Now we know the true count , we need to use it to change our basic strategy . This is what we refer to as advanced strategy.
Check the resources now for the advanced strategy blackjack chart. It is in a downloadable PDF format, so you can have it next to you while you practice. It is based on one of the most well know card counting indices called the Illustrious 18. The Illustrious 18 was created by the mathematician Don Schlesinger . Schlesinger completed extensive statistical work on casino games throughout his career.
Advanced Strategy Table
First up, if the true count gets much over +1 I generally get up and go and find another table or ask the dealer for a reshuffle. I'm looking for really good counts where I can get a lot of money in and it is not that likely at this point.
Rule 1
Remember, asking the table dealer for reshuffles too often could draw heat from the casino's security, so do it sparingly. If I do ask for a reshuffle, I usually complain that it is an unlucky shoe and it is time for a new one.
If the true count is above zero I will start hitting a 12 against a 4 always.
Rule 2
If the true count falls below zero, I will start standing on 16 against a 10 or picture card.
Rule 3
If the true count keeps falling and goes past -1, there will be two more changes. Firstly, I'll stop doubling 11 against an Ace.
Rule 4
Secondly, I'll start doubling a 9 against a 2.
Rule 5
If the true count goes to -2, I'll also start standing on 12 against a 3.
Rule 6
There are a few more rules that you should have a look at in the advanced strategy blackjack chart for yourself. As you can see, advanced strategy is simply just basic strategy rule changes that happen as the true count changes.
It will make more sense when we back watch an online live dealer blackjack table in the practice activity. As you become a better counter, there are more rules that you can add to advance strategy table. This is a good start though for profitable play to beat the dealer.
From my experience advanced strategy can be tricky to get right when you are playing for real money in a casino. With basic strategy, you get to practice constantly because you use it all the time. Advance strategy however, does not happen anywhere near as much. This is especially true for the -4 and -5 true counts.
There is another thing that makes advanced strategy difficult when playing for real at a casino. When you get a good true count, it is going to be a high pressure situation. There are a lot of things happening at once:
You are trying to get the running count and true count right whilst more high cards and low cards continue to come out of the shoe.
Your bet sizes are changing based on the true count. This means you have to count out the right amount of chips. You might also be opening extra boxes on the table.
People start crowding around to watch you play as your bet sizes increase. This includes table managers. You will be feeling physically more nervous and excited than usual. This is especially true if you are new to card counting.
The only way to be good in this situation is to memorize the advanced strategy list. You need to make it second nature. For example, if the true count is -3 you need to instinctively know to start getting insurance. You will not have to think under pressure.
In the blackjack practice video, we opened up a table. For this practice lesson, we looked for a table with a lot of players.
Remember, like we've discussed and seen throughout the course, online live dealer blackjack is not good for card counting. One of the main reasons is online blackjack dealers unprofitably cut the 6 decks in the middle or reshuffle too early before the cut. We only practice online by back watching and there is not any need to deposit funds.
If you want to play blackjack online for real money, just play for fun. Blackjack Pal has all kinds of interesting online blackjack site directories for you to check out like our bitcoin as a deposit method directory . Always gamble responsibly.
For the same reason online blackjack is not good for card counting, you will also not see a lot of highly profitable true counts. This means you will not get much of an opportunity to practice the -4 and -5 advanced strategy rules.
For this reason we are going to pretend the true count is at -5 already. Then we can implement all the advanced rules. In the video, the practice exercise we did was to back watch all the different players hands to find advanced strategy changes.
You also would have noticed from the video that there was a software update on the blackjack site I have been using. They now asks you to deposit after every hand. I just exit the pop up because it does not really bother me. If it bothers you and you are practicing a lot, maybe deposit the table minimum to stop the message. You still do not have to make any bets but the pop up message will stop.
For the first set of hands on the videos table, we can say the dealer gets an ace.
Dealer Gets Ace
The advanced strategy chart shows that once the true count gets to -3, we need to start getting insurance. This makes sense if a lot of small cards have already come out of the shoe. A lot more picture cards are more likely to be dealt and the dealer has a high enough chance of getting one to justify insurance.
The next set of hands shows the dealer with a 10 and there is not an advanced strategy rule change at this stage. Same goes for the following set of hands.
In the final set of hands, the dealer has a King and we can see that the far right player's hand is 16.
16 Against The Dealers King
We know from the advanced strategy chart that we stand on 16 against a 10 or picture card while the count is below zero.
On the last hand, we can see after hitting that this player also gets 16.
Another 16 Against The Dealers King
That means that we again would stand because the the count is below zero.
You should go away now and start practicing on your own. After you get good at picking the advance strategy hands, start practicing everything you have learnt so far all at once. Then every time an advance strategy hand comes along, take a mental note of what the count is and what count we start using that advance rule at.
After you get good at everything we have learnt so far, it will be time to move onto the next lesson on bet sizing.