strategy numbers for single deck

Hi,

I've been playing HI-Lo for a while with a good success (mostly Schlesinger's Illustrious 18 and estimating full decks) and I'm just dealing with single deck. Assume I'm estimating with the accuracy of a quarter deck, how must I adjust the strategy numbers? Multiply by 4 ? For instance with a TC of -1 I would hit with a 13 against the dealer's 2. With quarter deck accuracy, is the number now -4 ? (Of course I know that HiLo is not the best count for single deck due to the poos PE)

Greetings
Marcus

In single deck you hit 13v2 at any negative count because the TC will always be -1 or lower.

Francis Salmon

If you play single deck you would divide by 1, then 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 if you have a RC of +4 with 3/4 of a deck to go your TC is about +5.33, if your RC is +4 with 1/2 deck to go your TC is +8, if your RC is +4 with 1/4 deck to go your TC is +16.

As Francis says, the index number does not change.

Published playing strategy index numbers always remain the same for each set of rules. For Hi-Low those indices are based on true count decisions. You need to convert running count to true count to determine the correct playing strategy. Determining true count also gives you information on your advantage or disadvantage. With multiple decks you get true count by dividing running count by the number of decks remaining. With SD you need to multiply. The example given by BP of multiplying is correct. Using 1/4 deck estimations and multiplying accordingly. To get true count multiply running count 1.5 at 1/4 deck played, x2 at 1/2 deck played, x4 at 3/4 decks played. If you get deeper than that you're blessed and start multiplying by 12 or 16. This shows the value of deep penetration and Griffins analysis of players edge by deviating from basic strategy with 5-7 cards remaining is amazing. In SD play a common mistake for players is to incorrectly estimate true count because they do not consider just how deep they are in the deck at the moment. An example would be heads up play with 2 hands. After the first round approximately 8 cards have been seen. Now the next round comes and the second hand is making a playing decision on aproximately 13 cards or 1/4 deck seen. If the player were just looking at the discard rack to estimate playing depth then that would be an error. The same example can be shown with 5 players. Accuracy is the way to winning and good deck estimation is one of the tools to get you there.

"To get true count multiply running count 1.5 at 1/4 deck played,"

Just for convenience? The actual multiplier would be 1.33. So, if RC were, say, +6, the "right" TC is +8, not +9.

Don

Ask Not the Reason Why...just Invert and Multiply. Divide by 3/4 = Multiply by 4/3 = 1.33 as Don says.

And should be calculated as such. I stand corrected in my haste. Thanks for replying both of you.

7 or 8 Decks left multiply RC by 0.15 (or Divide by 7)
5 or 6 Decks left multiply RC by 0.2 (or Divide by 5)
4 Decks Left Multiply by 0.25 (or Divide by 4)
3 Decks Left Multiply by 0.33 (or Divide by 3)

The above are all easy for just dividing because the answer is always usually pretty small. It's easy to divide 20 by 3, 4, or 5 as an example.

2.5 decks left, multiply by 0.4 Easy as pie, RC +22 x 4 = 88 and then move the decimal by 1 notch because your 4 is really .4 to get TC of 8.8

2 Decks just chop the count in half or multiply by 0.5

1.5 Decks Divide by 3/2 or multiply by 2 and then divide that by 3 so RC of +10 = (10x2)/3 = 20/3 = 6.67 (or in my head I just say 6 and two thirds)

1 deck RC=TC

3/4 Deck Multiply by 1.33

1/2 Deck Multiply by 2

1/4 Deck Multiply by 4

1/5 Deck Multiply by 5

1/8 deck Multiply by 8

Hello Don,

okay, but what about the accuraccy concerning to the estimation of the decks? Assume a single deck where 15 cards have been played (2 more than a quarter deck) and the RC is 4. Estimating on a quarter deck would lead to a TC of 4 * 4/3 i.e. about 5. But estimating on a third of a deck the same 15 card dealt (about 2 less than a third of a deck) would lead to a TC of 4 * 3/2 i.e. 6 which could make a difference in my playing decision. For that reason, shouldnt't the index numbers be adjusted for the used accuracy?

Index numbers do not change. Indices are the foundation upon which you make your playing decisions. You have to use the running count to compute true count. The running count is based on cards seen/counted and played. This running count includes cards on the table in play that you have seen and the burn card (if you saw it). With SD divide 52 (full deck) by the number of unseen remaining cards and you will get the multiplier to determine true count at that moment. Most players can't do that exactly and that is why it is easier to estimate cards remaining to the nearest 1/4 deck to get true count.

You are terribly confused. Index Numbers are FIXED and NEVER change. The count changes and you compare the constantly moving count to the fixed index to decide what decision to make based on whether you are above the index or below the index.

If you have played 1/3 of a deck then divide the RC by 2/3 to get the TC. If you have played 1/4 of a deck then divide the RC by 3/4 to get the TC. Be as accurate as you feel you need to be, but most people do not count the number of cards played, they just look at the discards and ballpark 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1/3, 2/3, etc.