BJ003: Illustrious 18 question...

[BJ003]

When using the Illustrious 18 index numbers, do they vary with the number of decks and rules? For instance, according to blackjackinfo.com, for a typical downtown Vegas game (single deck, h17, DA2, No DAS, OBO, No surrender) basic strategy for a hard 9 vs. dealer 2 is to double down. According to the illustrious 18 index numbers I came across, you should double when the TC > 1. Is this index numbers for a typical shoe game (S17, DAS)? I imagine the Illustrious 18 index numbers change for different decks and rules. What index numbers should I memorize for a typical one deck Vegas game (single deck, h17, DAS, No DAS, OBO, No Surrender)?

Need clarification and appreciate any help.

[G Man]

Basically, I18 are the indexes that you should learn to get the vast majority of the advantage given to you by a counting system without learning all the indexes of this system. So, different systems have differents indexes and there is an optimal indexes set for every number of deck and rules variation. Except for single deck game, differences are usually minor and you should take the time to lear them. To be honest, learning 18 indexes plus some modifications is really easy.

[Don Schlesinger]

> When using the Illustrious 18 index numbers,
> do they vary with the number of decks and
> rules?
Yes, slightly. See p. 195 of BJA2, for the whole array from one to eight decks. Also, h17 and s17 indices are provided.

> For instance, according to
> blackjackinfo.com, for a typical downtown
> Vegas game (single deck, h17, DA2, No DAS,
> OBO, No surrender) basic strategy for a hard
> 9 vs. dealer 2 is to double down. According
> to the illustrious 18 index numbers I came
> across, you should double when the TC >
> 1. Is this index numbers for a typical shoe
> game (S17, DAS?

The 6-deck index is +1; the SD index is also +1, so there is no change.

> I imagine the Illustrious
> 18 index numbers change for different decks
> and rules. What index numbers should I
> memorize for a typical one deck Vegas game
> (single deck, h17, DAS, No DAS, OBO, No
> Surrender)?

Learn the SD ones, from the book.

Don

[BJ003]

> Yes, slightly. See p. 195 of BJA2, for the
> whole array from one to eight decks. Also,
> h17 and s17 indices are provided.

> The 6-deck index is +1; the SD index is also
> +1, so there is no change.

The SD index of +1 for the 9 vs. 2 means that you should double only when the true count exceeds plus one correct? According to the strategy search engine on www.blackjackinfo.com, the basic strategy for your typical vegas downtown game (Single Deck, H17, DA2, No DAS, OBO, No surrender) has you doubling 9 vs. dealer 2 right off the bat. This suggests that at a TC of 0, you should already be doubling anyways. Is this basic strategy i found incorrect then?

Thanks for your advice.

[Parker]

> The SD index of +1 for the 9 vs. 2 means
> that you should double only when the true
> count exceeds plus one correct? According to
> the strategy search engine on
> www.blackjackinfo.com, the basic strategy
> for your typical vegas downtown game (Single
> Deck, H17, DA2, No DAS, OBO, No surrender)
> has you doubling 9 vs. dealer 2 right off
> the bat. This suggests that at a TC of 0,
> you should already be doubling anyways. Is
> this basic strategy i found incorrect then?

Basic strategy is simply the best strategy to use when the only information you have is your cards and the dealer's upcard.

Many people assume that this means that basic strategy is the proper strategy when the true count equals zero. This is not correct!

Take the 9 vs 2 example. Since these are the only cards we know, then the true count in a single deck game would be +2 or +3, depending on the composition of the 9. And this is what basic strategy is based upon.

[BJ003]

[Wildcat]

> Yes, slightly. See p. 195 of BJA2, for the
> whole array from one to eight decks. Also,
> h17 and s17 indices are provided.

> The 6-deck index is +1; the SD index is also
> +1, so there is no change.

> Learn the SD ones, from the book.

> Don

A neophyte question: I realize that the the "Illustrious 18" indices were developed using the Hi-Lo Count system. How effective are they with other counting systems, either unbalanced or balanced? Essentially, is there a significant enough difference in the value of the true count in one system with another system to modify the "Illustrious 18" indices, given the counting system one is using? Thank you for your help!

[Don Schlesinger]

> A neophyte question: I realize that the the
> "Illustrious 18" indices were
> developed using the Hi-Lo Count system. How
> effective are they with other counting
> systems, either unbalanced or balanced?
> Essentially, is there a significant enough
> difference in the value of the true count in
> one system with another system to modify the
> "Illustrious 18" indices, given
> the counting system one is using? Thank you
> for your help!

Highly unlikely. Small differences in ranking the importance may occur, but with the 18, plus the 4 extra for the "Catch 22," you really have the most important ones to learn for virtually all systems.

Don

[Sun Runner]

Don -

Somewhere I saw a post by Cacarulo (maybe Don's Domain, maybe bjmath.com) where he posted a revised Ill 18 for multideck/S17 games.

It differed slighly; I think 4 changes were made to the original.

Have you seen it, do you agree with it, what will be printed in BJA3.

Thanks.

[Don Schlesinger]

> Don -

> Somewhere I saw a post by Cacarulo (maybe
> Don's Domain, maybe bjmath.com) where he
> posted a revised Ill 18 for multideck/S17
> games.

> It differed slighly; I think 4 changes were
> made to the original.

> Have you seen it, do you agree with it, what
> will be printed in BJA3.

It's printed in BJA2! You're talking about the "Catch 22." See pp. 316-17.

And yes, I do agree with it. :-)

Don

[Sun Runner]

> It's printed in BJA2! You're talking about
> the "Catch 22." See pp. 316-17.

In the post I saw it was referred to it as the R-18 (as in "revised" 18 I guess.)

I never made the connection to that and the Catch-22.

The quest for knowledge marches on. I just wish it didn't have to be in public.

Thanks for the patience.