A Beggar's Game

Alright the urge has overcome me and the time has come that I must bellow out one last cry for help and plead for somebody to come to my rescue and if not than I shall repent and give up my fantasies for the time being.

I have read the updated version of "The World's Greatest Blackjack Book" by Lance Humble and Carl Cooper and found their coverage of the game decent in that it gives an overview of all proceedings of Twenty-one for the novice player. However, having also studied rigorously the chapters seven and eight on the Hi-Opt I strategy along with the tables (including ace side count) I feel the need to have the more complete system as the text claims to be availible. I am aware of, and fully respect the responses I have gotten telling me to avoid overly complex stuff such as multi-parameter counts and the like, but I just can't help myself , I want to be the best player I can having the surest advantage and chance of winning if I'm going to bet(gamble) my real money in a casino.

I aspire to be an expert counter as defined by Stanley Roberts but I have my aversions which I shall not mention because you will probably think me more than a little crazy and not suited for counting cards. But nonetheless my problem remains the same, Where can I find full, complete(A7892) multi-parameter charts for the Hi-Opt I or Einstein count strategy? I do not believe this is so unreasonable for Peter Griffin (and I am in no way comparing myself to him) was known to play I think a four or five card multi-parameter count.

I have searched incredibly hard for this information going through books, every internet site on blackjack I can read bookmarking the ones with good content but I still have not been able to find what I have worked so hard for. I'll give you a clue to get started if it may help you but it didn't help me while I followed it up to a dead end, but Michael Hall had written an article titled "How to Beat Single Deck Blackjack" in 1991 and in it he provides basic strategy and his recommended system the HI-Opt I up to multi-parameter counts for the ace and seven stating that he will give the remaing and complete strategy in a later concluding article but I have not come across such an article.

I have started learning the system for a few weeks now (and don't scoff at me for I realize that is nothing) and would like to be secure in the knowledge that I would have the opportunity to progress to the point of my desire have I the sufficient motivation and dedication.

If not all is lost and I shall not know what to do except maybe evaluate my own system devised specifically for playing single deck blackjack but it seems pretty hard and I would be quite lost so I beseech you to come to my aid.

P.S. I am currenty holding off on multiple deck games maybe somewhat unwisely but I'm just a foolish beginner trying to learn a simple one level count yet hope to get the most out of it, money that is!

I have, somewhere in my file boxes, the tables you request, but I have not the time nor inclination to dig them out right now. So, instead, I will ask why you want them so badly. You claim that you want to be as good as you can be at the game, and that you are willing to work at it. OK, then why settle for HIOPT1? For very little additional labor, you can almost as easily learn HIOPT2, which for the pitch games you say you want to focus on, is considerably better. You will still need to learn the ace side count, and probably the sevens side count, if you really want to be good, but that's not difficult. Once you get to that point, full side-count tables are readily available for HO2. When you master HO2, let me know and I will send you multiparameter tables. HO1 is a perfectly adequate system in it's own right; but if you are willing to go to the lengths of learning multiparameter tables, go on and learn HO2 instead. Bonne chance; PV

for HiOpt1 are unpublished...you have to generate them on your own with SBA.

Go to BJMath.com and under search engine type in True Count Indicies.

Some guy did a terrific Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet where you can input any count system and any side-counts and it gives you the various tables. It's also kind of a fun toy....if you want to count all the 3's, 4's and 10's as -1 and all the 2's, 5's and 7's as +2 then this will give you the best numbers for this somewhat less than ideal system.

I think the numbers in the spreadsheet are similar to the numbers in Peter Griffin's Theory of Blackjack but I really need to sit down with the two of them and do a more thorough comparison.
If you are really interested in this stuff, you should probably buy the book (as was wisely recommended to me a couple of months ago when I began a similar quest to upgrade my game).

