Hi-Opt 2 training Qs

[Running Count]

Hey folks,

I've been toying with HiOpt2 for a little while, and I think I'm going to start using it for SD pretty soon. I know (obviously) the values of the various cards, and thanks to the Mayor's work I know the Ill-18 numbers. Question is: how do I figure out the true count w/ the Ace side count? And more importantly, if I'm spreading 1-5 on SD, at what TCs do I ramp up my bet?

I looked for books on the subject, and found only one that specifically mentioned HiOpt2. It is a 27 page (!) booklet by "Lance Humble and Julian Braun" offered for $40 (marked down from 200!). I'm not about to spend even $40 on this, since $40 is about my entire EV from 10 sessions (with my measly bankroll).

Any answers to my Qs or recommendations for inexpensive sources?

Cheers,

RC

 

[Sonny]

I use the Hi-Opt II myself for all games I play. I love it.

To calculate the TC with ace side count using the standard "ace density" method (as Humble suggests), you add +2 to your running count for every extra ace still in the deck (or subtract -2 for every extra ace that has come out) before you convert to TC.

For example, if your RC is +2 and you know that 2 aces have come out in the first quarter-deck, you only have 2 aces left in the deck. You are 1 ace poor (average about 1 ace per quarter-deck). This is bad, so you subtract 2 from your RC to get 0. Now you convert the RC to TC. Now you can see that the +2 that you were excited about was only a neutral situation!

Make sure you use the TC WITHOUT ACE ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL PLAYING DECISIONS. Since the ace can function as either a high or low card (1 or 11), systems that are ace-neutral will have better playing efficiencies.

As far as betting decisions go, it depends what the house edge of the game is. Each TC point for Hi-Opt II is about a 0.5% increase in your edge. It the house edge is 0.6% (average shoe game), then a TC of +1 is still about a 0.1% edge for the casino. I would wait until a TC of +3 (+0.9 player edge) to raise my bet. On the other hand, if the house edge is around 0.17 (good rules for single deck) then you could raise you bet on about ANY + RUNNING COUNT!

The ace adjustment sounds a little annoying I know, but remember that you don't even need to calculate it for most betting decisions since they are already pretty negative that the adjustment would still leave them negative (or they are already positive and the aces just send it through the roof).

The thing I like about the side count is that when you're on the borderline for an index play, you can check the ace side count for a hint on what to do. Although Humble includes an Ace Multi-parameter table in "The World's Greatest Blackjack Book", I prefer not to memorize it but instead look at it and remember how the ace affects playing decisions. For example, if you're doubling down on a 10 vs. dealer 10 (after the dealer checks the hole card), if the count is at 5.5 (+6 is the index I think) and you know that there are two extra aces, you damn well ought to double.

I hope this helps.

-Sonny-

 

[Running Count]

Sonny (and anyone else who cares),

So it sounds like, for betting strategy, the TC value is about 1/2 of what it would be for HiLo. Thus if my betting schedule with HiLo and 1-5 spread was:

TC = 0 or less, bet = 1 unit
TC = 1, bet = 2 units
TC = 2, bet = 4 units
TC = 3 or more, bet = 5 units

With HiOpt2, calculating the TC with the Ace count as you suggest, my betting would be:

TC = 1 or less, bet = 1 unit
TC = 2-3, bet = 2 units
TC = 4-5, bet = 4 units
TC = 6 or more, bet = 5 units

This sound right?

As for calculating the TC with the aces, I think you mistyped. You said: "To calculate the TC with ace side count..., you add +2 to your running count for every extra ace still in the deck." I think you mean add +2 for every ace above what the normal density would be. Otherwise, you would start a SD with a +8 count. Your example seems to confirm this, but just wanted to make sure.

Cheers, and thanks. I owe you a beer.

RC

 

[Sonny]

>You said: "To calculate the TC with ace side count..., you add +2 to your
>running count for every extra ace still in the deck." I think you mean add +2
>for every ace above what the normal density would be.

You're right. If there are 2 aces left in a half-deck, the adjustment would be zero since the density is normal. This is what I meant by "extra" aces, but my explanation was a little vague.

>So it sounds like, for betting strategy, the TC value is about 1/2 of what it
>would be for HiLo.

Your betting schedule should be roughtly the same as HiLo since both counts average a 0.5% advantage per TC point. HiLo has a slightly better betting efficiency because it is an ace-reckoned count, but with the side count of aces with Hi-Opt you get very close to the same results. That is the trade-off: Ace-reckoned counts are easier and have better betting efficiencies, but ace-neutral counts have better playing efficiencies. That is why we use an ace-neutral count for playing and an ace-adjusted count for betting. We get the best of both worlds!

Because of the side count, Hi-Opt II and HiLo will have about the same betting advantage, but Hi-Opt II will have a better playing advantage, which is just what you want for the single-deck action where you are.

Either betting schedule you mentioned would be fine, depending in the amount of risk you want to take. If you always bet 2 units on a +1 TC, you are putting more money on the table with only a 0.33% edge (for either count). This is fine since you will be averaging more action per hour, and therefore a higher EV, but the fluctuations will be larger. Since I usually play for fun and with a decent bankroll, I feel comfortable raising my bets at a +1, but anyone with limited funds might choose to be more conservative. It all depends on your personal degree of acceptable risk. The safest schedule would be to bet 1 until at TC<4, then 5-6 units at TC>4, but you wouldn't get away with it for long! The nice thing about low limits (like Baldini's and Silver Club) is that you can do this:

TC < 0, bet $3
TC = 0, bet = $5
TC = 1, bet = $10
TC = 2, bet = $20
TC = 3 or more, bet = $30 or more (I could often get 2x$20 or 2x$30)

The lower minimum increases you spread, reduces your risk, and doesn't effect your EV much since it's only in negative counts.

If you are thinking of switchig from HiLo, you should read the post by ANS called "21st Century Sidecounting..." in "The Best Posts" section. He talks about how to keep an ace side count with HiLo that you SUBTRACT from the RC to get the ace-adjusted playing decisions. Although I would recommend learning Hi-Opt II, you might consider HiLo with ace-adjustment as an alternative.

-Sonny-

P.S.-I can get free beer at casinos whenever I want. How 'bout you can owe me a burger?

 

[Rob McGarvey]

Aces and Faces Blackjack has the "U" version of the Hi Opt II in it, plus Hi Opt III, Zen III, Z3Maximum, and the GI version of High Low, all for the amazing price of $15US. Ace tracking, shuffle tracking, bonus hustling, team play, comps, just about everything. I even have ZG mentioned in the Thank You To: back of the book! sigh

I am also working on the "UM" and the "UMX" Hi Opt II and the High Low MAX systems.

 

[Running Count]

Sonny,

A burger it is. How about an "Awful Awful" at the Nugget (not to be confused with the far inferior JA's Nuggest in Sparks) in Downtown Reno? Nice pics from Reno on your site, by the way. It was cool that they let you take pictures inside the casino (I'm not a stalker -- I found your site from your LV trip report link).

Thanks for the info. Do you recommend buying the Humble book? I may pick up Robbie Mack's book, too (thanks, RM). By the end of the summer, I want to have nailed both HiOpt2 and the basics of shuffle tracking...

RC

p.s. Shoot me an email if you plan to be in Reno sometime soon.