A couple of concepts I rarely see discussed

One is what I call "social camouflage".

For me, it's valuable in potentially sweaty venues to seek out other players who are coveted by the venue, and get chatting with them like I know them well... particularly if it looks like they'll be sticking around as long as I anticipate that my playing session will last.

I only utilize it in casinos far from home, where I think they're sweaty, and I'm unconcerned with my reputation. Seldom will the house back off a big-spreading stranger if they think he's a good buddy of the gambler they covet who is playing, and conversing, next to him.

Secondly, is the use of an ace count in playing strategy. Most authors stick with the general theme that if you use a separate ace count, that it's dual value makes it only a tool for betting strategy, and not playing strategy.

With me, it's very clear how I'd use an ace count when deciding on hard doubles of 11 (no value) and a hard 10 (more valuable than 10 cards) or a hard 9.

similarly, I use it to push an index threshold when doubling a soft 18 or, in venues where it's safe, a soft 19. Splitting 9s is even easier near the index threshhold when the deck's rich in aces.

Comments are welcome. Been awhile... is DD still around?

Good advice on your first two paragraphs.

I like to do that whether I'm known or not!

I enjoyed DD's posts back when I used to come here more. He was clearly one of the top 10 out here in the day.

Nice to see Don still posts here. His book is a must-read for anybody wanting to work the fine points of the game. Seeing how I subscribe more to the "illustrious 180" more than I do Don's I-18, it's only a natural for a hopeless, perfectionist-quant like me to gobble up the rest of what he had to bless us with in BJA.

Spok

I have found that running my mind thru the playing strategy matrix will actually put me to sleep at night better than anything... kind of like a surrogate for counting sheep.

Back when I was learning to recall the matrix robotically (circa 1999... I'm an older fart), putting myself to sleep every night with the matrix also burned the indexes into my brain extremely well.

Killed 2 birds rather well with that stone. Works so fast I had to start at opposite ends of the matrix on consecutive nights just to make sure the splits got equal time with the hard doubles.

I used to do the same thing. I like to write the Indicies down on paper. That imprints them better.

I also like to rerun my running laps and times.