BC's Blackjack for Blood 1-2 Bet Spread on 1D?

Was reading Blackjack for Blood last evening and BC recommends a 1-2 bet spread on 1D games. 1-2 bet spread? This seems extremely small...

Most would prefer implementing a 1-4 bet spread but BC maintains spreading like that on a 1D game will draw a lot of attention to you as a counter. Thoughts? Comments? Please advise this inexperienced counter :)

Ian

P.S. BC also says that betting like this, with a bankroll of 175 big bets, brings ones ROR down to about just 1% (and I like that!).

Ian... Andersen? ;-)

Under good conditions, you CAN make money with a 1:2 spread at SD. Carlson's book was written at a time when a heads up single-deck player could expect 7 rounds (RO8). A heads up AOII counter playing a H17, DA2 game with 7 rounds to 1 spot could, by betting $27.05 at +3 and below, and $54.10 at +4 & up, make $41.81/hr with his $10K BR, with a RoR of 0.9%.

However, more typical these days is 5 rounds to 1 spot, where our intrepid AOII heads up player spreading 1:2 would make only $12.32/hr with a $10K BR and a 1% RoR by betting $14.55 at TC up to +1, and $29.10 at TC of +2 & up.

That's why these days we need to play with a somewhat larger spread. For example, in the RO6 game, if the player spreads 1:4, he can make $33.55/hr by betting $16.90 at +3 & down, $33.80 at +4, $50.70 at +5, and $67.60 at +6 & up (with 0.9% RoR).

With the right act, even larger spreads can be achieved. Spreading 1:10 ($12.10 to $121.00) will achieve a win rate of $57.93/hr with a RoR of 0.9%. You'll have to wait for at least a +12 TC to place your max bet, but under these conditions that'll happen 1.58% of the time.

Hope this helps!

Dog Hand

the games his book's advice was based on no longer exist. Good ruled single deck dealt rule of 7 with double after split or standing on soft 17 are extinct. The double deckers were dealt down to 20 cards and the six deck games had 1 deck cuts and standard strip rules with surrender and resplit aces. These games are very rare and are also extinct.

You are very correct. Carlson's book and advice is mostly a relic of the dinosaur age. Things in the gambling arena have gotten much more sophisticated. And the bad news is that it's bound to worsen. To survive and ultimately prosper, ones adaptive abilities must be put into overdrive.

"Ian... Andersen?" I wish. Love his book though.

Your answer is thorough and highly enlightening. I appreciate your reply and would like to thank you.

Ian

...well outside of Vegas, and some in quite remote locations involving a high degree of travel. Your answer also seems to speak to this. Thanks for further insight BP.

Ian