Spanish 21 book

[moo321]

Where I said In the book, Katarina suggests... ignoring the splits and doubles I meant splits and soft hands, not splits and doubles. My mistake. I apologize.

While it may not look good to misquote a book, it also doesn't look good to publish a book full of errors (some of which I pointed out on Don's site.) Although it's hard to discern someone's "tone of voice" in a written post, I believe I detect some petulance in your reply, which really is unnecessary.



Does this include trying to hit into a 6-7-8?

BTW, would you care to comment on how many copies have been sold so far? Thanks for your book and thanks for being available for questions and corrections as we go through the learning process.

Dude, someone is coming here, explaining a brand spanking new opportunity. For free. If you disagree, that's fine, but someone is sharing massively +EV information with you. For free.

 

[shadroch]

If there are only two people in the US with 190Qs,it appears we are blessed with having one of them post here.

 

[21forme]

Dude, someone is coming here, explaining a brand spanking new opportunity. For free. If you disagree, that's fine, but someone is sharing massively +EV information with you. For free.

Not sure where this came from...
No, not for free. According to my credit card statement, I bought a book - just like I did for my entire BJ library. I'm not one of those clowns who posts asking for a list of indices, counts, etc., too cheap to buy the book. It's great that the author comes around to answer questions, for free, but that's a two-way street, too. We get the help we ask for and she gets free, focused advertising and sells more books.

And as Kevin Spacey says in his upcoming movie, "Don't call me dude." :grin:

 

[InPlay]

I am wondering why people think you need to be smarter to count SP21 than count BJ, using the Hi-Lo.

1. Both use the same counting system.
2. You don't need to know any of the conditional plays in Spanish 21, which makes SP21 BS no more complex than BJ BS.
3. Using Illustrious 18 in SPanish 21 is, relatively speaking, more effective than in BJ.
4. Once you get used to counting a negative running count, you'll find it easier than in Blackjack, where you are continually swapping between a negative RC and a positive RC, which is confusing.
5. 10-spot cards look like 9-spot cards, if your eyesight is less than perfect, so it is easy to make counting errors in BJ. In SP21, all the money cards look distinct from the rest of the pack, which makes counting easier.
6. You don't have to worry about taking insurance when the count gets high enough.

As a result of points 1 through 6, I personally find playing SP21 easier than BJ.
Maybe players forget what it was like when they first learnt how to play Blackjack.

Incidentally, 190 is 6 std deviations above the mean IQ of 100. The probabilty of someone being 6 std dev above the mean is 1 in 165 million. That's roughly two people in the whole U.S.A.

It was a joke. I was responding to one of the posters who said you need a IQ of 190. Where is you sense of humor? Don't be so up tight. Smile!

 

[InPlay]

Not sure where this came from...
No, not for free. According to my credit card statement, I bought a book - just like I did for my entire BJ library. I'm not one of those clowns who posts asking for a list of indices, counts, etc., too cheap to buy the book. It's great that the author comes around to answer questions, for free, but that's a two-way street, too. We get the help we ask for and she gets free, focused advertising and sells more books.

And as Kevin Spacey says in his upcoming movie, "Don't call me dude." :grin:

It's was only $24.95. Live with it or chalk it up as just another experience in life. The question is there more profit in gambling or writing books, selling systems?

 

[21forme]

If there are only two people in the US with 190Qs,it appears we are blessed with having one of them post here.

We used to have both, but SilentBob was banned :laugh:

 

[Kasi]

...is 6 std deviations above the mean ... The probabilty of someone being 6 std dev above the mean is 1 in 165 million.

Probably doing something wrong but could you/someone explain why +6 SD is not a little over 1 billion (1,009,976,678) rather than merely 1 in 165 million of anyone exceeding that?

While on the subject I would have preferred, nothing wrong with your approach either I guess, that you would have not referred to events exceeding 3 standard deviations as 1 in 1000 due to rounding the probability to 0.1%.

More from the point of view that if anyone experienced such an event they would think they were "alot", my opinion only, unluckier than they actually were since I think the actual number is "only" lol 1 in 740 rather than 1 in 1000. I mean what's the harm in adding an extra decimal in such an otherwise mathematically rigorous text?

