Trying to understand indices and the I18

[22playing21]

Hi all, i am trying to understand what playing decision to make based on the i18 chart and i probably sound stupid but hey i figure someone can help me understand it better..iv been working lately on cutting my counting mistakes completely out of my game so i am trying to get an understanding for index plays as i continue to grow my BR..i just ordered my 2nd copy of bj attack because my first copy was thrown away before i could read it so i am looking forward to reading that.

13 v 3 , hit
12 v 4,5,6, hit
13 v 2 hit
16 v 9 surrender
9 v 7 - double
10 v ace double
11 v a double
9 v 2 double
12 v 2,3 stand
10 v 10 double
split tens v 5,6
15,16 v 10 surrender?
take ins at +3

Do i have it right?

[Three]

take ins at +3

This is the only index you listed. The rest you listed a basic strategy plays. You didn't state what game you are playing (number of decks and other rules). Their accuracy depends on the rules etc you are playing. You also didn't say what count you are using.

[Nikky_Flash]

Perhaps Don S , should answer more elaborately ; just to let you know , I didn't see it mentioned anywhere ; but some of these plays are during negative counts (13 v 3 , hit
12 v 4,5,6, hit
13 v 2 hit
) and most listed here are positive index plays (to be done when the TC raises to the correct level to do this play contrary to Basic Strat) ... and some are at much higher counts than others... I'm not a hi-lo expert, but; you wouldn't want to split 10's at the same count as say - double 9 vs 2 , those are not to be done in the same TC level.

[Nikky_Flash]

This is the only index you listed. The rest you listed a basic strategy plays. You didn't state what game you are playing (number of decks and other rules). Their accuracy depends on the rules etc you are playing. You also didn't say what count you are using.

He listed Basic Strat plays?
Double 9 vs 7, and splitting 10's is basic strat now? ???

[DSchles]

Except for very rare exceptions of what we call a reverse index, using an index for a given play means that, at the index or higher, you either: stand, double, split, insure, or surrender, according to the holding in question.

So, when you list your "hits" at the top, the way to interpret that would be to say that, at the index or higher, you stand.

Don

[Three]

He didn't list an index to be confirmed except for insurance. Depending on the number of decks used the BS changes for many of the plays. He only listed one play the with an index play. The rest lacked an index or a count to set the index for. That was my point.

[Bodarc]

Hi 22playing21
I think you do have a misunderstanding regarding index plays. I wll try to explain as best I can. The first thing you learn about BJ should be the correct basic strategy for the number of decks and rules you are playing. You can find that here: http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php

You just enter the number of decks at the bottom left and the rules at the casino where you play and the correct basic strategy will be displayed for you. This is the correct play for all non counters and also a great majority of the time for counters also so it is imperative that you learn it so you can recite it instantly.

If a person is counting cards, there will be variations that should be made that are not in agreement with basic strategy. These variations (based on the count are called indices) are made according to your count. So the basic strategy for 16 V 10 is to hit but if your index tells you to stand if the count is greater than zero, then that is the play you make.

You listed various deviations from basic strategy (index plays) but failed to list the index number (or count) at which these plays would be made. That is what is causing your confusion I think.

My suggestion would be to do a little more studying until you understand and then proceed to learn the index numbers based on your count.

I hope this helps a bit

[Nikky_Flash]

He didn't list an index to be confirmed except for insurance. Depending on the number of decks used the BS changes for many of the plays. He only listed one play the with an index play. The rest lacked an index or a count to set the index for. That was my point.

Tthree you have surprised me with information in the past , and I would love to learn .. how would it be basic strategy to sit down at a BJ table and split 10's right off the bat.... what rules and decks make Basic Strategy to split 10's? Wow ...that is amazing to me ...

[Three]

I didn't even look at The list of indices because it had no count or indices except for the insurance index. That was my point. I have explained it twice know so hopefully you understand. If you say check out my index plays, I expect a count and a list of indices for plays. Only insurance had an index associated with it and no count or number of decks or rules were specified. How is anyone supposed to give an answer. I guess Don understood what he meant but I sure didn't.

[22playing21]

sorry all for the lack of information, here is the chart i was referring to, is there a program that you can put in the rules and it will give you different index numbers based on rules? I was just trying to understand it better because there is nothing that says to hit, stand, double split but don's reply cleared that up for me. I use hi-lo and play 6d DAS, LS, with no RSA. sorry for the weak post and lack of information. Thanks to all for replies

[ACFERRET]

Indexes come in sets and serve as marks for a specific action, in the case of the I18, they are all HIT/STAND indexes, or double down indexes.

SURRENDER INDEXES and a separate index

If your still confused there are no surrender indexes in the I18, however there are surrender indexes.

[Intermediate]

[QUOTE=22playing21;137699]Hi all, i am trying to understand what playing decision to make based on the i18 chart and i probably sound stupid but hey i figure someone can help me understand it better./QUOTE]

OP - get a copy of Professional Blackjack. I think it will become much clearer to you. The fact that you have some doubts about how to use the I18 makes me suspect you need to re-ground yourself in the way True Count playing variations relate to BS. The charts will make it very clear.