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Forgive me as I’m a beginner. So when counting cards, the more negative the count, the more beneficial hitting the (7,8) would be since you seek the 5 and 6 from the other hard 15 combinations of the player.
Yes, negative counts would mean you are more likely to be able to improve the hand by hitting. This effect is however somewhat offset by the fact that the dealer is also less likely to bust if he has a small card under. But you’ve got the right idea. In a 6D H17 game, you should hit 15vT in negative counts, but surrender at true counts of 0 or more.
Why would you take insurance with a count of 3? That would leave 16 opportunities for dealer BJ (10s) and 33 opportunities to lose the insurance bet (non-10s) per deck. You’ll only win the insurance bet 32.7% of the time. That leaves a overall payout of -2.0%. Or are you using a different counting method? A count of +4 would seem like the obvious breakeven point to me.
It’s a bad idea to try to back into index numbers by starting with a whole deck and just removing the needed high or low cards. That will create only one of a huge number of possible deck compositions with that particular count. And an index number is calculated across all those combinations. Even so, if we look at a single deck off the top and create the simplest scenario where the running count is +3 (and the true count very slightly more than that because of the used cards), we’ll see something like this… An Ace for the dealer, and two players whose hands are both two small cards. That’s a running count of +3, (-1 for the ace and +4 for the other cards.) There are now 16 tens left in the deck and 31 non-tens. Insurance is profitable because more than one-third of the cards are ten-value cards. But, to reiterate, you really shouldn’t try to justify index numbers in this way. It won’t always work.
Ken, isn’t a 3+ card 16vT still count dependent when deciding to stand? I’m using full KO as a count. In poor shoes (6-deck), with a low count, isn’t hitting a 3+ card 16vT sometimes the correct play?
Of course. The 3+ card 16vT rule is an extension to basic strategy. If you are card counting instead, you have much better information available. Use the index of 0. At true counts of 0 or more, stand with 16vT. In negative counts, hit.
Hi thanks for the tips I have started practicing about 2 months ago and I am at 33 second’s a deck a long way to go yet but I love the challenge and and learning more each day thanks again
Hi, I have a question. I memorized the ENTIRE TABLE of variations on Blackjackgeeks.com, but now I’m noticing his variations are slightly different from the ones you list.
Will I be successful with those indexes, or are they going to screw me up?
I haven’t looked at that site, so I can’t say whether the indexes there are close to accurate or complete rubbish. I’ll stand by mine as very accurate, so when in doubt I obviously recommend them. My entire index sets are available on the advanced strategy cards in the store.
There is actually an Apple App names “31-in-1 Casino and Sportsbook” that has a black jack option labeled as “count”. This allows you to play up to three hands at once and has the option to pick how many decks you wouild like to play with 1-6. Also, you can have it show you the current Hi-Lo count or you can hide it and keep it yourself, then check it periodically to see if you are accurate. It is PERFECT for practicing and even better it is all FREE.
That’s correct, but only in single deck. In 1 deck, hit a hand of (7,8)vT, but surrender all the other 15vT hands. Why? Well, your hand of (7,8) includes none of the cards you would like to receive as a hit card, while the other 15s do. Again, this only matters in single deck, where the effect of a single card makes a bigger difference.
Forgive me as I’m a beginner. So when counting cards, the more negative the count, the more beneficial hitting the (7,8) would be since you seek the 5 and 6 from the other hard 15 combinations of the player.
Yes, negative counts would mean you are more likely to be able to improve the hand by hitting. This effect is however somewhat offset by the fact that the dealer is also less likely to bust if he has a small card under. But you’ve got the right idea.
In a 6D H17 game, you should hit 15vT in negative counts, but surrender at true counts of 0 or more.
Hi,
does anybody know in which casino in Europe the surrender option is available? I am planning a trip and I will opt for places which allow ES or LS.
Thanks for the help!
Why would you take insurance with a count of 3? That would leave 16 opportunities for dealer BJ (10s) and 33 opportunities to lose the insurance bet (non-10s) per deck. You’ll only win the insurance bet 32.7% of the time. That leaves a overall payout of -2.0%. Or are you using a different counting method? A count of +4 would seem like the obvious breakeven point to me.
It’s a bad idea to try to back into index numbers by starting with a whole deck and just removing the needed high or low cards. That will create only one of a huge number of possible deck compositions with that particular count. And an index number is calculated across all those combinations.
Even so, if we look at a single deck off the top and create the simplest scenario where the running count is +3 (and the true count very slightly more than that because of the used cards), we’ll see something like this… An Ace for the dealer, and two players whose hands are both two small cards. That’s a running count of +3, (-1 for the ace and +4 for the other cards.) There are now 16 tens left in the deck and 31 non-tens. Insurance is profitable because more than one-third of the cards are ten-value cards. But, to reiterate, you really shouldn’t try to justify index numbers in this way. It won’t always work.
yeah. good point. i didn’t consider aces contributing to a lower count while the 10s remain in play. thanks for getting back to me on that
*Payout of -3.125%
Ken, isn’t a 3+ card 16vT still count dependent when deciding to stand? I’m using full KO as a count. In poor shoes (6-deck), with a low count, isn’t hitting a 3+ card 16vT sometimes the correct play?
Of course. The 3+ card 16vT rule is an extension to basic strategy. If you are card counting instead, you have much better information available. Use the index of 0. At true counts of 0 or more, stand with 16vT. In negative counts, hit.
Hi thanks for the tips I have started practicing about 2 months ago and I am at 33 second’s a deck a long way to go yet but I love the challenge and and learning more each day thanks again
Good luck and good cards in your efforts!
Hi, I have a question.
I memorized the ENTIRE TABLE of variations on Blackjackgeeks.com, but now I’m noticing his variations
are slightly different from the ones you list.
Will I be successful with those indexes, or are they going to screw me up?
I haven’t looked at that site, so I can’t say whether the indexes there are close to accurate or complete rubbish.
I’ll stand by mine as very accurate, so when in doubt I obviously recommend them. My entire index sets are available on the advanced strategy cards in the store.
There is actually an Apple App names “31-in-1 Casino and Sportsbook” that has a black jack option labeled as “count”. This allows you to play up to three hands at once and has the option to pick how many decks you wouild like to play with 1-6. Also, you can have it show you the current Hi-Lo count or you can hide it and keep it yourself, then check it periodically to see if you are accurate. It is PERFECT for practicing and even better it is all FREE.
shouldnt you surrender 8,8 against a 10 if the count is high rather than stand as if not splitting you just play it like a normal 16?
What was the casino in Minnesota you visited? I live in Minnesota and would like to check it out.
It was Treasure Island, but that was long ago and game conditions have changed greatly since then.
If I go to the next round table do I take the chips that I have from the previous table or do we start with the same amount of chips every table ?
That’s correct, but only in single deck. In 1 deck, hit a hand of (7,8)vT, but surrender all the other 15vT hands.
Why? Well, your hand of (7,8) includes none of the cards you would like to receive as a hit card, while the other 15s do.
Again, this only matters in single deck, where the effect of a single card makes a bigger difference.
No, all strategy indexes use the true count not the running count. Stand with 15v8 at True count of 10 or higher (not common at all).