moving from level 1 system to level 2...

I have been playing single deck games exclusively using hi-lo and all the indexes between positive and negative 6. I have had quite a bit of success, but because of work will be away from Vegas for the next 9 months. I would like to learn a level two count system in my time off, hoping to increase my playing efficiency. I would like a balanced count with no side counts. What systems do people recommend, and how do the playing efficiencies compare between the level two systems and also with hi-lo. And also, how difficult has it been for people to switch from from a level one to level two system. I can count cards using hi-lo and recite the indices without even thinking about it, so it seems the hard part is not to learn the new system, but to get rid of what is already so well engrained. Thanks. MG.

Dear Michelle, It's been quite awhile since I moved up from HiOpt to Uston APC (level 3) so I really can't remember. But more recently I switched to Halves which is another level three which counts the aces. This should be very similar to what you are planning. It took me probably 10 hours to get old values out of my subconcious and replace them with the new ones. What caused me the most frustration was the eights (+1 in APC, 0 in Halves) and the seven which dropped to +1 from +2. Hundreds of repetitions hammered them tightly into my brain. Now I have to think to remember what the APC values were.

Index numbers remained, for the most part, the same so there wasn't much difficulty there. If you're using full deck conversions with HiLo switch to half deck for the level two count and this will probably be true for you too. I'd suggest you learn the Revere Point count as it performs quite well. I hope I've been able to answer your questions and I'm sure that there will be other more knowledgeable players who will help you even more. Hit 'em hard, The Side

I switched from KO to Unbalanced Zen II (UBZII) starting early this year. Learning to count with level two tags under casino conditions proved considerably more difficult than I anticipated.

I would do okay until something distracted me, and then I would lose the count. It took me a good six months before I started feeling comfortable with the new tags.

After nearly a year I am still not quite where I was with KO. I'm comfortable with the count, but I become mentally fatigued more quickly than with KO, and it is still somewhat difficult to carry on a conversation while maintaining the count.

Indices were not that big a deal for me. I just made a set of flash cards and drill, drill, drill. Indices don't require any thought - it's just rote memorization.

Popular level 2 ace-reckoned balanced counts include Zen and the Revere Point Count. Both are excellent systems.

I was in a seminar, a new age sort of thing, for 5 days, 12 hours a day. I was bored out the kazoo, so I brought a deck of cards along and practiced counting halves for the whole time... halves was totally automatic by the end of the seminar, however, I did not gain enlightenment.

--Mayor

...but now wish to upgrade to RPC or ZEN, you may keep your indices and change your TC adjustment to 1/2D. G

In addition to flash cards & word association.

If your trying to memorize a new BJ system, new indices, or anything BJ, or a long speech/monologue.

Record them on a cassette tape, then while your driving to work or the store you can recite your new information. Pretty soon you'll be able to call off new indices & BS deviations before the tape.

Believe me, It works.

LoneWolf