SCORE vs BC,PE,IC discussion

[kewlJ]

Moses, this has the makings of a count debate. And you are prefacing your remarks with the "relax KJ" comment because you think I am going to go off on my "simplicity" rant. But you would be wrong.

While I AM generally a big proponent of simplicity as to any kind of count discussion, I have always said the exception would be a player that plays mainly single or even double deck games (especially deeply dealt double deck games). For players that are mainly playing such games, a level 2, or 3 count or even some kind of specialty count....if you want to go that route, makes sense. If I was mainly playing single/double deck games, I would be playing a level two count with at least one side count.

BUT, very few players have access to single deck games (that aren't 6:5). Reno is about the only place. And similarly few players have access to decent double deck games. Vegas has some decent DD games, but most are counter traps and a player can't exclusively play them for long.

That leaves shoe games, 6 and 8 decks. That is mostly what I play and what 98% of players have access to. And it is these games that I am a strong proponent of simplicity and relatively simple counts. It is these multi-deck shoe games, that higher level counts, just add very little. Players playing these games are better off finding something else, if they are looking to improve results. One of the techniques I employ is tracking multiple tables (when I can). This allows me to see and play more higher and max bet counts and improves my results per 100 rounds played dramatically. Far more improvement than playing a higher level count.

So again, someone like you, that has access to single deck games, should explore higher level counts and/or side counts and play whatever you are comfortable with. But you, having access to such games....are the exception. Most other players would be better off playing hi-lo, or some other simple count, playing it as close to perfectly as possible and exploring some other advanced techniques and forget the higher level counts.