Blackjack Strategy Video Source & Information:
Thanks to SirJer for catching a missed 5 card to the count at 26:25.
I reviewed the video extensively. While that counting error would have changed the play dramatically, it had only a minor effect on the outcome.
43 Hands (not 42, not extra, just mis-count)
Ace/Five -101 units (change from -100)
Flat Bet -8.5 units (no change)
For those interested, scroll to the bottom of this video description for my documentation of each hand in this shoe.
—–
Six-deck heads-up blackjack comparing The Wizards of Odds’ “Ace/Five Count” system to basic strategy.
Dealer stands on all 17s. No surrender. Blackjack pays 3:2.
One shoes. ~75% penetration.
Read more about the system from the Wizard himself, https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/17/
In essence:
Establish what your minimum and maximum bets will be. Usually the maximum will be 8, 16, or 32 times the minimum bet, or any power of 2, but you can use whatever bet spread you wish.
At the beginning of each shoe, start with your minimum bet, and a count of zero.
For each five observed, add one to the count.
For each ace observed, subtract one from the count.
If the count is greater than or equal to two, then double your last bet, up to your maximum bet.
If the count is less than or equal to one, then make the minimum bet.
Use basic strategy for all playing decisions.
I chose a maximum wager of 16 units because that was in the middle of the range that he gave (8, 16, 32).
The Wizard also recommends the following liberal table rules:
4-8 decks
Blackjack pays 3 to 2
Dealer stands on soft 17
Double after split allowed
Late surrender allowed
Re-splitting aces allowed
75%+ penetration
However, for consistency with prior series I did not permit late surrender nor re-splitting of aces. This changes the house edge from ~0.25% to ~0.40% according to the Wizard’s Blackjack House Edge Calculator, https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/
There are still a few things left undefined about the system by the Wizard. As with other systems, what to do in cases of multiple wins due to splits and double-downs and what action to take on a push. I have chosen to treat multiple wins as a bonus and to not use them in the basis for doubling up the next wager when called for. A push will also not result in a doubling of the wager when the count is already 2 or greater. If during the hand which pushed, if the count changes to 1 or less or 2 or greater, the next wager will decrease/increase respectively to the progression as defined.
Each player starts with 50 chips.
Flat bet player bets 1 chip per hand.
Table minimum: 1 chip. Table Maximum: 100 chips. This would be the equivalent of a $5/$500 table.
—–
Documentation of hands and results:
—
Legend
# (Hand number)
C#w# (card “C”ount at beginning of hand and “W”ager for hand)
A and/or 5 (ace and/or 5 dealt during hand if any)
S (-)#, (-)# (units won/lost this hand/current win/loss status “S”ystem)
F (-)#, (-)# (units won/lost this hand/current win/loss status “F”lat)
asterisk (*) indicates anomaly
—
1
C0w1
A5
S -1, F -1
-1, -1
S-1,-1
F-1,-1
2
C0w1
2, 2
1, 1
2,1
2,1
3
C0w1
0, 0
1, 1
0,1
0,1
4
C0w1
5
-1, -1
0, 0
-1,0
-1,0
5
C1w1
1, 1
1, 1
6
C1w1
-1,0
-1, 0
7
C1w1
A5
1.5, 1.5
1.5, 1.5
8
C1w1
5A
1, 2.5
1, 2.5
9
C1w1
-1, 1.5
-1, 1.5
10
C1w1
A
-1, 0.5
-1, 0.5
11
C0w1
5
-1, -1.5
-1, -1.5
12
C1w1
5A
-1, -2.5
-1, -2.5
13
C1w1
-1, -3.5
-1, -3.5
14
C1w1
-1, -4.5
-1, -4.5
15
C1w1
1, -3.5
1, -3.5
16
C1w1
5
1, -2.5
1, -2.5
17
C2w2
5
4, 1.5
2, -0.5
18
C3w4
A
-4, -2.5
-1, -1.5
19
C2w8
8, 5.5
1, -0.5
20
C2w16
5A
0, 5.5
0, -0.5
21
C2w16
0,5.5
0, -0.5
22
C2w16
5AA
-32, -26.5
-2, -2.5
*
23
C1w1
5A5
0, -26.5
0, -2.5
24
C2w2
2, -24.5
1, -1.5
25
C2w4
5
-4, -28.5
-1, -2.5
26
C3w8
5A
8,-20.5
1, -1.5
27
C3w16
16,-14.5
1, -0.5
29
C3w16
-16, -30.5
-1, -1.5
30
C3w16
5
-16, -46.5
-1, -2.5
*
31
C4w3.5
-3.5,-50
-2, -4.5
*
32
C4w1
5
-1, -51
-1, -5.5
33
C5w2
-2, -53
-1, -6.5
34
C5w4
5A
-4, -57
-1, -7.5
35
C5w8
-8, -65
-1, -8.5
36
C5w16
A5
-16, -81
-1, -9.5
37
C5w16
A
-16, -97
-1, -10.5
38
C4w3
3, -94
1, -9.5
39
C4w6
A
6, -88
2, -7.5
40
c3w12
5A
0, -88
0, -7.5
41
C3w12
5
12, -76
1, -6.5
*
42
C4w16
-24, -100
-2, -8.5
*
43
C4w1
A
S -1, -101
F -1, -9.5
Source: YouTube
welcome back! Good to see another video. I will watch the video a 2nd time but I had a few questions/observations. Did it say to continue to double your bet every time the count was favorable? do you double mid hand even with a large bet already out? Seems impossible to win if you never stop and keep some profits. Also I think it would be more practical to just have the bet equal to whatever the count is when the hand starts. +3 count, bet 3 units. +2 = 2 units, 1, zero, or any negative count bet 1 unit. In a 6 deck shoe there are only 24 aces and 24 fives. Most likely the count will never get to more than around 8-10 either direction. Of course, as with all card counting the "true count" is much more important. (count / # of decks remaining in shoe) perhaps a true count of plus 1, bet 2 units. True count of plus 2 bet 3 units ect. true count less than 1 or negative single unit bet.
You count 5 is +1
Many 5 in shoe box is good for dealer I am100% agree
You count A is -1
Many A in shoe box is good for player I am 100% not agree
If the dealer card is hard 12 /hard 13 /hard 14 /hard 15 /hard 16
Dealer hit card is A
Dealer won't burst
That why I say I am 100% not agrre
at 26:25 you missed the last 5, count should have been +2
One of the rules of blackjack is you always need money behind to split and double. Card counting doesnt work without a bankroll. Plus 16 units is way to high to start with. You should start at 2 units and go to 4 to 6 units tops.
Great video, I was shocked at the results. May I recommend you have your wife, kid, or someone. Keep the count of 5/A, hands played, and bets. It would also be interesting if you hand the help to play 3 different strategies at the same time and see the results. If you happen to live in the Chicago area I would be glad to help.