It really is easy to count, as long as you're capable of keeping the running count all the way long & able to calculate the true count...
The indices in Hi-Lo as presented in Professional BJ is accurate. The Hi-Lo over-estimates the 2 and underestimates the 7, but it's no big deal.
To be frank, there are other systems out there which are stronger than Hi-Lo, but they are much more difficult to use without difficulty. I've had difficulty using the Hi-Opt II in casino speed v. 6 decks for a few months when I first started counting about 3 years ago.
When playing a double-decker, try to spread more than 1-4. A 1-8 spread and head-on play is sufficient to beat the house in the long run...
> I have been trying
> the hi-lo method for counting since I read
> about it on BJ math for the last 2 days (I
> play about 40 hours a week).
You have been trying the hi-lo method for the last two days .. and you have been playing about 40 hours a week. Is that right? What were you doing before?
> I find Hi-Lo
> very very easy and it seems natural for me
> and this has me worried. Is Hi-Lo a bad
> system to use? Is it not accurate?
No, it is a good system. Just because you find it natural and easy does not make it inferior to something else. In fact quite the opposite -many many counters use hi-lo.
> It seems
> to work very well as I have been able to
> call deal black jack 100% and no when to bet
> and when to sit out.
Well, there you go. You answered your own question.
What do you mean 'call deal black jack 100%?'
> My questions are these:
> Is it really this easy to count?
Counting does not have to be hard.
> Is Hi - Lo
> a good system to use or is there a better
> one?
Hi-Lo is a good professional level 1 count probably used by more counters than any other one.
There are more powerful counts out there that are more difficult; that is to say there are more tags, the tag numbers are not all -1 or +1, some require side counts of certain cards to be more productive.
>Also can I beet a double deck game with
> a 1-4 spread when I play only -1 and higher
> and dealer lets me sit out hands and
> re-enter mid deck.
Probably; but you leave out a lot of the details of the game and the mindset of the dealers/pit crew.
The Hi-Opt II is probably the simplest of the more advanced count strategies available. If you're too lazy about true count conversions, the Unbalanced Zen II(UBZII) is also quite good.
U can join the Don's Domain chat every Sunday by paying a small amount of money. U can also meet the true aficionados of BJ in the DD pages.
> - I have done that, just awaiting my
> activation email. I am hoping it will be
> helpful.
> I will say one thing, until 2 days ago, I
> considered myself an expert BJ player... Now
> I feel like the curtains have been pulled
> back and I am in a new world.
is that there will be times that you will be losing on the insurance bets, some sessions, 90% of the time and when you take it you will have a large bet out and it will not matter if you have a strong hand or not. When you lose the insurance bet AND your hand see how you feel then.
When you are pushing out the big money and the dealer is beating you a 90% of the time, see how you feel then.
When you have the min. bet out and you are winning all the time, see how you feel then.
When you lose that $521 you won in several hours of play, in 1 hour, see how you feel then.
This is a very tough world to become involved in and it takes alot of guts and fight and steely nerves and is much more complicated than just keeping the count. Do you use indice plays? Track? HCP?
In the game you mention a 1-8 is what you need, at least, more if you can. Be prepared for wild swings and have a big bank roll at hand.
As for that dealer friend, I think that was a bad idea, to tell him what you are doing. Now you *better* keep him as a friend. How are you tipping him?
Regards,
Ouchez.
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