 

[Automatic Monkey]

A single-level count is not optimal for Spanish 21, just as it is not optimal for BJ. Bear in mind that the EOR for a 5 in BJ is 0.84 (H17, DAS, LS) but the EOR for a 2 is only 0.42 in BJ. Half as much! Yet they both use the same tag in Hi-Lo. Out there, it is Hi-Lo players that are bringing in most of the profits.

But that's the price we pay if we want a counting system we can play for hours, with few errors. My objective was to present a way of beating SP21 by using the same popular system used by BJ counters. A 2-level count would be far superior, but beyond the reach of >95% of players.

The reality is that all those tricky BS plays in SP21 are completely unnecessary for the counter. Once you eliminate them, the game is no harder than BJ.

On rge21.com, a few typos have been pointed out (like "to" instead of "too"), and my BS play for 9 versus 7 for the redoubling game was corrected. Nothing of any significance (the 9 versus 7 plays are so close in EV that todouble instead of hit would cost nothing in real terms). So to say that people are rewriting my book is an exaggeration of a pretty tall order, and not very fair, considering it took me 3 years to write, including 6 months fulltime just to get my self-written simulator working. I don't mind valid, accurate or constructive criticism. I just don't see the point of negative hyperbole or people who don't have the playing knowledge, experience, or intelligence to understand what I'm trying to communicate. (The latter does not refer to you, as you are obviously an elite player.)

I think the fact that so many people are talking about my book says a lot. If it was crap, nobody would buy it, or bother discussing it on forums, like most gaming books.

Sorry I didn't mean my hyperbole in a negative way, and I do think it's really funny though the way a whole bunch of people over there have jumped in with suggestions. Just imagine if your book was about theology. :angel: This is something that always happens when authors make themselves available to their fans.

Everybody has different strengths and weaknesses at the table. This week I started using a zero pivot point variation on your count and it felt a little foreign to start, but after the first deck of the first shoe it felt natural. That's one of the things I'm good at. Now what I'm not good at is controlling my aggression while playing. I don't mean steaming or making foolish bets or plays, I mean personal aggression- cursing and blaspheming, fist-slamming and hints of confrontations with authorities. This happens whether I win or lose. Maybe it comes from being a Wonger with a violent spread, I think it might because it always comes out when I'm playing those kinds of games. It also manifests itself in aggressive eating; buffets, hamburgers, sandwiches etc. Not even good food, usually I'll eat something atrocious and regret it after. Sometimes I wish there was a gentler way for me to play, more finesse and less brute force and elbowing my way into crowded tables to play good counts, unfortunately that's literally not in the cards in my part of the country. Hopefully I'll overcome this before I get myself arrested.

Hey I was thinking about this tonight, maybe it would be an easier way to use a practical level 1 count for SP21 without the starting negative count. Let's say you started the count at 0 and counted only the red 2's and red 6's. (or the black 2's and black 6's, for the nonconformists) Pivot point would be zero which is familiar to High-Low players. Now would it work to use this count and add 4 to your index and spread numbers? I realize suit-aware and color-aware counting schemes add a level of inaccuracy to a count, but the improved BC on the low end would take some of this back.

(My opinion of those boasting of exorbitantly high IQ's: they demonstrate a lack of understanding of the math behind the measurement. These tests were designed to identify people as being of normal intelligence to qualify them as being suited for mainstream schools, military service and the like. There is a certain amount of guessing that everyone does on such a test and in the normal range the guesses for all test-takers are numerous enough as to not cast the taker out of the normal range, but on the very high and very low ends a few lucky or unlucky guesses can cause large variations in comparative results, making the score not very useful. Even a monkey can get lucky on a multiple-choice test.)

 

[BlodiaInc]

Katarina,

Is there anywhere I can purchase this book besides lulu

I want to get the book quickly because I will be making a trip soon.

 

[21forme]

Katarina,

Is there anywhere I can purchase this book besides lulu

I want to get the book quickly because I will be making a trip soon.

I got my book from lulu.com in about a week and that was with shipping via Media Mail, which is the slowest way.

