Easy way to convert to halves

I use hi-lo but am converting to the halves count. I find it difficult to keep track of the halves and it takes longer. I now scan the table with the hi-lo count in about four seconds, then re-scan adjusting for the 7's and 9's. I only look for an imbalance, and if so I make my adjustment to the rc. If I finish up with an odd half it often is cancelled when the players take cards. At a full table there is enough time to do a second re-scan of the balance of 2's and 5's and make an adjustment if there is an imbalance.

I have played 140 hours since I started hi-lo and made 1% or $30 per hour. I am looking to improve my income. Suggestions welcomed.

Malc.

You ought to consider a level 2 count instead of halves because the "9" value interferes with the insurance correlation (Brett Harris mentioned this in his book), and try the following counts:
1) Revere PC where 2&7's are +1, 3 thru 6's are +2 and Tens and Ace are -2.
2) Brh count: while there are several versions, and there is one like hi-lo, but you count the 7s as half the tag value of 2-6's. This count works great in both running and true count mode.

As for counting the "half" tag, I suggest using and just like in music class (recall the 1/8 note was "and" in typical 4/4 time). Let's assume you use +.5, +1, +1.5, -0.5, -1 as tags for halves -- for example, a six value and a seven value is "1 and" -- another seven would make it "two." I recommending cancel out as many "non-and" cards and then count the remaining and cards.

Good luck.

I have tried similar system. But when I try to check myself I found I was making a few errors- just about enough to offset the advantage of the wong halves. It was not worth the extra effort for me. YOu can can get a decent advantage w/ hi-lo.

practicing at home with a counting program. Counting halves is not that difficult but you are training yourself to do something that is more difficult and will cost you in count speed as you move on. I suggest taking the intermediate step of using Revere, which is half way inbetween hi-lo and halves. Just count the seven and two each as a half and keep the other values the same. This will improve upon hi-lo a little. Later on you can make the adjustment for the five and nine if you wish... or perhaps just the five and not the nine and use the unbalanced brh-1.

I should have mentioned BRH-1; while BRH-1 has a lower BC than halves, Brett stated BRH-1 did outperform halves.

I use Halves. Lot's of extra work to earn $17 for every $16 you earned with Hi-Lo.

Can you give an example of a situation where Halves makes 21% more than High-Low.

Most of the examples I have seen have a much smaller increase in SCORE for using halves, in the range of 10-15%. You can use data on page 295 of BJA2 or something in BJRM

I was looking at the wrong benchmark game in PB.

$17 for every $16.