Question for DonS

21forme

Well-Known Member
#1
Don,

I'm trying to explain to another AP why BS is not the same as playing an index at TC=0 (eg., 16vT).

Can you explain in your usual lucid style, so I can pass it along?

Thanks.
 

DSchles

Well-Known Member
#2
21forme said:
Don,

I'm trying to explain to another AP why BS is not the same as playing an index at TC=0 (eg., 16vT).

Can you explain in your usual lucid style, so I can pass it along?

Thanks.
By definition, BS is defined as the optimal play to make with knowledge only of your first two cards and the dealer's upcard. It makes the assumption that those three cards have been removed from the pack (as opposed to a "thought experiment," where you would think of those three cards but keep them in the full pack).

So, the count after those three cards are removed will not always be exactly zero. In the case of 16 v. T, where you need a TC of at least 0 to stand, BS is to hit, because there is no way you can have 16 vs. T where the RC -- and hence the TC -- won't be negative. For Hi-Lo, the RC will always be -1, and the TC will be -1/x, where x is the number of decks you're playing against.

Clear?

Don
 

Tater

Well-Known Member
#4
DSchles said:
By definition, BS is defined as the optimal play to make with knowledge only of your first two cards and the dealer's upcard. It makes the assumption that those three cards have been removed from the pack (as opposed to a "thought experiment," where you would think of those three cards but keep them in the full pack).

So, the count after those three cards are removed will not always be exactly zero. In the case of 16 v. T, where you need a TC of at least 0 to stand, BS is to hit, because there is no way you can have 16 vs. T where the RC -- and hence the TC -- won't be negative. For Hi-Lo, the RC will always be -1, and the TC will be -1/x, where x is the number of decks you're playing against.

Clear?

Don
Pretty much. But what do "you" do on first hand 16. 10,4,2 vs 10? Now your RC is 0. No?
 
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Dummy

Well-Known Member
#5
Tater said:
Pretty much. But what do "you" do on first hand 16. 10,4,2 vs 10? Now your RC is 0. No?
The Hiopt2 RC is -1 so you should hit if you like a lot of heat. I would still stand. The decision is a coin flip in shoe games.

The CDA says to stand but it is a virtual coin flip for 6 decks, off the top EV for standing -54.12 and hitting -54.13. It is a much stronger stand decision at SD off the top, EV for standing -54.48 and hitting -54.91. Standing wins either way.
 

Tater

Well-Known Member
#6
Dummy said:
The Hiopt2 RC is -1 so you should hit if you like a lot of heat. I would still stand. The decision is a coin flip in shoe games.

The CDA says to stand but it is a virtual coin flip for 6 decks, off the top EV for standing -54.12 and hitting -54.13. It is a much stronger stand decision at SD off the top, EV for standing -54.48 and hitting -54.91. Standing wins either way.
Nice run Gale. ;) But my question is to HoFer and what he would do on HiLo.
 
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DSchles

Well-Known Member
#7
Tater said:
Pretty much. But what do "you" do on first hand 16. 10,4,2 vs 10? Now your RC is 0. No?
Yes. And so you stand. And, it's the right play. The correct BS for multi-card 16 v. 10 is to stand.

Don
 

DSchles

Well-Known Member
#10
Tater said:
Hmmm. Interesting. Me too. But I would've bet you'd said Hit. Thank you kind Sir!
Actually, I play the RPC, which counts the 2 as -1 and the others at +/-2. So, ironically, my count of -1 would tell me (incorrectly) to hit! But, you asked me what I'd do if I were playing Hi-Lo. As previously mentioned, stand is better by 0.01, which kind of makes the whole thing moot.

Don
 

Tater

Well-Known Member
#11
Yep. I thought your formula in post #2 was very good. So in RPC, you are standing at -1, correct? How about -2 in RPC?
 

DSchles

Well-Known Member
#12
Tater said:
Yep. I thought your formula in post #2 was very good. So in RPC, you are standing at -1, correct? How about -2 in RPC?
No, the RPC index is 0. What I said was that, off the top of the deck, it gives the wrong play for 10,4,2, v.10.

Don
 

Tater

Well-Known Member
#13
DSchles said:
No, the RPC index is 0. What I said was that, off the top of the deck, it gives the wrong play for 10,4,2, v.10.

Don
Don. With RPC index at 0. Off the top of the deck, does it also give the wrong play for 10,5,A vs 10? Or 10,2,3,Avs10?
 

Tater

Well-Known Member
#14
Dummy said:
The Hiopt2 RC is -1 so you should hit if you like a lot of heat. I would still stand. The decision is a coin flip in shoe games.

The CDA says to stand but it is a virtual coin flip for 6 decks, off the top EV for standing -54.12 and hitting -54.13. It is a much stronger stand decision at SD off the top, EV for standing -54.48 and hitting -54.91. Standing wins either way.
CDA? (Certain dumb asses?) I'm only kidding. At what point does the EV begin to show signifcant separation in the indices for SD? -1,-2,-3? Tc-1?
 
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DSchles

Well-Known Member
#15
Tater said:
Don. With RPC index at 0. Off the top of the deck, does it also give the wrong play for 10,5,A vs 10? Or 10,2,3,Avs10?
For the plays you mention, the RPC isn't zero. It is -4 and -3, respectively. The RPC would this tell you to hit both. That would be, ironically, wrong for the first play (more negative count!) but right for the second one.

Don
 
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