Questions - still learning the game!

I have learned the basic high-low count fairly well I think. Can someone help me out with these more advanced questions:

1) If I feel I am ready to add a seperate Ace count, what is best way to integrate it into basic play? Or do I need a whole new system?

2) If I have enough money to play a $5 table, should I still play a $2 dollar table and make minium bets when the deck is slightly negative, $5 at neutral, $10 bets at +1, $15 at +2, etc? When should I play 2 hands?

3) What is the impact of the count on surrender options (surrender is allowed against all cards where I play). It seems like I would start surrendering more liberally with a high point counts (16 to a nine, for example).

Thanks!

2) If I have enough money to play a $5 table, should I still play a $2 dollar table and make minium bets when the deck is slightly negative, $5 at neutral, $10 bets at +1, $15 at +2, etc? When should I play 2 hands?

If you are 'perfect' on the $2 tables, ie not losing and turning a regular profit, by all means progress upto the $5 tables. How much you spread is your perogative and how adverse to risk you are. The spread is dependant on heat and other players at the table, personally I play 2 hands from all neutral counts and up.

3) What is the impact of the count on surrender options (surrender is allowed against all cards where I play). It seems like I would start surrendering more liberally with a high point counts (16 to a nine, for example).

I think the wizard of odds will let you personalise a strategy chart for your exact rules.

All the best

B.E.S

If you can keep track of plus/minus counts, adding an ace count should just take a little more practice to remind yourself. Start at 8 (DD) and work your way down, 7,6,5, etc. At least that's what works for me.

1) Do I still "count" the ace as -1 even as I maintain the side count?

2) How do I use the side count for betting purposes?

Thanks.

This book will answer these questions and more.

Quick answers:

1) If I feel I am ready to add a seperate Ace count, what is best way to integrate it into basic play? Or do I need a whole new system?

Question 3 leads me to think you are playing 6 deck games. In which case, an Ace side count is a waste of effort.

2) If I have enough money to play a $5 table, should I still play a $2 dollar table and make minium bets when the deck is slightly negative, $5 at neutral, $10 bets at +1, $15 at +2, etc? When should I play 2 hands?

You need to a do a risk of ruin analysis based on your bankroll and the game you are playing. Blackjack Attack has charts and formulas for this. Software products such as BJRM and CVCX will calculate it.

3) What is the impact of the count on surrender options (surrender is allowed against all cards where I play). It seems like I would start surrendering more liberally with a high point counts (16 to a nine, for example).

First of all, surrendering 16v9 is basic strategy. It is true you should surrender more often at higher counts. Blackjack Attack has the index values for surrendering.

Surrender is one of the blackjack options that benefits counters the most: it increases the expected value while reducing the variance. A lower variance reduces your risk of ruin.

Counting the Aces separately with Hilo is actually redundant.The small gain in playing efficiency is not worth the trouble.
I know a successful player who counts Nines instead of Aces as -1 and adjusts for betting purposes with his sidecount of Aces.He thereby gets a notable increase of his playing efficiency but of course you would have to know the corresponding indices.

Francis Salmon

I agree that it can be redundant, since you're already counting the aces as a -1, but I like to know what my chances (or the dealer's chances) of a BJ are when there are a lot of 10's left in the deck (more of those than aces, and all that). Call me obsessive compulsive, you wouldn't be the first!

I sometimes find it fun to ONLY use hi-lo one round, then 0NLY track aces the next round, then flat-bet an entire round (unless you're blessed with the kind of count that makes you want to morgtage your house to play the hand) just to keep people guessing.

I sometimes find it fun...

It shouldn't be about fun. If you're serious, it should be about making money. I also think you seem to worry too much about being detected as a counter. You just need to find a great act in order to spead your hands and bets larger and more often.

I used to use hi-low, but felt it was not a wise use of my brain and wise math to count aces in the main and in the side. Therefore, I switched to AO2.

I think it's the Canfield Expert that Francis Salmon made reference to above.

You're right, I'm definitely not as serious as a lot of the people I see posting here. I DO find it fun. I don't think that means I can't make money at it, because I do, but I don't rely on it as a source of income.

And yes, I do worry a lot about being detected. Sometimes I think I give the floor and eye folks at the places I frequent a little too much credit.