basic strategy variations + win rate

Does anyone have the figures for the difference in a players expected win rate if he/she a) varies basic strategy with count b) does not vary basic strategy with count? Im not bothered to much about the exact set of rules although six deck would be good.

The reason I ask is that it seems a lot of effort for relatively little return (seeing as most games I come accross are 6 deck with bad penetration thus I assume the count does not vary hugely (I havent got the counting stage yet - hence the guess)).

Secondly Im sure that some variations are more important then others so can I gain most of the advantage from variations to basic strategy by just learning say 6 variations?

Thanks

Mark

Game is 4.5/6, s17, das, 4 players, 1-12 spread, play-all. Counter uses hi-lo + I18.

SCORE is 21.44.

Same player uses nothing but BS for play. SCORE is 12.39.

Increase in hourly return is 73%.

Some would say that this is not "relatively little return"!! :-)

Don

P.S. Obviously, the value of the I18 will change dramatically as you change the game parameters. But, you mentioned a poor 6-deck game, so I gave you figures for that scenario.

>>>The reason I ask is that it seems a lot of effort for relatively little return (seeing as most games I come accross are 6 deck with bad penetration thus I assume the count does not vary hugely

I'll admit, a 6 deck game with bad pen will reduce the effectiveness of solid index numbers significantly. You won't need to learn as many deviations. But you shouldn't even be playing such a game, unless your strategy includes wonging and/or walking from minus counts. If you possibly can, find a 2 deck game, it's worth the extra effort.

I was under the mistaken impression that variations were not very important.

Thanks for clearing that one up - Ill start learning those tables.

Mark

Your original post seems to indicate that you are not familiar with the I18 (Illustrious 18). These are the 18 most important index numbers to learn. I forget the exact numbers but if you just learn these 18 numbers for a six-deck game you will gain roughly 90% as much as you would if you learn 150+ numbers. Mr. Schlesinger has a chapter on the Illustrious 18, a concept he developed himself, in his book "Blackjack Attack: Playing the Pros Way" which can be ordered from this site.

If the SCORE is 21.44 for 1-12 spread and I18, is the SCORE for just the I18 12.39 or is the SCORE for just 1-12 spread 12.39?

My real question is: "Can we achieve a SCORE of 9.05 with just the I18?"

Always appreciate your contributions. And your tolerance of the idiots.

The Oldster, graying outside & in.

indices (or any improvement) make a large % increase in SCORE or winrate for a weak game, such as SCORE 20.

Wong with 1-12 and expect a much smaller % increase.

The higher SCORE represents what you will win if you spread 1-12, through counting, AND by varying from BS by using the I18.

The lower SCORE represents what you will win by spreading 1-12 through counting, but by always playing BS. So, the 18 departure indices (including, of course, the very valuable insurance index) are adding over $9 per hour to the BS player's win.

Note that using a narrower spread will add incrementally fewer dollars, but will represent an even greater percentage increase. Example: a 1-8 spread yields SCOREs of 8.24 and 15.37. The dollar increase is now only 7.13, but percentagewise, we've improved 86.5%!!

Don

it was not what I wanted to hear.

Oldster

in the example cited?