Highest Simplest BC Count?

M

mylittlepony

Member
Hi, I was wondering if anybody has devised their own custom (preferably unbalanced) count that maximizes BC without regard to PE or IC. I usually follow basic strategy and I rarely take insurance anyhow, since I use the KO rookie system. Or better yet, a simple tweak to KO rookie that would give it a higher BC (is it even possible to have 100% BC?). Thanks for your time and input!
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Either UBZII or UstonSS...

...without getting into custom counts. Somebody post the card tags for both counts, please. zg
 
Automatic Monkey

Automatic Monkey

Banned
And here are your Uston SS playing indexes

You'll need these. These are for a S17, DOA, DAS, LSR game, 6 deck. Starting count is -24.

Insurance: 8

16 vs. X hit <-12
15 vs. X hit < 11
12 vs. 2 hit < 10
12 vs. 3 hit <-11

A7 vs. A hit <-8

11 vs, A DD >-6
10 vs. X DD > 8
10 vs. A DD > 8
9 vs. 2 DD >-6
9 vs. 7 DD > 8
8 vs. 6 DD > 0

A8 vs. 4 DD > 7
A8 vs. 5 DD > -2
A8 vs. 6 DD > -7
A7 vs. 2 DD > -8
A6 vs. 2 DD > -4
A4 vs. 4 DD > -11
A3 vs. 4 DD > 3
A2 vs. 4 DD > 8
A2 vs. 5 DD > -10

XX vs. 4 split > 23
XX vs. 5 split > 16
XX vs. 6 split > 11

16 vs. A surr > -30
16 vs. 9 surr > -17
16 vs. 8 surr > -2
15 vs. A surr > -3
15 vs. X surr > -19
15 vs. 9 surr > 1
14 vs. A surr > 4
88 vs. A surr > -13

History of these: Last week I was hunting around for something better for shoe games than my HO2+A, and Uston SS was the candidate. The reason I wanted something simpler was because I wanted to try to play one table and backcount the one next to it at the same time. Turns out it's not very practical and I'm so used to HO2+A switching to another count was difficult, even though I was able to do it and had a winning session. Uston SS and HO2+A have nearly identical performance on shoe games. But I can use the latter on DD games with no changes and on SD games with minor changes so I'm going to stick with it.
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
2 ques. about SS#s -

1. what is the origin of these #s, self-generated or store bought?
2. do you have 1D and 2D #s?
 
Automatic Monkey

Automatic Monkey

Banned
Generated with CVIndex

That's part of the Qfit package.

Never did SD or DD because I only get to play those games a couple of times a year, and because I already know HO2 which is clearly better in a pitch game. In a shoe game I'll take BC every time, but after running the sims the BC of SS was not quite high enough to overtake the power of HO2+A with the spreads I use. Maybe if I find a 8D game where I can get a huge spread down, like $3-$300, I'll try the SS on it again.
 
M

mylittlepony

Member
At what count do you have an advantage?

In other words, at what running count do I raise my bet? Also, any betting strategy would be appreciated. Thanks again!
 
S

Syph

Well-Known Member
Advanced KO, complete system.

The tags were first posted by Kim Lee many moons ago, using 1/2 integer values. I`ve made some embellishments along the way, that make it a little more user friendly.

--------------------------------------------------------------
AKO

Tags 2-A: 1,2,2,3,2,1,0,0,-2,-1

Initial Running Count: -6 x number of decks
Key: -2 (any number of decks)
Pivot: 2 x number of decks

Eg:
1 deck, IRC -6, Key -2, Pivot 2
6 deck, IRC -36, Key -2, Pivot 12

* * *

Indices:

Follow Basic Strategy except for these deviations:

Running count at Key:
16 v 10, stand
11 v A, double
A8 v 5,6 double

RC @ Pivot:
16 v 9,A stand
15 v 10, stand
12 v 2,3 stand
10 v 10,A double
9 v 2,7 double
8 v 5,6 double
10, 10 v 5,6 Split

Take insurance when RC is at Pivot-2. (Ie, on 6d Insure at 10)

* * *

Betting:

Raise at Key, and parlay/ramp up to a Max bet at Pivot
Spread as large as you can get away with
Bankroll: 100 Max bets (approximately 1/2 Kelly, depending on the game)

Eg: You have $10000, thus ...

Max bet: $100
On single deck, 1-4 spread. So you would use $25 units. Raising to $50 at Key (-2), and parlay/ramp your bets to $100 at Pivot (2)

On 6 deck, 1-20 spread. $5 unit. Raise to $10 at Key (-2) and parlay/ramp your bets to $100 at Pivot (12)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats about it, pretty simple.

If anyone wants to sim it, you`ll find it outperforms (in multi-deck), Red 7 KO, SS, Hi-Lo, and UBZII.

(betting ramps could be improved, depending on game and play style. But in light of simplicity and versatility, the above recommendations should perform admirably.)

I would be amiss if I told you, however, that you are much better off playing poker.

Best,
Syph
 
M

mylittlepony

Member
Just wanted to say thanks...

for the great system you posted, not many people would take the time to do that. Also, thanks to zengrifter and automonkey for the heads up on the other systems.
 
M

MJ

Member
How much better is this than normal KO?

Hey Syph this is quite an interesting advancement to the KO Preferred System. My only question is how much better does this improved system perform then "out of the box" KO? I believe KO Preferred gives the player .78% in EV spreading 1-10 units in a 6D, DAS, 75%Pen. How much more EV could this level-2 count add?

Also would it be ok if I copy your post on another BJ Board so I can get the opinion of other experienced players?

Thanks for sharing,

-MJ
 
S

Syph

Well-Known Member
According to Mr. Lee...

It outperforms UBZII, but not by a great deal.

That said, it would be great if someone could sim it. Feel free to post anywbere you like.

I will emphasize, though, this is not my creation.

The tags I first saw posted by Kim Lee.
The IRC/Key/Pivot trick I lifted from another post on KO (then doubled the values)
And the consolidation of the indice matrix I blatantly stoled from Norm`s OK KO (which, incidentally, has optimal betting ramps for KO)

http://www.qfit.com/OKStrategy.htm

So If you used RA indices and optimal betting ramps, I suspect that AKO would be a strong contender. But I`ll stick my foot in my mouth and state that the system in my first post will outperform all other commercial unbalanced RC systems.

(but the difference between UBZII and AKO is probably negligible.)

Best,
Syph
 
Automatic Monkey

Automatic Monkey

Banned
Don't like AKO/UBZ- suggested mod

I've never really liked the "Zen" counts (with apologies to ZG!) where the Ace has a value half the ten cards. The goal is to strike a compromise between betting correlation and playing efficiency.

But this is not a place to compromise! You need BC, you need it every hand and only a tiny percentage of hands can you turn from losers into winners with advanced plays. Sure, it is very satisfying to do so and profitable of course. But why not use a full ace-reckoning count, and add a sidecount to improve your PE and IC? Or use an ace-neutral count for speedy play decisions plus the sidecount to get the BC up where it needs to be. With the half ace-reckoning systems you hurt both BC and PE and if you use a sidecount you have to use it for both play and bet decisions.

Here's an idea- maybe use AKO but count the Ace as -2 and the pip 10's as -1. That will get the weights of the Aces and ten cards right where they should be.
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
BUT, your HO2 is a poor compromise...

... if you only use a quarter-deck Ace density estimate for betting. Without a seconday Ace count - 2s/5s +1, As -2 - you are better off with a level2 Ace-reckoned variety such as ZEN or RPC. zg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top