Rudimentary Question

[Felix Rue-de-Guerre]

For those of you who play a lot of single deck, to what sort of resolution to you calculate TC?

I should have asked this question a long time ago. It's rudimentary. I don't think I ever remember reading about TC conversion for single deck! Even in Revere's book, unless I missed something. So, I just figured it out this way awhile back, is there a more accurate/easier way? I just didn't think of questioning my methods until now.

< approx. 13 cards TC=RC
approx. 13-21 cards +/- 1RC = +/- 1.5TC
approx. 21-31 cards +/- 1RC = +/- 2TC
approx. 31-36 cards +/- 1RC = +/- 3TC
> 36 +/- 1RC = +/- 4TC

I only play single deck a few times a year at most. And that time is again approaching. I should hone up first. I am very good at estimating the discard tray. It's my range numbers I question. Also, how bad have I hurt myself doing it this way if my numbers are too far off?

Thank,
-Felix

 

[SammyBoy]

IMO, what you are using is just fine. I use 1/4 decks to determine the TC in single deck. 13 cards dealt I divide the RC by .75, 26 cards out I divide RC by .5. I don't think you have to be very precise, the important thing is to get more money out during the positive counts, but I know that you know that.

 

[Felix Rue-de-Guerre]

Thanks, good to know. It was dumb of me not to verify this sooner.

The reason I decided not to start with the first 1/4 deck is this:

Consider:
+2RC with 13 cards(1/4 deck) out, TC would be 2X1.34=2.67, rounded to 3
+2RC with 17-18 cards(1/3 deck) out, TC would be 2X1.5=3.00 = 3

It seemed easier to use the ranges I do.

Also, am I correct when I say that TC conversion was not discussed in Revere's book? I know it is obsolete. But just out of curiosity, did he even use a TC?

Thanks,
-Felix

 

[John Lewis]

another way to state SD RC to TC conversion

@ 2.7 cards / player or dealer hand

1/4 deck = 5 hands
1/3 deck = 6 hands
1/2 deck = 10 hands
2/3 deck = 13 hands
3/4 deck = 14 hands

1/4 deck = 13 cards = 5 hands : TC = RC x 1.333 (or add 1/3 to RC)
1/3 deck = 17 cards = 6 hands : TC = RC x 1.5 (or add 1/2 to RC)
1/2 deck = 26 cards = 10 hands : TC = RC x 2
2/3 deck = 34 cards = 13 hands : TC = RC x 3
3/4 deck = 39 cards = 14 hands : TC = RC x 4

 

[LV Bear]

A simple method

When playing heads-up, double the count on Round 6 and beyond.

With one other player, or heads-up playing two spots, double the count on Round 4 and beyond.

This simple method is not perfectly accurate, of course. But it reduces the potential for errors, and speeds your game up. You don't even have to look at the discard tray. As Sammy Boy pointed out, shoving the money out when the count is good is the single most important ingredient of success. Hands per hour is an important consideration as well. At single deck there is frequent shuffling, so you need to play as quickly as possible to maximize your hourly EV.

Unless you use a sophisticated count system and/or several side counts, and use a large unit size ($100.00 or above), you probably should not be wasting your time on single deck games with more than one other player. By the nature of your question, I assume this is not the case.

 

[Felix Rue-de-Guerre]

Re: A simple method

Thanks,

If half-deck resolution is good enough, I have been doing fine. I can already play pretty fast the way I have practiced.

-Felix