some theory and practice
Actually, the advantage curve flattens out as the count gets really high. That is because when the deck consists of almost entirely 10 value cards, you will obviously get a lot of 20-20 pushes.
Actually, the advantage curve flattens out as the count gets really high. That is because when the deck consists of almost entirely 10 value cards, you will obviously get a lot of 20-20 pushes.
Geez, at 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, that is $100 gain not realized. How many six packs will $100 buy these days?
We've been through this before but you didn't seem to get it-a player with a slight extra advantage, and I do mean slight, finds his bankroll is larger at each and every stage than the player without the slight extra advantage, giving him a larger optimal bet size for the same advantage. The effect compounds after every play and eventually the player with the extra advantage ends up with infinitely more money than the player without. This is not pure theory either, it can amount to tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars for the player parlaying his way from red up to black.
I find it very hard to believe that you actually read "Get The Edge At Blackjack" and managed not to understand this. Its spelt out very clearly in layman's terms.
Your observation that the time taken to calculate the optimal bet size reduces the value of the bet raise is more than a little subjective-I doubt most individuals would lose a microsecond. In any case, when creating and applying count systems, time, card-eating and nonrandom shuffle effects are all ignored because these factors are all impossible to quantify as a practical matter.
I had always assumed that the rarity of a high count (+7 = 1 hand every 200) plus the slight change in advantage that higher count represents wasn't worth messing with or worrying about. (Just stiff the dealer on a toke, and you are even.)
Now after applying some numbers to it, I found it most worthwhile. I agree with DD', when you can get away with it, take the bonus and slap an extra chip or two on the stack, at those rare times.
I think a good scouting trip at a new casino would be to guage just how much the pit will take in spread in this manner, instead of just being content with seeing what type of normal spread they will take.
It would be worthwhile to determine an act or cover to handle the larger spread in the rare extra high count.
.. when you're more concerned about longevity and the bottom line than with having fun, when a backing-off is a crippling blow to your playing time and not an ego trip, and probably when you just don't get excited when you win anymore.
M.
..that you can beat craps Moose :))
Assuming one does not count cards. Is there any advantage to playing in a casino that uses 6 decks versus one that uses 8?