Sadly, the tables are kind of complicated and cumbersome and require some conversion. The full tables are very obviously impractical for memorization but you can compute which plays you want to incoporate into your game based on what cards you keep track of.
Griffin shows that usage of the 7's index for 14 v. 9 or 10 consistently outperforms Hi-opt. Also, he shows that comparing 5's to 6's for 16 v. 10 is actually modestly better than Hi-opt (very simple, hit your 16 if there are more 5's than 6's left in deck). Obviously you can even do a little better if you incorporate this information with your regular +/- count instead of using the side-counts seperately (ex: in PBJ, the index for 7,7 vs. 10 is 0. Even if the 7's are modestly depleted, you can still hit this hand in a negative count).

Also - you can get some other tables at same site (BJMath.com) if you type in Multiparameter. It will come up under something like "Re: Gordon Side Count Indicies". But these tables aren't as good because the numbers for splits are way out of whack. Still, it might be worth reading the response of the guy that contributed the charts.

However, I must reiterate that I concur with the others who advocate getting the basics down first before you delve into this other wacky stuff. You could even use your extra energy to memorize the 2-card, hand-dependent index numbers in PBJ. This, in fact, is similar to a very basic multi-parameter system.
I surmise I may be doing you more harm than good by passing along the tables I found because I truly believe you should handle everything else first. But I guess I'm a sucker for those who ask really nicely (har-har).

The above advice is very good.

Simple curiousity. Your writing style has a British "ring".

That's a good idea, (to upgrade to the Hi-Opt II) which I've alreadly considered, but again I have not been able to find the system for an adequate analysis or study. To compensate for this I have ordered Bryce Carlson's "Blackjack for Blood" including the Advanced Omega II strategy which I believe is comparable with the to the Hi-Opt II in power and efficiency having only a slightly lower Insurance Correlation but it I have not received it yet and it is not availible in my locale for whatever reason.

And to answer your question on why I want these multiparameter charts so much I will briefly mention my intentions but I must warn you, it will probably border on the insane and wish not to deter anyone. As you have stated I do want to be as good as I can be and possibly even
a professional player willing to put in the necessary work and practice but I say somewhat seriously and humorously I don't want to play all that often and only for low stakes while hoping to make a lot of money. But that's another matter for me to wrestle with in due time, for now I'll settle for just learning how to play the very best game within my very modest abilities.

How would you equate(compare) the AOII with the HOII, are they about the same in performance? If not how would I obtain the Hi-Opt II strategy for more appropriate study, and also so I can get those multiparameter charts you so generously promise me. (And I hope you realize I am only being optimistic and not simply putting you on the spot and implore you to take no offense.)

Thanks for your response and I'll look forward to you next post and as for luck well, we can all use a little bit of that.

No, fortunately I am not British only a proponent of thier literature.

Is SBA Statistical Blackjack Analyser? I have version 5.5 which I've downloaded from the website. Are you saying this program would allow me to generate my own multiparameter strategy tables for the Hi-Opt I system? How accurate would they be considering how the software is somewhat incomplete always fixed to early surrender and only allows doubling on eleven? It also doesn't include the precise strategy generator for Kelly risk-averse indices for betting.

If not really sufficient how much is the full version and would you say this price is worth it? I know in a way it's my question and here I am about to answer it, If I want the tables as badly as I say I do it would be my call but I would be interested in another point of view to contrast my own.

Thanks for the info.

I was once like you, all study and no play. Mine was forced though, because I found a blackjack book , think it was 'winning blackack' when i was 16, and couldn't play for another 5 years. So I studied between trying to get in to college and getting laid, but my game changed when i started playing. I don't care how much you study, there are parts of the real game you just can't prepare for. Mostly emotional portions, really, but still, if you have a complete knowledge of Basic Strategy and some counting system which is reasonable, it's time to hit the tables. Get into the trenches, and you'll see the things you need. I, for example, had trouble telling how many decks were left, so i bought a 6 deck discard tray and 6 decks of cards, so i can memorize what 2.5 decks look like, among others. I couldn't have thought of that until i was sitting at a table. You should consider it. Just take your count and your BS and go play. What is a multi-parameter count anyway?

