Do you ever spread to 3 hands?

[21forme]

I did it for the first time this week.

Count was sky high and the shoe was almost over (or at least I thought so.) Couldn't see the cut card from where I was sitting and turned out we got 2 more rounds in. It was a little nerve wracking one round (8U on each hand prior to splits, etc), with splitting 7s three times one hand, and doubling down when I pulled a 3 and 4 on two of them. Worked out well, fortunately.

[AnIrishmannot2brite]

Not three, only two.

Maybe it's just paranoia but I'd figure a three spot bet would be a sign of a counter. Then again maybe not. It definitely draws attention though.

The good thing about multiple spots is that it increases the chances of splitting opportunities in favorable counts. So instead of playing two hands I'm often splitting nines, eights, maybe even tens. That and doubling down additional cards in DAS.

Of course splitting tens is another sign of a counter. That's the reason i like to split a few low bets on tens early on in the shoe. Creates the precedent of splitting tens when I couldn't possibly be having any advantage. My guess though is that those with the "eye in the sky" probably don't review my play at all. So maybe camouflage isn't all that necessary.

[ChefJJ]

Originally Posted by 21forme

I did it for the first time this week.

Count was sky high and the shoe was almost over (or at least I thought so.) Couldn't see the cut card from where I was sitting and turned out we got 2 more rounds in. It was a little nerve wracking one round (8U on each hand prior to splits, etc), with splitting 7s three times one hand, and doubling down when I pulled a 3 and 4 on two of them. Worked out well, fortunately.

I have not gone to 3, so my question to you or anyone for that matter has to do with bet sizing and all that. If I'm spreading 1-10 and the situation calls for an 8u bet, or even a max bet; should I have an 8u or max out there for all 3 spots, cut it into thirds, or maybe go with 5u bets for some cover?

This has been discussed around here, but not sure with regard to playing 3 spots.

good luck

[ChefJJ]

I may have found the answer myself, from ZG:

Flux/risk-wise speaking, you can bet an aggregate of 150% your one hand bet, spread over two hands equally, with no risk increase. zg

So, if conditions called for an 8u bet, one could safely play 3 spots @ 4u each?

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by ChefJJ

If I'm spreading 1-10 and the situation calls for an 8u bet, or even a max bet; should I have an 8u or max out there for all 3 spots, cut it into thirds, or maybe go with 5u bets for some cover?

The optimal bet would be 57% of your total bet on each hand, although rounding down to 50% often is easier to calculate at the tables. Instead of an 8-unit bet you could play 3 hands of 4.5 units. That would keep your RoR the same but your EV would increase because you have more money on the table in a +EV situation. Here’s a link to the nitty-gritty:

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?p=16488

Alternatively you could just divide your regular bet into thirds and play with the same EV but lower risk.

-Sonny-

[ChefJJ]

Great, Sonny. Thanks for the research.

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by Sonny

That would keep your RoR the same but your EV would increase because you have more money on the table in a +EV situation.

Would you say standard deviation would/could increase even though ROR might be the same?

[AnIrishmannot2brite]

Originally Posted by Sonny

The optimal bet would be 57% of your total bet on each hand, although rounding down to 50% often is easier to calculate at the tables. Instead of an 8-unit bet you could play 3 hands of 4.5 units. That would keep your RoR the same but your EV would increase because you have more money on the table in a +EV situation. Here’s a link to the nitty-gritty:

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?p=16488

Alternatively you could just divide your regular bet into thirds and play with the same EV but lower risk.

-Sonny-

Hmmm,

I wonder if in the long haul playing three hands in High T/C would dilute the count too quickly. Same as filling the small hand held deck games up with extra ploppies. More likely to pull three seventeens against dealers 20. Or a pair of stiffs. Maybe three stiffs.

[21forme]

I was praying that the dealer didn't get a BJ.

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by ChefJJ

I may have found the answer myself, from ZG:

Flux/risk-wise speaking, you can bet an aggregate of 150% your one hand bet, spread over two hands equally, with no risk increase. zg

So, if conditions called for an 8u bet, one could safely play 3 spots @ 4u each?

I use 150% across TWO hands and 180% across THREE.
(the correct #s are 142% and 170% respectively). zg