Various questions

I played richard canfield's system for a while, and won with it, although perhaps not enough to be really sure that the system was working and not just good luck. Lately I have been studying the advanced count in Bryce Carlson's Blackjack for Blood. Is the information in this book accurate?

If I play this system at good single deck games flat betting, how likely will it be that I will be detected as a counter, and how quickly?

If I am flat betting, then there would be little sense, as I understand it, of keeping a side count of aces. A side count of another card, however, should be advantageous. I was thinking of perhaps 7's,8's, or 9's, or a combination thereof. With eights, could you add two to the running count for each 8 on hands of 12 and 13, and subtract two for 14-16? For 7's could you add one for 12 - 14 and subtract three for 15 and 16?

Which which card would be best to count, second best, third best? How would I use this count(or these counts) in making playing decisions?

What effect would using these strategies have on playing efficiency, expectation, and risk of ruin in las vegas and reno single deck games?

Would using one or more side counts in this manner significantly decrese the chances of being detected as a counter?

I know that keeping more than one side count is considered by many people to be too hard and to be more likely to cause one to make mistakes that will decrese one's expectation than to increse it, but please indulge me by assuming that one could learn to play these strategies accurately. At this point the possibility af actually putting them into practice is, for me, a long way down the road, but I would really like to know something about the theoretical possibilities.

Lately I have been studying the advanced count in Bryce Carlson's Blackjack for Blood. Is the information in this book accurate?

I've used this system and still do for double deck games. It's a good book and system, I think I've heard someone say they got slightly different indices in their own sims, but I'm not sure. So the system is fine, the only problem is finding SD & DD games that have good enough penetration.

If I play this system at good single deck games flat betting, how likely will it be that I will be detected as a counter, and how quickly?

As Bryce says, he's never had to worry about how he plays, just about how he bets. I don't think you EVER have to worry about heat if you are flat-betting. They are looking for a bet spread. If you are moving your mouth while counting and/or otherwise making it obvious, they may detect that but without the bet spread they most likely aren't going to worry about you. And honestly, even with the best SD rules, at most you are going to get a very, very slight edge.

If I am flat betting, then there would be little sense, as I understand it, of keeping a side count of aces. A side count of another card, however, should be advantageous. I was thinking of perhaps 7's,8's, or 9's, or a combination thereof. With eights, could you add two to the running count for each 8 on hands of 12 and 13, and subtract two for 14-16? For 7's could you add one for 12 - 14 and subtract three for 15 and 16?

It would take simulations galore to answer these questions. I would guess that since in AOII the 7 and 9 are already counted in your main count, 8 would be the best card to side-count. But I think you would be better off using the Ace side count and at least a 1-2 or 1-3 spread, with some camoflage and cover bets if necessary. If your goal is not to make money but to just make sure you never get backed off, just use the main AOII count, forget the sidecounts, and have fun.

JV