Am I that transparent? You're right, and I must confess I have never played the game, but like you my inactivity is forced because I am not yet of the legal age to gamble and do not wish to tempt the law, not to mention my own fate at the tables. I also just happen to live in one of the two states that outlaws all forms of gambling. So in the mean time I figure I will prepare as much as I can and get ready so when the time comes I will be capable of playing at the level I so desire.

I completely agree with you on the fact that there is no substitute for experience and some things just need to be done to be learned, but I do also believe that study time and practice are of primary importance, determining the outcome of your future experiences.
Yet unlike you I have not been fortuitous enough to find Stanley Roberts' "Winning Blackjack" although I have tried dearly to do so. Hence I surmise I have a question for you. Where can I get it from?

In response to your question I certainly am no expert, but I believe a multiparameter count is just a big fancy term for keeping a side track of cards in addition to the regular count to incorporate into your playing decisions. This is not just counting cards per se, but truly memorizing the deck and that which has been played.

You haven't asked for this advice, but I'll give it anyway. If you are just learning to count, you would be well-served to learn something other than Hi-Opt I. If you want to stick to level one counts, Hi-Lo is just as good for the games you will be facing today, if not better, and there is a wealth of information out there on Hi-Lo. If you want to go to higher level counts, Hi Opt II is excellent as well as AOII or Halves. I don't know where you can get Hi Opt II beyond ordering it from the book, although it may be on the software I recommend later in this post (I don't use the system, so I haven't looked for it). If you have already ordered AO II, then you may want to concentrate on it.

The advice given in The World's Greatest Blackjack Book is quite dated. The betting advice is, simply put, just plain bad, especially in the light of more recent studies on issues like risk of ruin and optimal betting ramps. You mention that you want to play single deck games for low stakes and make good money doing it. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic scenario anymore.

There aren't enough good single deck games left for a player to expect to make a long-term profit. It is absolutely necessary to learn multiple deck games and strategies if you want to be a serious player in today's environment. I would suggest that you get some good software, such as Norm Wattenberger's CV series and use it to practice play and explore the different betting ramps and strategies that are available. Read Schlesinger's Blackjack Attack and consider getting other books in the genre, especially those written by Stanford Wong, our esteemed host. I hope you buy my book when it hits the stands this spring.

You may get some here who will crack on you because you are young and lacking in experience. When they do, remember that Wong was once just like you. He took an interest in the game before he was old enough to play and studied the information available to him at the time. When he turned 21 and walked into a casino for the first time, he was as ready as one could be to play the game as a rookie. I am sure that if the Internet had been around in his day, he would have been on it, studying the posts and asking questions. So don't let any rude posters get you down. The ones in this thread have been giving good advice and folks like Bigplayer, El Lobo and Pit Viper are posters you can trust.

I found 'Winning Blackjack' in a box of old books my dad had... I had no idea where that book is now, unfortunately. In general, stick with modern sources, like the latest copy of 'professional blackjack' by our host. It has a ton of information about a wide variety of games, but includes hi-lo and halves counts (which you didnt seem to be interested in above). Good luck out there.

at low stakes, the BEST multi parameter system will only net "pennies" per hour over a single level count such as Hi/Lo. MUCH more important is getting serious money on the table with a good "spread" and a big enough bankroll to handle the roller coaster ride. Sad, but true. You WILL find this out sooner or later anyway.

Actually I have read the most recent edition of Stanford Wong's
"Professional Blackjack", and it was the very first book I purchased but frankly I must agree with a review I read and say that this book is somewhat over-rated. I did find that it provided me with an adequate foundation of the game in the many tables and charts along with different rules variations, which I hope are correct, but even some of his own charts contravene each other upon careful scrutiny. I also found the work lacking in exposition but overall it is a satisfactory text for the novice player. Since then I have studied his "Basic Blackjack", including the chapters on warps and tells which I have heard are over touted. Is this correct? I hold off on
"Blackjack Secrets" which I own until I am confident and feel ready to play.

