Book Recommendation

Wildcards's response was excellent.

> I am looking for a good starter book.

Personally I play HILO and if you go that route you'll need Wong's Professional Blackjack. It's available here.
Either way, I'd also read Snyder's newest version of Blackbelt in Blackjack sooner rather than later.

> I usually wager between $5-$10.

What does that mean? Is $5-$10 your minimum waiting bet? If so, do you have the heart and the bankroll to as Wildcard said, bet $100 in a high count? Then maybe catch a pair to split, split, maybe then have to/get to double on one of them? Now that $5-$10 waiting bet you are used to has $300 on the table. You'll need to be able to do it. If you can't bet big as called for you might as well not ever get started.

> Why according to the basic strategy would anyone split 88 when the dealer has an Ace up?

It is a defensive move but not so you can win more; in this case you are just trying to lose less. All you are doing is turning one horrible situation into two bad ones.

Following is a quote ascribed to 'Radar O'Reilly' on her forum. I actually agree with at least the tone of the quote allthough I find it quizical to see she said this based on other advice she's given in the not so distant past. None the less it goes like this ..

"Card counting on a small bankroll in the U.S. is closer to a kind of religion--I mean, the math is sound, the methods provided here are real, but when it comes to actually bringing home money, too often you're simply not because the edge is so small and the flux is so high. Instead, you get into this long-term state of just knowing that if you keep doing things correctly, someday you will be ahead. You know, it's like knowing that someday you will rejoin your loved ones in heaven."

Pretty clever observation actually; there is a lot of truth in it.

Good luck.

Depending on the house/table rules and your system, you may be better off surrendering.

Exactly so, Snap. I always surrender that pair against an Ace. AND I ONLY PLAY SURRENDER GAMES!

Since I learned cardcounting by reading Lawrence Revere, there has been a deluge of books about blackjack. Most of these are rehashes of previously published information and of marginal value. If you feel committed to chasing a slim advantage with a frighteningly high and unavoidable built-in fluctuation and you want a fast track for getting started, procure Card Counting for the Casino Executive by Bill Zender and Playing Blackjack as a Business by Revere. Zender's book contains Dubner High-Low count decision tables. Revere's book is a cardcounter's textbook. It teaches the mechanics of keeping the count. Revere's betting advise is dangerously optimistic. After reading (and understanding) these two, you will be in a position to expand your knowledge base. Visit http://www.bj21.com/bj_references/index.cgi.

The why of basic strategy is always the same: expectation. Procure a copy of Beat the Dealer, either edition. Turn to the tables in the back, the ones showing the expectation of each alternative action for every two card holding. Note that basic strategy is the complilation of the least negative or most positive alternative action for each holding.