Zen Newbie Q&A

zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Posted By: zengrifter
Date: 6/25/04 5:02:00 p.m.

Schmedley writes:
**ZG responds -

I was wondering if I could get your Zen indices, as you kindly offered. I am currently practising based on the explanations in Blackbelt, but have a few doubts in 2 regards:

1) The indices in Blackbelt are not the same as those shown in the software I purchased (Ne Plus Ultra). Annoying. If you could confirm that those in Blackbelt are correct, that would be great.

**I'm assuming that you purchased the '98 edition of Blackbelt - the indices are for a 1/4D TC - you may use them as is -or- you may multiply them x2 for 1/2D TC or x4 for 1D TC

**My 'new' Zen indices are the Snyder TE indices x4 w/ minor RA enhancements.

**Does the latest NeUltra allow you to substitute your own indices? If not, the NeUltra indices are fine also.

I'm thinking of purchasing another software (I heard CVBJ is the best and it is not that expensive, $90), do you have any suggestion?

**Stick w/ NeUltra

2) I aslo want to make sure I practise right. Let's say my base bet is $10. When the count is negative, I drop it to $5.

**In a 6-8D game start at $5... in fact its best if you bet 0 (wonging).

Let's say my running count is 30, with 5 decks remaining. I divide 30 by 5*4=20, which gives me a "true edge" (as Snyder calls it) of 1.5. At this stage I raise my bet to $15. I do not raise it to $20 untill my true edge reaches 2, etc...

**TE is calc'd after starting housEdge is deducted

What I mean is that with this true edge conversion, I don't bother calculating the decimals,

**IF decimals are easy for you, calc the TE to the nearest 0.5

Is this technically correct? I know I won't do this in casinos or I will be
labelled "counter" in no time, but I'm just trying to have this game
(count/convert/adjust bet and strategy) as a second nature. Then I'll work on cover.

**You do not need cover with small stakes.

I'm asking because I was surprised to see how rarely I get big counts.

**Thats why wonging is best.

I also read in K-O BJ that some european Casino subscribe to Griffin... it sucks, I hoped it would be a little more lay-back there.

**Small stakes wonging requires NO COVER anywhere (when playing 6-8D games)

I was also shocked to read that card-counting would be illegal in Monte-Carlo... do you have information in this regard?

**Not illegal... small players will have no problems there.

Sorry to ask so many questions by email, but I read the two "espionage" posts on Snyder's website and don't feel like posting too much about myself anymore.

Schmedely

**Nothing posted here will give you away. zg
 
S

Seeker

Member
True edge is not advantage

zengrifter writes in part:

"TE is calc'd after starting housEdge is deducted."

Snyder uses "true edge" to mean the extent to which the advantage has shifted in a player-favorable direction as a result of card depletion. He writes, "Note that with the Hi-Lo Lite, you must subtract the house advantage off the top from the true edge to arrive at your advantage." (from (Dead link: http://www.bjfonline.com/chpt9.cfm)) The reason to do it this way is that play variations are keyed to specific TE index numbers. For this purpose, the starting house edge doesn't matter. Whether to stand on 15 vs. 9 is unaffected by whether you can double after splits.
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Yes. I don't like...

For this purpose, the starting house edge doesn't matter. Whether to stand on 15 vs. 9 is unaffected by whether you can double after splits.
---------------

...the term 'True Edge' for this reason. In my previous answer I was referring to bet-size calc. I use a 1D TC adjust. zg
 
R

Royam

Well-Known Member
Betting scale

So TE is like TC in the end, no? Except that TC is usually caclulated "per deck" and the TE in the Zen system is explained by Arnold Snyder as a count "per quarter deck". Not of much importance anyway, I compared with the indices I have for the hi-low and I'm pretty sure I'm doing it correct (whereas I was first wondering if I would not be using indices 2 or 4 times too "small", if you see what I mean).

Anyway, what would be a good betting spread then, based on the TE?

What about this:
TE below 1: 1 unit,
TE reaches 1: 2 units,
TE reaches 1.5: 3 units,
TE reaches 2: 4 units,
TE reaches 2.5: 5 units,
TE reaches 3: 6 units,
TE reaches 3.5: 7 units,
TE reaches 4: 8 units,
TE reaches 4.5: 10 units,
TE reaches 5: 12 units,
TE reaches 5.5: 14 units,
TE reaches 6: 16 units.
TE reaches more: mental orgasm.

Royam
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
Its partially rules and...

... BR dependent, but here's my suggestion (rough) -

600 BR
6-8D (not 1-2D)
(TE = 1/4D TC)

WONG:
TE reaches .2-.5: 1 unit,
TE reaches .5: 2 units,
TE reaches 1: 4 units,
TE reaches 1.5: 4-4 units,
TE reaches 2: 5-5 units,
TE reaches 3: 6-6 units,

PLAY ALL:
TE below .2: 1/4 unit
TE between .2-.5: 1/2 unit,
TE reaches .5: 2 units,
TE reaches 1: 4 units,
TE reaches 1.5:4-4 units,
TE reaches 2: 5-5 units,
TE reaches 3: 6-6 units,
 
R

Royam

Well-Known Member
Thx, but need 1 precision

To make sure I understand it right, could you please confirm the meaning of the abbreviations:

600 BR: means bankroll of 600 units?
6-8D (not 1-2D) : means 6 to 8 decds (not 1-2 decks)?
(TE = 1/4D TC): means true edge equals quarter deck true count? (I must be wrong on that one)

Thanks,

Royam
 
zengrifter

zengrifter

Banned
ZEN TE is a 1/4D TC

TE = 1/4D TC): means true edge equals quarter deck true count? (I must be wrong on that one)
-----------------

The '98 version Zen is based on a 1/4D TC-adjustment - Halves was based on a 1D TC, right? Don't call it TE anymore, call it by what it is - in the case of '98 Zen its a 1/4D TC. zg
 
R

Royam

Well-Known Member
Lol, ok

I thought you were using the "=" as in a mathematical equation, my bad.

Now it's clear and I agree with you, the "TE" expression is misleading.

Thanks

Royam
 
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