TC's Worth: Zen or UBZ 11 ?

Insignificant, but my table history:
500 hours of complete hi-low into a $5 1-10 spread, 6d H17 DAS NS 80% game. Bad rules, I know. I didn't realize a significant gain/loss; but no wonder, considering bjstats.com simulations that calculate a mere $4/hour win rate [1-8 83%]averaging $871/hour in action. Peanuts. Clearly a mistake. I now realize the hourly win rate of 2d 75% yield nearly twice that of 6d 75% with level 2 counts.

I figure I'll practice Zen.
I'm confused already.

1) Whats the general preference? Snyder's Zen or Geroge C.'s Unbalanced Zen 11?
2) Is a balanced strategy (TC) such as complete zen better for betting [since deep high counts = large TC?] and are not underbet as possibly unbalanced systems are? (Or is this a misconception?)
3) What is a typical zen betting structure (esp. for unbalanced)?
4) #decks in show optimal with zen?

Thank you for any responses,
qbm08
[snyders book on its way]

1) Generally an unbalanced count will be easier than a similar balanced count. An easier system will result in fewer errors, which should more than compensate a slight increase in performance, if any. I refer you to QFIT's card counting strategies: http://www.qfit.com/card-counting.htm.

2) The sims published on www.bjstats.com do not taking wonging into account. One should not play 6 deck games during negative counts. Use the sims on CVCX online for a better comparison: http://www.qfit.com/blackjack-online-calculators.htm.

First, there many different versions of the Zen Count. There's the version from "Blackbelt In Blackjack" which uses "true edge" calculations. There's the 98'Zen. I use to use a version called, The Complete Zen count for multiple decks. I used it against the 6 deck games and had alot of success with it. You can get the indices (index numbers) from Casino Verite.

I read in "Blackjack Attack" that the Zen Count does better on shoe games, than does the Unbalanced Zen, by George C. The book said that Unbalanced Zen performs admirably on pitch games (1-2 decks). If you want to play the regular Zen Count on pitch games, go with the "Complete Zen Count for single decks". You can learn it on Casino Verite.

The typical betting structure for the regular Zen is different for everyone, but generally for a 6 deck game, the spread is 1-10. All negative #'s up to +1, bet 1 unit. +2 increase to 2 units. +5 or +6 should be your halfway bet. +10 or more should be your maximum bet. Like I said, other people might bet differently.

The betting structure that George C. advocates in his book,"The Unbalanced Zen" is as follows :
Single deck: 1 unit below -2, 2 units for -2 to 0, and 4 units for any running count above 0.

For 6 decks, he says: 1 unit below -4, 2 units at 0, 4 units at +4, and 8 units at +7 or more. ( I've read that on 6 deck games, you need to spread to 10 units even though he says 8 units)

In the book "Blackjack Blueprint" the author "Rick -the nighttrain-Blaine" lists a different betting structure for the Unbalanced Zen. Here it is:

2 deckers: -1 or less =1unit, 0 = 2 units, +4 = 3 units, +6 = 4 units, +8 = 6 units

6 deckers: -1 or less =1 unit, 0 = 2 units, +6 = 3units, +8 = 4units,
+12 = 6units, +16 = 8 units, +20 = 10units, +24 = 12 units.

I'm just a pretend card counter but i love BJ strategy
maybe one day i'll take it to the big time in the
casinos but i just play computer simulations and games at home.
and that's a big maybe...

anyways with your betting structure do you mean
the true edge +1, +4, +10 or TC.
because i find true edge is easier to calculate.
for me anyway...

in zen count as its taught in snyders book you
take the running count and devide the decks remaining
times four. so in a six deck game if 104 cards have been
played and the RC is +16 then the ture edge is +1.
I play two decks mostly with this count hit on soft
17 and %50 penetration. The highest true edges i get
is +3. since the denominator is no smaller than 4.
i cap my bet at +4 so i play one betting unit at x<=0
and for every +.5 I play one betting unit more.
which is a 1-9 spread. im finding the fractions easy
to calculate in my head. max bet at +4 = $160 (16++/4).
base bet is $10. .5 is 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160.

I noticed the two deckers the bj21 reports seemed like
maybe a counter trap. idk. but the odds seemed decent
whats the penetration like in the real world vegas
DD games? in my computer games it about $150/100 hands.
i use the program platoon for os x and play games with cards.
it seems like too much profit.... I think too good to be true...
idk... i use regular h17 two deck 3:2...
with alot of small downward swings coupled with fewer big wins.
with $2000 in my hand every round. i never lose the whole
amount. and yes i calculate my losses and have a
"virtual bank roll".

also in two decks do i need to learn the -3 and less
and +3 and greater indices or can i stick to the -2 to +2
ones.

thanks.