Blackjack Stress Test: Ace/Five Count #3

Blackjack Strategy Video Source & Information:

Thanks to all those who pointed out errors.
I reviewed the video extensively. Correct results as follows:
Ace/Five +8 units (change from +5.5)
Flat Bet +5.5 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
2,2
2,2

2
C0,w1
A
-1,1
-1,1

3
C-1w1
A5
-2,-1
-2,-1

4
C-1w1
A
-1,-2
-1,-2

5
C-2w1
A5
1,-1
1,-1

6
A
C-2,w1
1,0
1,0

7
C-2w1
1,1
1,1

8
C-2w1
0,0
0,0

9
C-2w1
1,1
1,1

10
C-2w1
5
-1,0
-1,0

11
C-1w1
-1,-1
–1,-1

12
C-1w1
A
-1,-2
-1,-2

13
C-2w1
AA
1,-1
1,-1

14
C-4w1
5
1,0
1,0

15
C-3w1
-1,-1
-1,-1

16
C-3w1
1,0
1,0

17
C-3w1
5A
1,1
1,1

18
C-3,w1
1,2
1,2

19
C-3w1
0,2
0,2

20
C-3w1
5
1,3
1,3

21
C-2w1
-1,2
-1,2

22
C-2w1
5
1,3
1,3

23
C-1w1
-1,2
-1,2

24
C-1w1
55
-1,1
-1,1

25
C1w1
A
1.5,2.5
1.5,2.5

26
C0w1
5
2,4.5
2,4.5

27
C1w1
5A
0,4.5
0,4.5

28
C1w1
5
-1,3.5
-1,3.5

29
C2w2
A
3,6.5
1.5,6

30
C1w1
A
1,7.5
1,7

31
C0w1
-1,6.5
-1,6

32
C0w1
0,6.5
0,6

33
C0w1
A
0,6.5
0,6

34
C-1w1
5
1,7.5
1,7

35
C0w1
5
-1,6.5
-1,6

36
C1w1
A
-2, 4.5
-2,4

37
C0w1
A5
1.5,6
1.5,5.5

38
C0w1
-1,5
-1,4.5

39
C0w1
5
-1,4
-1,3.5

40
C1w1
5A
-1,3
-1,2.5

41
C1w1
-1,2
-1,1.5

42
C1w1
5
2,4
2,3.5

43
C2w2
5
4,8
2,5.5

Source: YouTube

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Blackjack Stress Test: Ace/Five Count #3

7 thoughts on “Blackjack Stress Test: Ace/Five Count #3

  1. 12:02 you were thinking to fast and hit your 16 vs dealer 6, still much appreciated your videos

  2. at 3:19 you drew a five to make 21. Don't you count the 5 as a+1? The count should be -3 at 3:20 instead of -4 if I counted right.

  3. I appreciate you trying different betting systems. I 'm still waiting on one to play. Thanks!

  4. Thanks for another good video. I think it's time to abandon this system though because it appears that there will not be a significant amount of opportunities to use it. Two observations, 1. You missed a card early in the count and were off by 1 the entire time. The final count was +2 not +1. Also around 12:04 you hit a player 16 against a dealer 6 which is wrong by every strategy I know including basic strategy. I'm not nit picking I'm sure I'd make more mistakes if i tried to video something. Just curious but where do you find tables where dealer's don't hit soft 17? I haven't seen that in decades.

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