O II

What do you think about Omega II?
Planning to play mostly DD
or is it better to go with easier hi/lo?

What do you think about Omega II?
Planning to play mostly DD
or is it better to go with easier hi/lo?

Why complicate your life?

It is far better to play a simpler system perfectly, than a more advanced system with mistakes. Most counting systems will give you an advantage. The better ones are not _that_ much better. For betting, HiLo is really very good. Its only problem is counting aces together with 10's. That's great for betting efficiency, but not so great for playing efficiency.

There are several places around the net that have a chart on the various counting systems (I think ace-ten.com is one) showing betting efficiency and playing efficiency (not to mention usage efficiency which is the most important as if you can't keep up, it is a moot point.. :) )

I know several Hi-Lo players. All do just fine. I know a couple that use something other than 1-level counts and they do just fine as well, althoughhow much better is an issue. If you are going to play occasionally, I'd go for Hi-Lo (that is what I use as an occasional player, but I do practice enough to keep my skill up)

There are several fine counts for double-deck play. Personally, I take extreme pleasure in the use of the more difficult level-two counts with side-counted Aces (or the Zen Count with aces included). The reason is NOT the higher e.v. but the higher pleasure quotient! To me Hi-Lo with a short handful of strategic indices is just deadly boring. As a professional player I spend a LOT of hours at the tables.

There is a crucial caveat though. IF you make any errors at all, you will earn LESS with the more advanced count. Ditto if, unlike me, concentration stamina becomes an issue. Ditto if you need to actually stare at the cards and pause before betting or playing, as that will shorten your lonevity as well as decrease the number of hands played per hour.

The bottom line is this: Only if you are a Hi-Lo master AND more than a casual occasional player should you switch from Hi-Lo.

Only if you are a Hi-Lo master AND more than a casual occasional player should you switch from Hi-Lo.

Curious as to why you made this statement. For some, it may be easier to make the move to AOII not having a single level count like HiLo combined with an index set etched in your synapses. Confusion could possibly set in when you made that obscure index play. Let's see, is that -2 or -7?

Since recently becoming addicted to pitch games, AOII with a full index set is where my current study is focused. And I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from a HiLo master. This, I believe, may be beneficial in learning a two-level count, at least in my case.

Old habits, for some, die hard. Many factors are involved in the ability to retrain the mind. AOII appears to be quite the challenge; many hurdles. It will take dedication and tenacity, as well as those gracious souls who know it well to help and guide along the way.

always,
toddler