Calling all experts: I would like an analyzation of my Hi-Lo Lite Index

My first post here

Calling all experts: I would like an analyzation of my Hi-Lo Lite Index
(Or anyone who has read Blackbelt in Blackjack and is familiar with the Hi-Lo Lite concept)

I have made an index and tailored it specifically to European No Hole Card Peak, 6D, S17, DAS. I combined the indices from two sources. The first was from Arnold Snyder's article entitled, The Hi-Lo Lite Card Counting System and Rounded Indices (Why All Those Precise Index Numbers Card Counters Have Been Learning For Years Never Really Mattered), and the second from the BS variation lessons 14 - 16 of BJ School on BJ21.com's website. I would like some input on the index I made. The colors are from the BS Index on wizardofodds.com, that's where I grew up so to speak when it comes to Blackjack.

Arnold Snyder's Article:

http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/content/hilolite.htm

Lessons 14 - 16 from BJ21.com's site:

http://bj21.com/gamemaster/gamemasterclassics14.shtml

http://bj21.com/gamemaster/gamemasterclassics15.shtml

http://bj21.com/gamemaster/gamemasterclassics16.shtml

Now, of course, if the count was astronomically high, or low, there would be even more variations than what is presented in my index. Wong's index for these rules would take me months to learn! Now I have no gripes about learning or memorizing tables and indices to make myself a better player, however, the concept of the Hi-Lo lite is to keep things as simple as possible, without sacrificing any significant amounts of EV, PE or in win rates. Snyder's article explains this in detail.

My Index:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edwardsjm/HiLoLiteENHCP6DS17.jpg

It looks a little blurry I know, if this is a problem I can email (I guess you can find my email in my profile, I'm not too familiar with this site's forums) you the excel file that I originally made it from. I have put a decent amount of work into this, and any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Your table makes sense for the most part but you did well in addressing this board since some errors and inconsistencies need to be corrected in order to make your effort rewarding.
First I would advise you to forget about all the indexes of -5.In the rare cases when these situations occur you will anyway be on minimum bet or - even better - in the restroom.Same with all the +10 stuff.These situations are simple too rare to be of any bearing.Just stick with basic strategy.
The most striking error in your chart concerns 9v6 which is of course a consistent double and not a hit.In this double with 9 line I would put 9v2 on +1 and 9v3 on -1. 9v7 is okay with +5 (actually 3.5)but should be red in your chart(Basic strategy is hitting!).Also red should be 8v5 and 8v6.Index for 8v6 should rather be +1.
12v6 is -1 for a hit but standing on 15 or 16 v ace needs much more than +5 so you simply forget about these.
The soft doubling sequence looks very good but I would put soft13v6 on -1 and soft17v2 on +1. Soft18v2 is even +0.You forgot the doubling of soft19 v 5 or 6 at +1.
There might be other minor things that could be changed but these are the most important corrections I would make. So good luck!

Francis Salmon

First let me say, thanks, this is the exact reason I read (and post) about BJ endlessly, to LEARN. And I'll say this too, I made a terrible mistake of mixing together count per deck and count per 1/2 deck numbers into my index, that's where most of your confusion probably lies. I didn't exactly realize what the count per 1/2 deck does, it gives a pretty good approximation of your edge at any given time during play.

Yeah I dont know what on earth I was thinking with the 9 vs 6, that was an obvious mistake. And also, I will pretty much throw out the
-5 and the +10 stuff, this was also advised by a member in another forum.

The reason I put the +5 9 vs 7 in blue is because thats just the way I learn, I would double (blue) if the count were that high. I am going to rework this chart soon with your advice, the stuff from BJ school on this site, and from Snyder's indices regarding hi-Lo lite. Keep in mind, I will be using the count per 1/2 deck as index numbers. (I'll repeat this: I made a terrible mistake of mixing together count per deck and count per 1/2 deck numbers into my index, that's where most of your confusion probably lies) Would you mind looking at it when I complete it?

I will memorize the index, this one:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/Edwardsjm/BJHiLoLiteIndexJPEG.jpg

the hi lo lite index from the apendix in blackbelt in bj. with minor changes to reflect ENHCP

I got so caught up on which count to settle on, and how to tailor its index, sometimes for a beginner its hard to settle on one sure thing. I just wanted to be absolutely sure I had everything correct before I started drilling, memorizing etc..

thanks

This time you simply copied Snyder's Hilo lite numbers.I have the utmost respect for the Bishop but this was clearly his weakest invention.In my view the count per halfdeck is unsuitable for a lite version because the arithmetics get more difficult and if you skip the unavoidable fractions you have yet another error source.The fact of using only even numbers makes it even worse.For me a lite version must reduce the number of indices but Hilo-lite actually increases it and at the same time it differentiates less.A system that puts both 12v3 and 12v5 at the same index of 0 cannot really be taken seriously.
In the line of what I told you in my former post,all indices of +6 and -4 are utterly useless.Remember they correspond to +12 and -8 in the normal version.
Believe me, you will be far better off with Hilo and ILL18 or if you want more indices,with your first chart and the corrections I gave you.

Francis Salmon

I mean he ran the sims, he compared the numbers and they were pretty much the same. Im sure you have read the article. Should I really just suck it up and memorize the index in Wong's Professional Blackjack?

Purchase Wong's Professional Blackjack, available on this site or other sources. The reason I suggest this is that he covers all of the questions you ask, and many, many more. The book, although last updated in 1994, is still extremely relevant to blackjack as it is available around the world today.

If you ignore all of the indices below -1, and above +6, you will have an excellent counting system, IF you can apply it accurately in a real casino. I will quote one paragraph from Page 51: "For winning money at multiple deck blackjack, BET VARIATION is much more important than strategy variation. In fact, ALL OF THESE TABLES ON DEVIATING FROM BASIC STRATEGY ARE OF MINOR VALUE. More important is to avoid being barred and to find good rules and good penetration."
(I added the CAPS).

I am not employed by Wong, and am just trying to be helpful here. I have been counting cards and winning money at blackjack since the mid 1970's, and have posted on Green Chip since 1999.

Best of luck to you!

AB

I got the book, made a new index with his numbers from -4 to +7. Since reading your post however, I may take it down even further to what you suggested. But I would like to play single and double deck games, so playing through an atrocious count is sometimes unavoidable. I also purchased Casino Verite, and I dont plan on laying 1 more chip on to a table until I am 100% with my game. I have 9 more months on my military contract before I go home, I plan on studying and drilling until this stuff is imbedded in my brain.

I appreciate all the help Ive received here and all of the other boards. I'll post the index I made soon.