Now, onto more important matters.
I found a post of yours regarding the NRS formula for shuffletracking:
"I am sorry but you seem to have no knowledge of the NRS treatment for shuffle tracking. Whenever you are in the playzone your divisor is the effective shoe size, which is equal to the theoretical playzone in the case when a poor slug is cut out of play."
-ICountNTrack
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=16776&page=2
Josh had made mention that after cutting out a 26 card segment of low cards totalling +10 in a four deck shoe, one could add 1/2 deck to the discard tray, and start the running count at +10.
Let's see if he was right:
d=4 (decks)
q=3 (size of playzone)
k=0 (size of slug in playzone)
x=0 (running count of slug in playzone)
b=.5 (size of slug outside of playzone)
y=10 (running count of slug outside of playzone)
d`=3.5 (number of decks that can potentially enter the playzone)
N=q^2(d`-k) / [(q-k)^2 + k(d`-k)]
N= 3^2(3.5 - 0) / [(3)^2 +0(3.5 - 0)]
N= 3.5
The extended NRS formula agrees with what Josh suggested.
Simply stated, the initial divisor is the shoe size minus the slug tracked.
***
We can also verify that our running count should begin with the +10 cut out of play:
r = -(N/q)[1 - (q - k) / (d` - k)]
r = -(3.5 / 3)[1 - (3 - 0 ) / (3.5 - 0)]
r = -.167
f = (q - k) / (d`- q)
f = (3 - 0) / (3.5 -3)
f = 6
TC = [r(x-fy) + A] / (N - L)
TC = -.167 (0 - 6(10) + A / (3.5 - L)
TC = 10 / 3.5
Simply stated, the initial running count amounts to the value of the slug cut out of play.
***
I don't bother with the NRS formula myself. I prefer a
Cookbook approach for tracking, but this requires considerable time and patience to develop the skills, and even then, some favorable conditions to apply effectively. However, for beginner trackers, I think the NRS formula is an excellent extension to counting. Read Alienated's paper, and embellish with a few trips over at bjmath.com.
There are a few other tricks to get beginners started, but this should be enough for now. I'll check back when I get the chance, I apologize for my scarcity as of late.
Been a little busy.
Best,
Syph