Betting based on the running count

Am I playing a positive expectation game when I bet based on the running count? I am reading a book that stated I could count all the cards in one round then make my bet (large or small) based on a positive or negative count for that round. On the following round, I would start the count from zero. The book said it was a good way to learn to count without having to remember a continuous count of all rounds played. I thought it might be a good way to play at my local casino which uses continuous auto shuffle machines. Although I would be betting incorrectly for many plays, I wanted to know if the end result is a profit or loss in the long run.

A running count that is reset at every round isn't accurate enough, but you can count per rounds, I don't see any problem for you to use unbalanced systems like KO, Red 7, KISS III that only requires running count for the betting strategy and playing decisions.

But unfortunately card counting systems won't work on continuous auto shuffle machines. Checkout the article about CSM at

http://casinogambling.about.com/od/blackjack/a/shuffler.htm

I don't know what kind of book you got but reset to 0 after each round doesn't make sense at all.
When you take the trouble to count down a CSM you should at least do it optimally, that means reset to zero only when the discards are reinserted.
If you use high-low, the advantage formula is RC/1000-House edge.
With fair rules and a decent spread you might break even.

Francis Salmon

The text below is what sparked my question. I always chip up when I see a large string of low cards come out of the deck on a single round, regardless of the true count. Therefore, I thought there might be an ounce of possibility here.

Plus-count wagering can be used when you are first counting in casino play, or when you are having trouble remembering the count while playing. With plus-count wagering, you bet more when there is any positive count from hand to hand. The procedure is to count the cards in play starting with a 0 count for each hand. This way you don�t have to remember the count from hand to hand. If there is a plus count, then you bet more on the next hand. This is somewhat useful when you are playing at a table with three or more players.
The advantage of plus-count wagering is that you don�t need to remember the count for the entire time between shuffles. This is less fatiguing and easiest to master. The disadvantage is that you will be betting inaccurately a significant portion of the time because you will be ignoring the results of previous hands. For example, if the first hand off a newly shuffled deck had resulted in a -3 count, and the second hand showed a +3 count, with plus-count betting you would bet heavier on the next hand because of the +3 count of the current hand. The actual net count at this point is 0 (+3 minus 3). You should be betting a minimum amount because you have no advantage. A much better betting method, and one that everyone can master with a little effort, is the running count.

The majority of books offer bad advice.
Just because the table is covered with small cards does NOT mean that you have any advantage, no less an advantage significant enough to raise your wager.

By doing this you accomplish two things:

You increase your risk without any compensation.

You signal to the pit that you are a rank amateur card counter.

Just curious. I know we've discussed losing streeks before but does not number of decks used have any effect on streeks either winning or losing. Take a 4 decks versus 1 deck with how the composition of cards are mixed. Should it be the same or will there be some variances. Just curious.

Streaks are an illusion.

It is just a name you give, AFTER the FACT, to a series of consecutive wins or losses.