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As posted at www.AdvantagePlayer.com on Feb. 10, 2004...

I'll try to answer the specific questions asked of me below:

TomT asked:
Is it better than K-O Rookie? Is it EASIER than K-O without no indices?

It is far easier than KO to learn. This is not subjective... SC is different, using a different mechanic of card counting. This makes it easier to master and learn.

I've taught several test students, who do NOT gamble regularly or card count at all, how to track the 'speed count' without errors in less than 3 hours. Put a BS (basic strategy) chart in front of them, and they are playing with a positive edge, even in common eight deck.

It does not deliver as good performance as full KO. KO performs very close (in 4+ deck games) to the same as HighLow, which we've provided the metrics already for. I'm not sure yet how it compares to KO in single and double deck, where KO does not deliver the same performance data as HL (at least in my simulations with KO).

Dan P. wrote:
From years of selling blackjack training software, I've learned that the hardest skill to master to become a proficient blackjack card counter is keeping track of the running count as cards are dealt.

TomT asked: Do you think that that is the hardest skill?

Yes. My experience, and those of the professional blackjack instructors I work with that regularly teach AVERAGE blackjack players how to card count, agree that the hardest part of becoming a proficient card counter is tracking the run count in real time, with a modest to fast dealer with other players at the table. It's deceptively easy to think you can 'count down a deck in 30-50 seconds', but try it in real-time while playing, hours on end. The difficulty of this task is greatly coupled to the mechanics of the count system.

TomT asked:
According to these percents it seems to be inferior to K-O.

Yes. SC is easier to use by far, but at a slight cost in performance. I've revealed data to common games in the original post (full win rates, SD, exp, for SC and HL).

TomT asked:
What would the SCOREs be?

I'm not going to reveal anymore data publicly than what I have... I've licensed the system out, and am not at liberty to disclose further details directly. Contact the GTB folks directly if you want more.

DanP wrote:
Current card counting systems are either very hard to master, or too simple to provide any valuable edge.

TomT asks: Which ones you consider too simple?

Ace/10 count (or other counts that track only one or two cards), Front Count (and other systems that require extensive back-counting or yield minimal advantage bets per shoe).

Tom T ask:
Ok. So knowing BS is a pre-requisite, right?

No. We'll provide color coded palm-size summaries of the strategy. Casinos let you bring these when you play.

Will a player who does not know BS (basic strategy) at all prior to the course walk away with perfect knowledge of our OBS for SC after the course? Maybe, but probably not. Memorizing a full BS takes 3-8 hours, IMHO, using very good software or flash cards as an aide. A dedicated student can do this in a weekend. But I advocate referring to a BS chart while playing, if a player has any hesitation.

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