changes to basic strategy?

[conostar]

reckon i have a good grasp of basic strategy - sometimes forget to double when i get things like an ace and 2.


just a quick question. you've been counting, you've worked out there's a true count of 5 or so - and you've upped your bets. now that you know there are more 10s in the pack do you make any changes to your basic strategy to maximise profits?

cheers in advance

 

[jack.jackson]

reckon i have a good grasp of basic strategy - sometimes forget to double when i get things like an ace and 2.


just a quick question. you've been counting, you've worked out there's a true count of 5 or so - and you've upped your bets. now that you know there are more 10s in the pack do you make any changes to your basic strategy to maximise profits?

cheers in advance

Ya, such as standing 12 vs 2,3 and Doubling X vs X,A.... To name a few.

Are you using a sysem? If so, which one?

 

[conostar]

just hi lo, have tried dabbling with hi lo opt I/II but is too much for me at the mo.

Am still refining my technique, have not yet taken the plunge

 

[conostar]

also i never take the insurance in normal game play, but i guess it makes sense to take it when the count is high, yeah?

 

[Sonny]

also i never take the insurance in normal game play, but i guess it makes sense to take it when the count is high, yeah?

Yes, knowing when to take insurance is the most profitable of all the basic strategy deviations. You can search for Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 for the other most important deviations. Typically they will also be included in the book that describes the system you are using as well.

-Sonny-

 

[conostar]

yeah, have just bought a couple of wong books and various others, ta for the advice

 

[KenSmith]

I've added an explanation of index numbers, and a list of the "Illustrious 18" most important index values to the FAQ here:
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=9666

 

[sagefr0g]

Yes, knowing when to take insurance is the most profitable of all the basic strategy deviations. You can search for Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 for the other most important deviations. Typically they will also be included in the book that describes the system you are using as well.

-Sonny-

i know taking insurance at the proper matrice is considered profitable. but have never fully understood how it is so . lol i mean to me it's as puzzling as the goats behind doors thing and counter identifying software puzzle we had.
so i know insurance pays 2:1 . that's a good thing.
i know around tc>=3 the dealer has chances of having a blackjack to where the pay off odds makes insurance a profital bet. but what puzzles me as far as profitability is that when you win the insurance bet it's always the same as a push as far as how much money you've layed out. i mean don't you just always end up with the same amount of money as what you've essentially bet except in the case where both you and the dealer have a blackjack? so yeah you do get a nice profit in that particular but rare case. but then again i suppose this can all be looked at as a cutting your loss's thing as well to where when you do win the insurance bet at least your not in essence losing your initial bet. and at those true counts it would likely be a good sized bet you are 'protecting'. so i guess i can see how it's 'profitable' or am i missing something.

 

[Canceler]

i know around tc>=3 the dealer has chances of having a blackjack to where the pay off odds makes insurance a profital bet. but what puzzles me as far as profitability is that when you win the insurance bet it's always the same as a push as far as how much money you've layed out. i mean don't you just always end up with the same amount of money as what you've essentially bet except in the case where both you and the dealer have a blackjack? so yeah you do get a nice profit in that particular but rare case. but then again i suppose this can all be looked at as a cutting your loss's thing as well to where when you do win the insurance bet at least your not in essence losing your initial bet. and at those true counts it would likely be a good sized bet you are 'protecting'. so i guess i can see how it's 'profitable' or am i missing something.

No, you're not missing anything. All of my winning insurance bets have been pushes, too!
And, just like pushing with 17, I'm happy to do it.

 

[bj bob]

i know taking insurance at the proper matrice is considered profitable. but have never fully understood how it is so . lol i mean to me it's as puzzling as the goats behind doors thing and counter identifying software puzzle we had.
so i know insurance pays 2:1 . that's a good thing.
QUOTE]

The largest effects of insurance are twofold: 1) The insurance opportunity, on average occurs very frequently i.e. once in every 13 hands, although not taken each time due to count. 2) More often then not the AP will have a large to max. bet on the felt and so, it does act like a loss limiting side bet protecting up to 1% of your BR each time.

 

[callipygian]

i know taking insurance at the proper matrice is considered profitable. but have never fully understood how it is so ... i suppose this can all be looked at as a cutting your loss's thing as well to where when you do win the insurance bet at least your not in essence losing your initial bet.

This is exactly it. When you win your insurance bet, you lose your regular bet, so it's a case of turning a -1 into a 0.

 

[k_c]

i know taking insurance at the proper matrice is considered profitable. but have never fully understood how it is so . lol i mean to me it's as puzzling as the goats behind doors thing and counter identifying software puzzle we had.
so i know insurance pays 2:1 . that's a good thing.
i know around tc>=3 the dealer has chances of having a blackjack to where the pay off odds makes insurance a profital bet. but what puzzles me as far as profitability is that when you win the insurance bet it's always the same as a push as far as how much money you've layed out. i mean don't you just always end up with the same amount of money as what you've essentially bet except in the case where both you and the dealer have a blackjack? so yeah you do get a nice profit in that particular but rare case. but then again i suppose this can all be looked at as a cutting your loss's thing as well to where when you do win the insurance bet at least your not in essence losing your initial bet. and at those true counts it would likely be a good sized bet you are 'protecting'. so i guess i can see how it's 'profitable' or am i missing something.

The best way to look at insurance is to consider it a side bet. Every time you take insurance and the shoe consists of more than 1/3 tens you have the advantage and add to your EV. The insurance bet is just a side bet and is independent of the main bet. Its only relationship to the main bet is that it is limited to 1/2 of the main bet.

Hope this helps
k_c