Question for ken regarding wong-halves?

[jack,jackson]

Ken,

I was wondering if you count wonghalves by halves or use the level three mode.

If used by halves, do you use Indexs that are halfed as well, 3.5,4.5,6.5....etc?

[blackjack avenger]

If using Halves by the half you do not cut the indice number in half.
Examples:

15 vs 10 stand 4 and above
9 v 7 double 3 and above


The indices are very similar to Hi Low.

If you have Wong's book then just follow it.

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by jack,jackson

Ken, I was wondering if you count wonghalves by halves or use the level three mode.
If used by halves, do you use Indexs that are halfed as well, 3.5,4.5,6.5....etc?

I know you didn't ask me, and I don't even know what level 3 mode is, but I used to double the tags, avoiding fractions, and then halve any resulting index numbers for possible departures but still used the same index numbers as if I was using H-Lo. I never bothered learning the actual Halves index numbers because, believe it or not, I do draw the line somewhere lol.

Just mostly for the fun of counting, or trying to, a 3-level count, mind you. No "real" money involved. Real, but not much I guess I mean.

What is level 3 mode anyway?

[jack,jackson]

Originally Posted by Kasi

What is level 3 mode anyway?

Tag valus:-1,.5,.5,1,1.5,1,.5,0,-.5,-1

(Level3)Doubled=/-2,1,1,2,3,2,1,0,-1,-2

[blackjack avenger]

Originally Posted by blackjack avenger

If using Halves by the half you do not cut the indice number in half.
Examples:

15 vs 10 stand 4 and above
9 v 7 double 3 and above


The indices are very similar to Hi Low.

If you have Wong's book then just follow it.

Follow up:

You have a choice when counting using Halves, you can keep the half tag (5 is 1.5) and divide by deck to get your true count or you can double the tag (5 is 3) and then divide by half decks to get your true count. It does not matter which system you use to determine your TC for betting and playing purposes. They both give you the same TC, that is why you do not change the indice numbers. If you are converting from a level one TC system like Hi Low then I would recommend you count by half and divide by deck for TC. The tags for the count are very similar and you are already dividing by deck for TC resolution.

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by blackjack avenger

It does not matter which system you use to determine your TC for betting and playing purposes. They both give you the same TC, that is why you do not change the indice numbers.

Not sure I completely understood all that dividing by half decks stuff but, no matter, I do agree, whether you estimate decks remaining to nearest whole deck or nearest half-deck or nearest card, a RC of whatever will be the same TC, like you say, with either count. If you double the tags, halve the resulting TC by whatever method you use and bet and play based on that. I think we're probably saying the same thing here.

But, that same TC when calculated by Halves is more valuable to you than the same TC with Hi-Lo. It identifies more better situations. That's why it has a higher win rate.

I've been trying to use "more better" in a sentence for a long time lol.

Anyway, it's also why, unlike what I think you are saying, the index numbers for playing departures are not the same for both counts.

Very simlar, yes. Usable with no great loss, yes. But definitely not identical.

To JJ - guess I was in level 3 mode without knowing it lol. I hate fractions

Edited to add: I can see where I may have been confusing you and/or Josh. When I said before I halved the resulting index numbers, I meant the resulting TC. And then used any departures based on that TC. Sorry for any confusion.

[KenSmith]

Originally Posted by jack,jackson

Ken,

I was wondering if you count wonghalves by halves or use the level three mode.

If used by halves, do you use Indexs that are halfed as well, 3.5,4.5,6.5....etc?

I have always used the straight halves version, without doubling the tag values.
Whether you use the original tags or the doubled tags, either way it is a "3 level" system, with three different tag values (0.5, 1.0, 1.5) or (1,2,3).

If I were learning today, I wouldn't bother with a complex count. If you just extend your sessions by an extra five minutes, Hi-Lo will have the same win rate with a lot less effort. In fact, I use Hi-Lo in some situations now.