 

[InPlay]

If there are only two people in the US with 190Qs,it appears we are blessed with having one of them post here.

Who is that one ?

 

[shadroch]

ferretandparrot claims his math IQ is 190.

 

[Knox]

I played some 6D S17 SP21 and it was a bit grueling. There was only one SP21 table at this particular place.

This place also has a lot of regular 6D tables. Penetration is not great, about 70%. I have come to realize that the only viable method of attack there is to backcount and wong in. I tried some "play all" at a $5 table with a planned 1-30 spread, but the dealer then cut off two full decks, a subtle yet very effective countermeasure. I'm not sure why he would care, but I am thinking the pit and dealers are well trained in this tactic. Heat is completely non-existent at this place, they just offer crummy games knowing they will be very hard to beat. For example, 50% pen on DD, no DAS and double 10-11 only, with only playable features being S17 and mid-shoe entry allowed (woohoo 50% pen).

The penetration at the Sp21 table was no better than the regular 6D tables. On average, the table was less crowded but that was the only thing better about it. It seemed to me that the SP21 table was just one more table to backcount while moving through the casino looking for fresh shuffles at tables that were not overcrowded. However, you would not be missing a whole lot just passing the SP21 table over either.

All in all this is the type of place I am fortunate enough to not have to play at too often. Next time I go I will be in AM's "don't play a single negative EV hand mode" and I think I can overcome the boredom due to the large number of tables. I am also finding it fairly boring to sit through negative counts when stuck at places where only 6D is offered or playable, so finally giving in and playing it the right way should not be too hard.

For now I am shelving SP21 but I still have interest in some sims and Kat's book. If you can really get significantly better pen at some places it could be worthwhile. I still don't have a great feel for whether there is additional EV to be made playing SP21 when the pen is the same as the regular BJ game offered.

 

[Kasi]

Is there anywhere I can purchase this book besides lulu
I want to get the book quickly because I will be making a trip soon.

I think it may be also available there as a downloadable PDF file which should be immediate delivery I'd think if that helps.
At least I think I remember that as an option.

 

[jack.jackson]

When you Double on split aces. Is that before or after you draw a card. Or, is it both?

Also, is there playing Indices for S11?

 

[aslan]

Is there anyway to adapt KO to SP21? +1+1+1+1+1+1 0 0 (-1) -1-1-1-1 is super unbalanced without the tens. I suppose not, but with my under 50 IQ, I thought I'd ask anyway. Is counting a nine as -1 or a seven as 0 out of the question?

 

[Kasi]

When you Double on split aces. Is that before or after you draw a card. Or, is it both?

Also, is there playing Indices for S11?

In AC you can hit each Ace after splitting as many times as you want - you are not limited to getting only one card. You can double either hand, like any other hand, whenever you want after 2 cards 3 4, whatever. Can't double the one-card hand though no matter how much you may want to lol.

There are no indices for not splitting an A,A if that's what you mean by S11. Always split and apply indices to the resulting hands.

There are indices for A,A if you are not allowed by rule to draw to split aces.

 

[aslan]

I think it may be also available there as a downloadable PDF file which should be immediate delivery I'd think if that helps.
At least I think I remember that as an option.

Where did you see this as available in pdf? That's how I want it, but can't find such an option at lulu.com.

 

[SD Padres]

Is there anyway to adapt KO to SP21? +1+1+1+1+1+1 0 0 (-1) -1-1-1-1 is super unbalanced without the tens. I suppose not, but with my under 50 IQ, I thought I'd ask anyway. Is counting a nine as -1 or a seven as 0 out of the question?

I bet someone will figure out how to implement a level 1 unbalanced system for SP21. It's just a matter of time. This information (SP21 is beatable) is fairly new to the blackjack community and once they ( IQ 190+) start looking at various sims it will happen. Look how far our little game has evolved!!! :grin:

 

[Kasi]

Where did you see this as available in pdf? That's how I want it, but can't find such an option at lulu.com.

As I recall it was somewhere in the ordering process - like whether you wanted it printed or as a PDF file. So I think maybe you have to be in the secure section of the website. Maybe where they say something like printing will take a few work days. As I recall lol. Keep your eyes open anyway lol.