Geoff Hall: Anybody heard of ...

[Geoff Hall]

Prof. C.Tolcea ?

More intrigue than anything else simply because I was handed his book and first learnt basic strategy and counting from it. Never heard anything else about him since.

Not sure of the title of the book but he did use the Zen count (don't think it was called that then) and I remember that the indices were count per 1/2 deck for converting to true count.

I still use the Zen count, playing mainly 6D,S17,D91011,DAS,Insure agaist Ace only (UK rules) although having read several posts in the main section I'm beginning to wonder whether I may benefit from learning a new count.

If anybody has heard of the Professor or book, or if they can recommend a more efficient counting strategy (I have no problem with multi-level counts but prefer not to side count Aces if possible) then I would be very grateful.

Wishing everyone at AP a successful New Year.

Geoff Hall

[Zenfighter]

> Prof. C.Tolcea ?

> More intrigue than anything else simply
> because I was handed his book and first
> learnt basic strategy and counting from it.
> Never heard anything else about him since.

> Not sure of the title of the book but he did
> use the Zen count (don't think it was called
> that then) and I remember that the indices
> were count per 1/2 deck for converting to
> true count.

> I still use the Zen count, playing mainly
> 6D,S17,D91011,DAS,Insure agaist Ace only (UK
> rules) although having read several posts in
> the main section I'm beginning to wonder
> whether I may benefit from learning a new
> count.

> If anybody has heard of the Professor or
> book, or if they can recommend a more
> efficient counting strategy (I have no
> problem with multi-level counts but prefer
> not to side count Aces if possible) then I
> would be very grateful.

> Wishing everyone at AP a successful New
> Year.

> Geoff Hall

Curiously my first BJ book was also 'A book on
Casino Gambling' by Virginia L.Graham & C.Ionescu Tulcea (Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. NY)
The complex count is akward with the following
values 2 through A:
2,2,2.5,3.5,2,1.5,0,-.5,-2.5,-3

The author words: "Assume 5 cards are out of a
4 dk game and the RC = 6.5, thus the TC is:
(6.5*100/203)." Don't smile Geoff!

Fortunately for us, life is not as difficult as at that time was, we have today the RPC and the
Halves to deal with the European shoe, like your
case is.
Hope this helps

Regards
Z

[Don Schlesinger]

Actually, Tulcea wrote two books, the other being "A Book on Casino Blackjack," published in 1982. It contained two counts: the Main Count and the 99-System.

Don

[Geoff Hall]

> Actually, Tulcea wrote two books, the other
> being "A Book on Casino
> Blackjack," published in 1982. It
> contained two counts: the Main Count and the
> 99-System.

> Don

I'm glad that other people have heard of Tulcea as I've never seen any reference to him since I first used his book in 1987.

The 99-system seems to ring a bell - is that the Zen count that Arnold Snyder proposed ?

I'm glad I didn't try and start off with a count system such as the one that Zenfighter referred to, I think it would have put me off Blackjack for life :-)

I was interested to see that Zenfighter stated the RPC and Halves count, for European shoes. Is this the type of count strategy that I should be looking at to replace the 'Zen' count or is the extra EV gained not really worth changing systems ?

At the moment, even with a 2-level count, I am comfortable talking to dealers and players, while maintaining the count, as well as being able to scan the table very quickly for the count using the 'Zen' indices.

Also, being more of a recreational player now, I only spread from ?5-?60 (2 hands - no wonging) so the impact may not be that great on a win per hour basis.

Anyway, thanks for the comments - much appreciated.

Best regards

Geoff Hall