Optimum Betting

#1
According to Stanford Wong's "Professional Blackjack", if a player is serious about making the most money off of the casino while minimizing losses, they are to bet a percentage equal to a players advantage minus 20%. For every plus count in most betting systems a player can safely assume that they have gained approximately a .5% advantage over the house. Of course, one has to figure out what percentage advantage the house has over you in the first place. The particular game that I play leaves me with about a .5% disadvantage (.52% to be precise, *the game itself is double deck wherein the dealer must hit soft 17 and players cannot double after splitting*) Therefore, assuming I have, say, a $5,000 bankroll and the running (true) count is +2, my optimum bet would be $20. (With a count of plus 2, my % advantage is 1 - minus the casino edge of .5%. .5% of my $5,000 bankroll is $25, and 80% of that is $20) Of course, on +1 or lower counts I would bet the minimum because I have no advantage.

Be aware, however, that one needs a sizable bankroll for this betting strategy to work since most if not all casino's have a minimum bet. For my purposes, I would need a bankroll of at least $2,000 to take advantage of 'optimum betting'. If I had a bankroll of just $1000, I would be wasting my advantage. The minimum count I would need for an advantage would be +2 (this will leave me with a miniscule .5% advantage.) .5% of $1,000 is just $5, and 80% of that is a mere $4. Even though I have an advantage, I would be OVERBETTING since the table minimum is $5 where I play. Overbetting can be fatal to one's bankroll over the long run.

So far, this system of betting has done very well for me. I highly suggest that any serious player give it a try or at least look into it. I would also like to hear all of your guys' betting strategies as well. All insight is very welcome!
 

BJStanko

Well-Known Member
#2
Optimum betting is way to go of course.

The biggest problem for most of the players is overbetting their bankroll. Most people that are not really into the numbers think that they can beat the game as long as they bet more when count is positive. Well it doesn't really work that way. IT IS EXTREMLY IMPORTANT TO have correct calculations about particular game before you sit down and start playing, so you can adjust your betting to that particular game.

Optimal Betting is very important, actually as important as card counting itself! If one doesn't do correct math, he is loser at the very beginning.
 
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