True count conversion

I have to admit I'm addicted to this board! Anyways, heres my question. When using Hi-Lo count, is it necessary to convert running count to true count for every card you are dealt when playing your hand? Or can you convert once when you are initially dealt the hand and stick with that count as you are dealt more cards. This assumes you are using basic strategy variations based on the true count, and the count (running and true) changes every time you hit during your hand play. Thanks very much for any advice...

I do not count cards until they are "scraped up" upon a bust, bj, payout or loss. This allows me to focus on playing my hand. When making my play decision (insurance, stand on 16 vs 10 etc.) I do not include my cards or other player cards that can be seen(in the case of face up games) in the count. I wait until cards are sraped up by the dealer. You give up a little bit of information but it makes it much easier to keep accurate count.
Remember about 90% of your gain is from bet variation. So I am only giving up a small percent of 10% when not counting every card until scraped up. I think this is what you are asking.

You can get by without a tc conversion. I never make the tc conversion. Just keep in mind that a +4 or a +8 early is much different late in a 6 deck shoe.

Index variation, while certainly helpful (more so in pitch games than the shoe), is not the key to a winning game. The most important calculation is the one made just before you put out your next bet. Getting the money out there when you have the advantage is the key to winning. Everything else is secondary. Calculate the TC just before you hit and then keep this same TC as you finish your hand.

You sound as though you may be somewhat new to counting. If so, you have your hands full with keeping the count, bet ramping and staying tuned into your environment, which, as you get to be a threat, will become increasingly hostile. The few hundredths or thousandths of a percentage point you give up by not re-figuring the TC with every hit card is not significant to your bottom line.

Remember, get the money out there when the good cards are coming.

Good luck

I'm always trying to improve my game no matter how small the significance. The total sum of little strategies will add up to a significant amount in the longrun. If I were you I'd practice on a running count and tc conversions rather than playing a loose game of counting. You will definitely benefit by winning more sessions while lowering your risk of ruin.

It is much better to count the cards as they appear or in other words keep a running count instead of running after the count.
Apart from being able to perform strategy adjustments which can be quite significant when you have a big bet out, you will have more time between two rounds to determine your bet size and this requires eventually a true count conversion.And finally with your method, the danger of missing cards or miscounting them is unreasonably high.
The fact that you have to concentrate on playing your hand shows that you are not yet at ease with basic strategy and certainly you need also more training for counting (30 sec per deck is absolute minimum).
If you still want to go ahead with real games at this stage, I advise you to choose third base which will give you enough time to count all the cards on the table before you have to make your playing decision.
Successful blackjack requires a serious approach.

Francis Salmon

Technically, you should base each play-decision on all the cards you have seen, but in practice it won't matter if you don't include your hit cards. When the true count is that close to your index, the play is such a close call anyway that the difference in EV is insignificant^*.

Also, the biggest gain from considering hit cards probably comes from playing 16vT correctly and you can do this without a true count conversion.

My advice: Between rounds, think about the basic strategy deviations that are appropriate for the current true count. When you're taking a hit (or splitting), think about the basic strategy deviations that could come up and their indices. This will help your play even if you don't consider the latest cards dealt.

^*I think the standard unit of measure for insignificant contributions to EV is "hot dogs per year".)