Some people find it difficult to true count on the fly in a casino environment so instead of using the Hi-Lo count they gravitate to a simplified unbalanced system like KO. But is there a simplified method to true count the KO system specifically when it comes to back-counting a 6-deck shoe game to gain back some of the advantage?
Assuming you are back counting a 6 deck shoe game, if you use an initial running count of 22 a true count of +3 is achieved at the following deck levels:
1 deck dealt = 41
2 decks dealt = 42
3 decks dealt = 43
4 decks dealt = 44
5 decks dealt = 45
In Don S�s book it explains how a +3 true count is actually pretty close to the optimum entry level for the back counter who has a pretty low bet spread. Basically you eye the discard tray and you don�t have to do any real division to come up with a true count.... 1 deck has been dealt, you want to have at least a 41 running count; 2 decks you want 42; 3 decks in discard tray you want a count of 43 and so on�.
Obviously a true count of +4 would be achieved at 46 and remains constant through all penetration levels (IRC = 22+(6 decks*4)).
With an initial running count of 22 a True count of +5 is achieved at the following deck levels:
1 deck dealt = 51
2 decks dealt = 50
3 decks dealt = 49
4 decks dealt = 48
5 decks dealt = 47
You can learn the precise running counts for each deck penetration level or just ballpark it and assume that when you have reached a running count of 50 or higher you�ve achieved at least a true count of +5 (slight aggressive very early in the shoe, and conservative late in the shoe�. but even at 4 � decks dealt you would use the 48 running count to estimate a TC of +5 which is only 2 cards off.
Any true count above +5 is mainly unnecessary for most card counters who only memorize the �illustrious 18� or �Catch 22� indices.
These are my random thoughts for now!
