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Is there an iOS app version of this trainer for my iPad?
I stumbled across this webpage on a Google search, and I won’t be back here to check message replies.
Please email your response.
Hi, thank you very much for the article, it has been very helpful.
I have a question about the difference between 10-6 and 9-7 vs 10. You explain the difference by the fact that in the 10-6 vs 10 hand these are two extra 10’s out of the game. But it seems to me that those two tens should already have been counted in to your current true count and thus by differentiating between the two hands you one would be double counting?
In other words, Why should I play differently in these two situations: 1) dealer: 10-x, me: 10-6, player 2: 9-7 and 2) dealer: 10-x, me; 9-7, player 2; 10-6. Both situations would influence the count in exactly the same way, wouldn’t they?
Good question. I don’t see the point in having separate indexes for those two specific hands either. And, as noted in another reply, I have not verified the accuracy of these Hi-Opt 1 indexes, and I am quite skeptical of the big difference between (10,6) and (9,7) vs T. If single deck is in your plans, I would look around for verification before using either of those. If you use Hi-Lo instead, the indexes on my advanced card set are very well-tested. I trust them much more.
Really nice interview Ken, I agree that counting prepares the mindset for other casino games. I still prefer the blackjack strategy guides on this site over POGGs ones, though he has some nice video poker ones. K.
I assume you are asking about accessing the charts on your smartphone in the casino. I do not recommend that. In the US, there are laws prohibiting the use of devices in gambling. Most of these laws are based on the Nevada version, which is written in a way that it could be interpreted to mean even something as harmless as looking up a strategy. You don’t want to be the test case for this. If you want access to the strategy in the casino, get a plastic card instead.
Hello. I have a question that I haven’t been able to find an answer too. Might be to obvious.
Scenario 6D H17 game
My first 2 cards are A6 vs 10. I hit and get a 9 and now I have a total of 16
So 16 vs 10. Now I should surrender correct?
In my practice apps it says I played it wrong but 16 vs 10 should be a surrender.
Does basic strategy not apply In this scenario?
Thanks very much for all the help
Paul
If you were allowed to surrender (Ace,6,9) vs T, it would be the correct play. Unfortunately, surrender is only allowed on your first two cards, before any other action is taken. You don’t mention what practice app you are using, but it should not even be providing a button for surrender in this case.
Remerciements
That was the main question. Whether or not you could surrender after you have already taken a hit.
I initially thought that’s what “late” surrender was.
But I know now that late surrender means after the dealer has checked his hole card when showing an ace.
The app I am using is 21-Pro. It keeps the count and keeps track of hands played using proper basic strategy.
Thanks again!
In many cases, when I say “small bets”, I mean either minimum bets or no more than double that. In some cases, when the entire table is making large bets, you can actually bet quite a bit more and still effectively be betting “small”. In general though, you do not want to make early bets that can risk you running out of chips.
It sounds like you have generated a strategy for a “no-peek” game using the strategy engine or trainer. In that case the plays you mention are correct.
But if you are playing a standard US-style game, make sure you choose “peek” instead. The strategy for those hands will then change.
Edited to add: It looks like you are probably in the UK, where no-peek is the norm. As my charts indicate, don’t split against a dealer Ace, because you could lose both bets to a dealer blackjack. (Against a ten, only split aces.) That can’t happen in a peek game.
I am 20 and I have just started playing blackjack. Your site has been extremely helpful, in the past two weeks I have gone through all the lessons and have done all the homework. I am counting five decks, ten times a day and I am also practicing game situations regularly. Tomorrow, I am hoping to try my luck at the local casino with my new knowledge. Now I think I can count without a problem at the casino because the dealers are extremely slow especially the ones covering the early shift. However, I would like to ask you a question about penetration which I am not certain of. Now the dealer at the casino puts the cards from the discard tray into the shoe after every hand so does that mean that to calculate my true count, I would always have to divide by five as they use five decks.
Please help me
I have bad news. The game you describe is using a continuous shuffle machine, which means that recently used cards can re-appear in the game immediately. Since the deck composition does not change over time as it does in a non-CSM game, this game cannot be beaten with card counting. You will need to find games that do not use a CSM to be able to count cards. (To specifically answer your question, you would indeed always divide by five, but you would also need to zero out your running count after each and every hand, because the entire five decks is essentially reshuffled constantly.)
I do have a question, After calculating the true count, will you continue counting with the true count or the running count?
for example:
1 deck is been played in a 6 deck shoe, and the running count is 5, you divide 5 /5 = a true count of 1. after the dealer begins to deal again, will you continue the running count of 5 of start with the true count of 1?
Is there an iOS app version of this trainer for my iPad?
I stumbled across this webpage on a Google search, and I won’t be back here to check message replies.
Please email your response.
The new mobile-friendly version is coming along slowly. I now think early Summer is the target. (Emailed also as requested.)
Hi, thank you very much for the article, it has been very helpful.
