand is bust or stand at any time The player can split the first two cards of a hand if they are the same value A hand can be split up to 3 times making 4 hands maximum Aces can be split once only and will be dealt one card only to each ace If all player hands are bust then the HAND IS OVER (6) 5 Dealer's Turn The dealer will draw cards until the hand value is a hard 17 or better 6 HAND IS OVER The player or the dealer with the highest hand not exceeding 21 will win or a tie will push Start a new DEAL (2) ======================================= Sample --------------------------------------- A simple cold deck sequence where the player will lose consecutively no matter what. 7 K 6 8 K K A 5 6 7 ======================================= End =======================================