2 decks

How do I divide 2 decks using hi-lo? Is it the same as in SD? I've never played 2 decks.

Basically, don't start to move your money early in the deck until it is plus 3; plus 2 or more later.

Gsp's advice, to wit:

"Basically, don't start to move your money early in the deck until it is plus 3; plus 2 or more later. "

is idiotic.

Perhaps Gsp meant +3 running count, with no true count conversion being done.

true count is determined by the number of decks remaining. divide your running count by the number of decks remaining to get true count. off the top you divide running count by 2. later in the first deck divide by 1.5. practice estimating remaining cards and dividing when its early in the double deck. maybe make a chart to practice from. once you get to 1 dk left then you have running count=true count. then you start multiplying running count to get true count as you get deeper into the last deck. It's hard to find DD dealt more than 1 deck (50% penetration) but these games are still out there.

However the poster, with every respect to him/her did not seem that sophisticated. The true count I suggested to him does not require conversion, and very closely approximates the conversion you recite, as long as you realize that the floating advantage requires ramping it up towards the end of the deck as long as it is positive.

I don't know where you are from, but Pala casino in San Diego has a 75% penetration in DD--sometimes only cutting a quarter deck, and Barona in San Diego has a notch in the discard tray that cuts off about 30 cards. Barona also alows respliting aces, and late surrender. All on $25 DD.

In my last post, I should have said "count" instead of "true count.".

On your experiences. I have seen and experienced big wins.

that is inaccurate or halfway. If someone is asking a newbie question offer the exact answer to the question that is correct. He was asking how to convert a RC to TC in a double deck game. He was not asking for betting advice for someone who wants to avoid doing TC conversions and for a good 2D game you need to do the TC conversion so you can make the correct play deviations.

...about sharing the experience that caused the characterization of Pala as a sweatshop? I, for one, would benefit from the details and the time frame.

Excerpt from a post I made on Green Chip in November 2011:

At Pala, the main floor was too crowded to bother with. The $100 minimum double decks in the high-limit room are almost as good as Rincon -- Rincon has surrender, Pala does not. However, on the three active tables, pit critters were standing BEHIND the table as well as in front of it. There were more pit critters than players. This unusual action was not directed at me, as all three active tables had this going on. ...

In other visits, it has been pretty much the same. To get a decent spread, you have to shove it in their faces. I have played only in the high-limit room; the main floor may be less bad, but has always been overcrowded during my visits.

On the 3am to 11am shift there are 3 to 7 $25 DD tables (depending on the weekday crowds) and frequently heads up games are available. Usually 2 floor people, with 1 or 2 supervisors wandering between this pit and high limit. I frequently see some decent spreads with the player moving his money with the count, and no real heat. I avoid high limit because the table max on main floor--3k to 5k--is more than I need.

My general observation is that Pala gives a lot of latitude to regular, local customers, and I would certainly recommend that players give a local address, even If only in casual conversation with the pit.

Again, penetration is what draws me to Pala, although there is no surrender and no RS Aces. Rincon backs off players regularly, even the lucky stiff on a win streak who knows little about the game.

These are just my observations and obviously others should be guided by theirs. Thanks again for responding.

Illness has kept me away from the board and a lot of traveling but here is my first reply in quite sometime.

I hit Pala perhaps 6 times per year, playing their double deck game only during off hours.
On the main floor this means $25 tables with perhaps one $50 table and when things are slow the HL room will have a $50 table.

I think the evaluation of your play at Pala is being done by the pit and not the eye. Spreading from one hand of $25 to perhaps two hands of $200 has never brought me heat except with one certain pit. He comes up to me and asks me how I am doing (as if probably had not checked already) and I tell him it is up and down. He goes on to say he thinks it is better than that and that I know how to play this game, saying this while he checks the computer. Anyway, I played a while longer (he may have been a shift manager or something because he went to different pits) and left when he was in a different pit.

A few months later I returned and played mainly when this pit was not working, had a fantastic trip and received no heat.

Anywhere that I play I consider my days numbered The better the game the more I want to keep it alive but never giving up my little edge purely for longevity.