I have a question about the difference between 10-6 and 9-7 vs 10. You explain the difference by the fact that in the 10-6 vs 10 hand these are two extra 10’s out of the game. But it seems to me that those two tens should already have been counted in to your current true count and thus by differentiating between the two hands you one would be double counting?
In other words, Why should I play differently in these two situations: 1) dealer: 10-x, me: 10-6, player 2: 9-7 and 2) dealer: 10-x, me; 9-7, player 2; 10-6. Both situations would influence the count in exactly the same way, wouldn’t they?
Good question. I don’t see the point in having separate indexes for those two specific hands either. And, as noted in another reply, I have not verified the accuracy of these Hi-Opt 1 indexes, and I am quite skeptical of the big difference between (10,6) and (9,7) vs T. If single deck is in your plans, I would look around for verification before using either of those. If you use Hi-Lo instead, the indexes on my advanced card set are very well-tested. I trust them much more.
Really nice interview Ken, I agree that counting prepares the mindset for other casino games. I still prefer the blackjack strategy guides on this site over POGGs ones, though he has some nice video poker ones. K.
can I bring your black jack strategy engine in the casino? or is it not allowed?
I assume you are asking about accessing the charts on your smartphone in the casino. I do not recommend that. In the US, there are laws prohibiting the use of devices in gambling. Most of these laws are based on the Nevada version, which is written in a way that it could be interpreted to mean even something as harmless as looking up a strategy. You don’t want to be the test case for this. If you want access to the strategy in the casino, get a plastic card instead.
I see, you got a really good thing over here 🙂
thanks..
Hello. I have a question that I haven’t been able to find an answer too. Might be to obvious.
Scenario 6D H17 game
My first 2 cards are A6 vs 10. I hit and get a 9 and now I have a total of 16
So 16 vs 10. Now I should surrender correct?
In my practice apps it says I played it wrong but 16 vs 10 should be a surrender.
Does basic strategy not apply In this scenario?
Thanks very much for all the help
Paul
If you were allowed to surrender (Ace,6,9) vs T, it would be the correct play. Unfortunately, surrender is only allowed on your first two cards, before any other action is taken. You don’t mention what practice app you are using, but it should not even be providing a button for surrender in this case.
Remerciements
That was the main question. Whether or not you could surrender after you have already taken a hit.
I initially thought that’s what “late” surrender was.
But I know now that late surrender means after the dealer has checked his hole card when showing an ace.
The app I am using is 21-Pro. It keeps the count and keeps track of hands played using proper basic strategy.
Thanks again!
Ken!
Hi I am thankful to come across your page very helpful. When you say bet small, what amount are you referring to, we use $25 chips.
In many cases, when I say “small bets”, I mean either minimum bets or no more than double that. In some cases, when the entire table is making large bets, you can actually bet quite a bit more and still effectively be betting “small”. In general though, you do not want to make early bets that can risk you running out of chips.
Why dont you advise splitting 8s on ten and ace and ace on ace like other srategys thanks
It sounds like you have generated a strategy for a “no-peek” game using the strategy engine or trainer. In that case the plays you mention are correct.
But if you are playing a standard US-style game, make sure you choose “peek” instead. The strategy for those hands will then change.
Edited to add: It looks like you are probably in the UK, where no-peek is the norm. As my charts indicate, don’t split against a dealer Ace, because you could lose both bets to a dealer blackjack. (Against a ten, only split aces.) That can’t happen in a peek game.
Dear Sir
I am 20 and I have just started playing blackjack. Your site has been extremely helpful, in the past two weeks I have gone through all the lessons and have done all the homework. I am counting five decks, ten times a day and I am also practicing game situations regularly. Tomorrow, I am hoping to try my luck at the local casino with my new knowledge. Now I think I can count without a problem at the casino because the dealers are extremely slow especially the ones covering the early shift. However, I would like to ask you a question about penetration which I am not certain of. Now the dealer at the casino puts the cards from the discard tray into the shoe after every hand so does that mean that to calculate my true count, I would always have to divide by five as they use five decks.
Please help me
I have bad news. The game you describe is using a continuous shuffle machine, which means that recently used cards can re-appear in the game immediately. Since the deck composition does not change over time as it does in a non-CSM game, this game cannot be beaten with card counting. You will need to find games that do not use a CSM to be able to count cards. (To specifically answer your question, you would indeed always divide by five, but you would also need to zero out your running count after each and every hand, because the entire five decks is essentially reshuffled constantly.)
I do have a question, After calculating the true count, will you continue counting with the true count or the running count?
for example:
1 deck is been played in a 6 deck shoe, and the running count is 5, you divide 5 /5 = a true count of 1. after the dealer begins to deal again, will you continue the running count of 5 of start with the true count of 1?
You always track the running count. You convert to true count for betting and playing decisions, but resume your count with the current running count.
Je l'ai utilisé à la table à de nombreuses reprises et les chefs de fosse m'ont dit que c'était parfaitement légal. Pas de problème.