How to side count aces?

Daggers

Daggers

Well-Known Member
I've been looking everywhere online and on this site but I can't find a clear explanation on how to side count aces. The closest I got was this from casino verite:

"1. Calculate the number of excess Aces (may be negative) in the remaining cards
2. Multiply the number of excess Aces by the absolute value of the point count value assigned by the current strategy to Ten-value cards (usually one or two)
3.Temporarily add the result to the running count
4. Recalculate the true count for betting purposes only"

I get the last 3 steps but in the first one im confused about what "excess aces" mean. Excess=surplus/extra. So im guessing it means the number of aces left, but how can it be negative then???

I am wanting to use Hi-Opt II if that helps. im also lacking info on when to bet depending on the count and number of decks. thanks for the help! :)
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Don't go with HO2 or AO2 with ASC. If you do you will only work harder to obtain the same real-world results that you can get WITHOUT ASC using ZEN or Mentor. I recommend Mentor with a TC adjusted per 2D. zg
 
S

Sucker

Well-Known Member
Daggers said:
1. Calculate the number of excess Aces (may be negative) in the remaining cards
Click to expand...
First; estimate how many unseen cards are left in the shoe. Divide by 13, and that will tell you how many aces SHOULD be left. If the actual number of aces are HIGHER, then that's how many EXCESS aces you have.

What you're trying to do is estimate how many aces would be left if the deck were purely random. And it's ok if you're not EXACT, just do your best.
Example: There are about 2 1/4 decks left in the shoe; or about 117 cards. That means in a random distribution there would be 9 aces left.
If by your count you know that there are 11 aces left, then you have 2 excess aces. If, for example; there are only 6 aces left, then you have -3 excess aces.

Hope this helps.....
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Sucker said:
First; estimate how many unseen cards are left in the shoe. Divide by 13, and that will tell you how many aces SHOULD be left. If the actual number of aces are HIGHER, then that's how many EXCESS aces you have.

What you're trying to do is estimate how many aces would be left if the deck were purely random. And it's ok if you're not EXACT, just do your best.
Example: There are about 2 1/4 decks left in the shoe; or about 117 cards. That means in a random distribution there would be 9 aces left.
If by your count you know that there are 11 aces left, then you have 2 excess aces. If, for example; there are only 6 aces left, then you have -3 excess aces.
Click to expand...
And then add the excess# to your RC and convert to TC for bet size decision.
Daggers, fuhgettaboutit! zg
 
S

snorky

Well-Known Member
1 round HU = average of 2.7 cards seen per player so 5.4 cards are used per round. 5 rounds = approx half a deck, so two aces should be gone.

With an extra players, 8.1 cards are used per round on average. Usually 3 rounds means 2 aces should be gone.

etc,

This is the method I use for pitch games. I keep track of the # of rounds played and color code aces as the # of aces gone. Green = 1 ace gone, Red = 2 aces gone, White = 3 aces gone, Blank = 4 aces gone. I go back to Green with 5 aces gone. Don't ask me how I came up with this scheme. It just works for me. Find out what works for you.

edit: I am probably going to make the transition to zen as I am told it is better and easier!
 
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C

comatoseb.j.

Banned
I just keep track of the surplus aces left in the deck and think huh I believe I should bet... because their are... aces remaing with ... quarter decks. Works for me. and my ability to predict dealer blackjack is key in adding to my e.v. which my IC is about 80% right now. Who needs blackjacks when you can keep 4 out of 5 bets when the dealer gets it. Huh. Do I smell double e.v. I think I do.
 
T

tthree

Banned
Daggers said:
I've been looking everywhere online and on this site but I can't find a clear explanation on how to side count aces. The closest I got was this from casino verite:

"1. Calculate the number of excess Aces (may be negative) in the remaining cards
2. Multiply the number of excess Aces by the absolute value of the point count value assigned by the current strategy to Ten-value cards (usually one or two)
3.Temporarily add the result to the running count
4. Recalculate the true count for betting purposes only"

I get the last 3 steps but in the first one im confused about what "excess aces" mean. Excess=surplus/extra. So im guessing it means the number of aces left, but how can it be negative then???

I am wanting to use Hi-Opt II if that helps. im also lacking info on when to bet depending on the count and number of decks. thanks for the help! :)
Click to expand...
HIOPT II with ace side count is the strongest linear count I know of. At your given deck estimate for the discard tray you expect 1 ace per quarter deck. If you estimate 3.25 decks in the discard tray the number of expected aces is 3*4 + 1 = 13. If you have counted 12 aces there is one surplus ace in the unplayed shoe. If you have counted 16 aces there is 3 deficit aces in the unplayed shoe. For your betting TC multiply the number of surplus aces by the tag value for tens and add to the RC. If the aces are in deficit you subtract the product from the RC. Then you divide by the number of decks yet to be played for the betting TC. It takes some getting used to but once you have done it for a while it becomes second nature and is done effortlessly.
 
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