Here are all the comments posted on the site, with the most recent discussions listed first. To participate in any of these discussions, you can reply on the article page.
I cannot think of a convenient way to estimate the correlations for Speed Count. I’m not a fan anyway, as these counts are quite weak. I think the KO count is a better choice for an easy count.
Most of the deviation play amount to minute practical differences. For the vast majority of players would resources be best spent on focusing on a large enough kitty and supporting the psychology to contain a x10+ spread when normally you would play at best a x8 or x4 spread?
Yes, increasing your spread will have a much more dramatic impact on expected win than learning and using all the strategy variations. The advantage of card counting comes primarily from betting more when you have the advantage. Changing your strategy based on the count is just the icing on the cake. Focus on building your bank and increasing your spread first.
Hi, Love your website thank you I’m finding it very helpful! I’m wondering if you can please tell me if I use the Basic Strategy cards online blackjack will they work to be profitable overall in the long term if I follow the rules as they are? Thanks in advance! Warm regards, Ed
Basic strategy will reduce the house edge, but not eliminate it. In typical games, your long-run expectation will be to lose around half a percent of your total action.
Your basic strategy table doesn’t make sense for player 16 vs. dealer 10. If there is surrender it is “Rs” but if no surrender it is “H”. It should be Rh if there is surrender. That is what your printed cards say.
Both BJ software are very good training tools. I’m impartial to Deepnet software though because that’s what the developer of Speed Count and I used to optimize Speed Count. (Dan Pronovost) is the developer of Deepnet software and Speed Count.) I’ve personally used Dan’s Professional software bundle to do my own risk of ruin calculations, bankroll calculations, and blackjack simulator (playing millions of hands of BJ.) I also use the software when I teach Speed Count (and Hi Lo), specifically the basic strategy drills, the counting drills, and the simulator to show the affect of penetration and playing rules on your edge as a counter.
I can assure you that basic strategy is not some sort of scheme devised by the casinos. It’s simply a mathematically provable set of the optimal choices for each decision. My only affiliation with land-based casinos is extracting money from them as a player. 🙂
Actually, most internet casinos shuffle after every hand. If you play an online live dealer casino, you may find 4 decks being dealt out of 8. In that case, counting works fine, although you will need a big spread to beat the poor penetration.
Fair enough Ken. Thanks for posting the link to your explanation.
I must say I feel it is real shame, and I have only know about this site for about 6 months. Some of the older members must have been truly devastated when you shut down the messaging.
What about Speed Count and OPP and hand substraction ?
I cannot think of a convenient way to estimate the correlations for Speed Count. I’m not a fan anyway, as these counts are quite weak. I think the KO count is a better choice for an easy count.
Most of the deviation play amount to minute practical differences. For the vast majority of players would resources be best spent on focusing on a large enough kitty and supporting the psychology to contain a x10+ spread when normally you would play at best a x8 or x4 spread?
Yes, increasing your spread will have a much more dramatic impact on expected win than learning and using all the strategy variations. The advantage of card counting comes primarily from betting more when you have the advantage. Changing your strategy based on the count is just the icing on the cake. Focus on building your bank and increasing your spread first.
Hi,
Love your website thank you I’m finding it very helpful! I’m wondering if you can please tell me if I use the Basic Strategy cards online blackjack will they work to be profitable overall in the long term if I follow the rules as they are? Thanks in advance!
Warm regards,
Ed
Basic strategy will reduce the house edge, but not eliminate it. In typical games, your long-run expectation will be to lose around half a percent of your total action.
Your basic strategy table doesn’t make sense for player 16 vs. dealer 10. If there is surrender it is “Rs” but if no surrender it is “H”. It should be Rh if there is surrender. That is what your printed cards say.
Well, it’s complicated. Both the card and the chart are correct, in their own way.
Read the explanation here: The confusing situation with 16 vs Ten.
dang, that makes sense. thank you
Thank you.
I agree. I use ReKO. It was mainly to calculate how weak Speed Count is.
Hi there – how would you rate Casino Verite software versus DeepNet Technologies’ Professional Blackjack Bundle for Windows?
I’m down to the two and wondering if you have experience with the other to shed some light on it?
Thanks!!
I haven’t tried the DeepNet software, but I bet Henry Tamburin could compare the two. I will see if I can get him to reply here.
Both BJ software are very good training tools. I’m impartial to Deepnet software though because that’s what the developer of Speed Count and I used to optimize Speed Count. (Dan Pronovost) is the developer of Deepnet software and Speed Count.) I’ve personally used Dan’s Professional software bundle to do my own risk of ruin calculations, bankroll calculations, and blackjack simulator (playing millions of hands of BJ.) I also use the software when I teach Speed Count (and Hi Lo), specifically the basic strategy drills, the counting drills, and the simulator to show the affect of penetration and playing rules on your edge as a counter.
I always wonder if the casinos actually put out the basic strategy plays to learn for their gain. Are you affiliated with any casinos?
I can assure you that basic strategy is not some sort of scheme devised by the casinos. It’s simply a mathematically provable set of the optimal choices for each decision. My only affiliation with land-based casinos is extracting money from them as a player. 🙂
Hi,
What about cutting the decks half? Many internet casinos cut the 8decks to half. Does that nulify card counting also?
Actually, most internet casinos shuffle after every hand. If you play an online live dealer casino, you may find 4 decks being dealt out of 8.
In that case, counting works fine, although you will need a big spread to beat the poor penetration.
For these charts on whether to hit, split , double , or stand is the determining count the true count or running count
Fair enough Ken. Thanks for posting the link to your explanation.
I must say I feel it is real shame, and I have only know about this site for about 6 months. Some of the older members must have been truly devastated when you shut down the messaging.
Thanks for the other website links too.
See https://www.blackjackinfo.com/knowledge-base/site-announcements/the-blackjackinfo-message-boards-are-closed-to-new-posts/
Other blackjack forums include http://www.bj21.com and http://www.blackjacktheforum.com