HiLo with Ace side count

[vhalen]

I am relatively new into this ( 6 months or so). I only play Double Deck ($25 Table Min) with H17, no RSA, Double on any 2 cards, Double after Split, no surrender, Pen 65-70%. I use Hilo with Ace side count. So far I am using Ace count for two things:

1. Insurance decision - I ignore Aces for Insurance decision. If I have a running count of 4 with 4 Aces gone and 1.5 Deck left my TC for insurance decision is (4+4)/1.5=5.3 and if this count is >3 I buy full insurance on all hands. Is this index correct?

2. Max Bet Decision - If I have a high count but remaining Aces are less than average (1 per 1/4 deck etc.) then I do not put max bet. On a monster count, I will always put my max bet but I am talking about borderline decisions. Is this correct?

What are other uses of Ace side count with HiLo counting?

[DSchles]

"1. Insurance decision - I ignore Aces for Insurance decision. If I have a running count of 4 with 4 Aces gone and 1.5 Deck left my TC for insurance decision is (4+4)/1.5=5.3 and if this count is >3 I buy full insurance on all hands. Is this index correct?"

Yes. And so is the methodology. Think the insurance index might be +2.8 when using ace adjustment in Hi-Lo, but little matter.

Don

[Bigdaddy]

"1. Insurance decision - I ignore Aces for Insurance decision. If I have a running count of 4 with 4 Aces gone and 1.5 Deck left my TC for insurance decision is (4+4)/1.5=5.3 and if this count is >3 I buy full insurance on all hands. Is this index correct?"

Yes. And so is the methodology. Think the insurance index might be +2.8 when using ace adjustment in Hi-Lo, but little matter.

Don

I need some further clarification. Here is an excerpt from a post on the "other site" from a very reputable poster regarding the Ace side count:

"in several notable and quite significant plays undealt aces function as small cards; the ADJUSTMENT to the HiLo RC for these plays is thus -2.
These plays are: insurance; double 11; 16 vs all dealer cards."

Following the above advice, if you have a running count of 4 with 4 aces gone after only 1/2 deck has been dealt, then there is a deficit of two aces and you would add 4 to the running count (2 deficit aces x 2) for purposes of the insurance decision. So (coincidentally) you get the same answer as in your example.

However, if one deck has been dealt and 4 aces have come out, then there would be no adjustment to the Hi-Lo running count because there is no surplus or deficit of aces at that point. The proposed methodology in the OP would add 4 to the running count? I don't think that would be correct.

[DSchles]

You only added four because of the deficit of two aces, in the example. No one was proposing to ALWAYS add four, no matter how many decks were dealt. For insurance purposes, the ace should be counted as a small card, but Hi-Lo counts it the "wrong" way, as a high card. So, you have to reverse the -1 count and replace it with +1, for each surplus or deficit ace, for insurance purposes. If you're two aces short in the remaining decks, you're more likely to want to take insurance, so you add 2 x 2 = 4 to the RC.

In your second example, if you have the right number of aces for the number of decks remaining, you make no adjustment to the RC for insurance purposes. Clear?

Don

[Bigdaddy]

You only added four because of the deficit of two aces, in the example. No one was proposing to ALWAYS add four, no matter how many decks were dealt. For insurance purposes, the ace should be counted as a small card, but Hi-Lo counts it the "wrong" way, as a high card. So, you have to reverse the -1 count and replace it with +1, for each surplus or deficit ace, for insurance purposes. If you're two aces short in the remaining decks, you're more likely to want to take insurance, so you add 2 x 2 = 4 to the RC.

In your second example, if you have the right number of aces for the number of decks remaining, you make no adjustment to the RC for insurance purposes. Clear?Don

Yes - clear to me - thanks. I just wasn't sure that the OP understood the concept of adjusting the running count by +/-2 for each deficit or surplus ace. In his example, he didn't describe the rationale for his +4 adjustment. It appeared to me that he might be thinking that he had to add back +1 for every ace that he had included in his running count.

[vhalen]

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, I am only adjusting when Ace density is higher or lower than normal. But I was not using this adjustment for " ..double 11; 16 vs all dealer cards." Going forward I will use this adjustment for double 11 and 16 vs all dealer cards as well.

[KZman]

post delete.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

"I was not using this adjustment for " ..double 11; 16 vs all dealer cards."
Going forward I will use this adjustment for double 11 and 16 vs all."

You do not see that Surpus/Deficit Aces are very useful for doubling 10's and 9's and Insurance?
With your Hard 16's Aces play a very minor role.

[mofungoo]

You do not see that Surpus/Deficit Aces are very useful for doubling 10's and 9's and Insurance?

Perhaps so, but not very useful for increasing SCORE. Truly chasing pennies.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

" ... chasing pennies"

This is profoundly mistaken.
Common rationalization for
BJ laziness amongst amateurs.

[mofungoo]

This is profoundly mistaken.
Common rationalization for
BJ laziness amongst amateurs

Truly chasing pennies. Run a SCORE and see for yourself.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

"Run a SCORE and see for yourself."

I took the requisite Graduate School courses in Probability and Statistics and Experimental Design; but where money is concerned, a purely pragmatic approach is the end-point; and as I like to say, "My skills pay my bills". I played BJ in the 80's but did not turn pro until 1992. I have done well for myself, my traipsing around the country ad infinitude, is something that I am getting too long in the tooth for.

[Boz]

What are other uses of Ace side count with HiLo counting?

It would be wiser to use an ace-neutral count if you are already side-counting the aces because it increases playing efficiency. You could take the Aces and deuces out of your count altogether. And use that count for playing decisions, which is Hi-opt 1. Then you keep a balanced side-count of Aces against deuces, and add it in to decide your betting strategy--which is the Hi-Lo part. Hi-Lo ace side count isn't any less effort than that, IMO, and significantly less gain.