One reason that I am so reluctant to use the high-low is because it has a relatively low playing efficiency (.51), compared to the Hi-Opt (.61, no ace side count) which is crucial for single deck games. Am I wrong in this opinion? And don't the experts believe an ace neutral, balanced count is more accurate therefore optimal especially in single deck games where each individual card has such a tremendous impact on the remaining pack?

I am again hesitant about playing the Halves count which Wong so advocates for similar reasons, besides being an immensely complex level 3 strategy, it has a relatively low playing efficiency (.56), and insurance correlation (.72), while only retaining a good betting correlation (.99), perhaps optimal for multiple deck games.

I thank you for the wish of luck and of course your reply, it is always welcomed from the well intentioned. Thanks!

Acey,
Print out Bootleggers advice above, and read it every day until you know it by heart. Read it until you are sure you understand each point and think you know why he makes them.

On a practical note, Hi 0pt 1 is not easier to learn than AO 2 and here is why I say that. Learning to count cards is akin to learning to read, in that you learn to recognize certain objects (letters) organized in certain patterns (words) to have meaning. After you have learned to read, you no longer look at each individual letter, seeing its shape and structure, or sounding it out. You just see words and their meaning, individually and in context.
With practice in card counting, you begin to see cards and combinations of cards as representaions of numerical values, like +1, or -3, or +4 etc. While on occasion these cards are counted singly at the blackjack table, more often, they are counted in pairs, and I have found it actually easier to use A0 2 than Hi-Opt 1 because of the greater number of tracked denominations. I used Hi-opt 1 for two and a half years and even though it performs as advertized, there are better alternatives which are as simple or even simpler. Good luck.

Slim

I have most of those books on Blackjack still in print by Stanford Wong, excepting that on tournament play which I presently have no real
interest in. I have real them casually unto completion, slowly perusing their contents, but at this given moment I am quite indecisive about how I should progress. My earlier post entitled
"I'd rather be lucky than good" gives some of my reasons for why I hesitate and I hope you would be good enough to distill them for me so I may move forward and make haste, for I fear I shall never get back on track.

I have also read "Knock Out Blackjack" by Vancura and Fuchs but view the system they put forward as too simplistic. As I have said I am awaiting the arrival of "Blackjack for Blood" and maybe that will provide me with answers and solve some of my problems but in the meantime I am lost, not knowing what more I can do.

Perhaps, somewhat irresponsibly I have not yet got on to "Blackjack Attack" by Don Schlesinger but I justify this as it is very pricey, however I have seen it and evaluated it with a quick gloss over thinking it more erudite, and for the sophisticated player. But I'm sure at some point I will get back to it an his wonderful collection
of articles to learn the finer points of the game. By the way I have also been able to find his illustrious 18 strategy indexes article by chance and what I shall call extraordinarily good fortune.

P.S. Let me know when your book is coming out and the works title as I am always interested in good blackjack literature to add to my small but expanding library.

Betting Correlation (BC) is more important, especially in today's games, than Playing Efficiency. Hi-Opt I's BC is lower than the other level 1 systems available. The lower BC outweighs a slightly higher PE and the overall system ratings done by folks like Richard Reid (OSR) and Don Schlesinger (SCORE) show Hi-Opt I to be lacking in most games when compared to other systems. If you can find a deeply dealt single deck game, Hi Opt I stacks up well. It does not stack up so well in just about any other game. Deeply dealt single deck games are practically non-existant and by the time you are old enough to play, they may be extinct. You may want to rethink learning a system that is designed for such games.

Check out Peter Griffin's Theory of Blackjack and take a look at Richard Reid's website on the attached link for more information on these matters.