The next level *LINK*
> I have been counting for over a year. I have no trouble with the actual
> counting/playing/chatting/being aware of my surroundings/ordering drinks,
> etc. I learned recently that I can backcount two almost-full 6D tables
> simultaneously, which was a very cool discovery. (Now, if I could just learn
> to do that without looking so obvious, I might be able to do something with
> it.)
All serious counter will reach the point you are at. You have learned the necessary skills and can execute them in a casino environment. There are many directions to branch off from this point.
Many players will focus on their game and learn methods to become an even better player. They may learn more indices, try shuffle tracking or ace sequencing, or work out new acts that will allow them a greater bet spread.
Other players will begin to focus on the math stuff. This includes bankroll and bet sizing, risk of ruin analysis, EVs for different games (or playing styles), etc. It sounds like you are in this group. Since you already have some software, that is the easiest way to compare games. I have a spreadsheet that has the stats for all the different games I have ever seen. I have different pages for different numbers of decks and sections for different rules and bet spreads. I track the EV, STD, ROR, N0 and much more for each game so I can easily see which games are worth the most to me. Although Wonging into a great 6D game with a $5-$40 spread is nice, it's not worth nearly as much as a standard 2D game with a $3-$35 play-all approach (for roughly the same risk). This is good to know.
I think your search for mathematical understanding is a very natural progression that all serious players eventually realize. I wish you the best of luck in your search. You have made a perfect first step: you have registered at this website. The people here have taught me most of what I know about the REALITY of card counting. Welcome.
> What I want to be able to do now is to analyze my game and find how I can
> make it stronger, and to analyze games available to me to find the best way
> of taking advantage, etc. I want to understand Co-Variance, Certainty
> Equivalents, etc. Through experience & necessity I have learned about
> Standard Deviation, N0, variance, and such. I feel I need to go deeper now
> and without a background in math, I am finding it difficult.
Check out the link below. The math can be a little tricky at times, but the explanations are good. Remember - you don't need to understand every piece of a complicated formula, you just need to know how to make the formula work for you. I don't understand half of the things that Griffin or Epstein say, but I know how to use their formulas to get the results I need. It is MUCH more fun to let someone else come up with the answers then just copy off of their paper! How do you think I got straight C+s all through school?
-Sonny-