theoriemeister

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Illustrious 18 And Fab 4

I'm beginning to memorize the 'Illustrious 18' and have a couple of questions. I went to the WoO website and generated a BS chart for the BJ game that I find locally: 6D, H17, DAS, No surrender. (Ive been using this chart for all my play in the last few months.) I also referred to the Wiz's I18 chart.
1. BS chart says to hit 16 v. A, but I18 says to stand with +0 [perhaps I am misunderstanding what '+0' means?]. Likewise for 12 v. 4. BS says stand, I18 says hit when the index = 0.
2. The BS chart says to double an 11 v. A--which duplicates the I18 #9 (index = +1)--as the basic strategy. Should doubling be my standard play regardless of TC = 0 or less?
Now, I assume the BS chart is trying to help me overcome the extra house edge due to the no surrender and dealer hitting a soft 17, right? So shouldn't I follow the BS even if the TC is negative?

Yes, using the Illustrious 18 indexes will give you nearly all the advantage that using every possible index would. These 18 are the biggest bang indexes. The top of them is the insurance bet, which you would do at a count of +3 or greater. If your game allows surrender, you should also use the Fab 4.
Blackjack illustrious 18 fab 4 Or we could just keep thinking inside the box and getting nowhere.The point is the number the player rolled if they didn't win or lose on the come-out roll.However, never be inclined to think that just because you have enjoyed a game in a casino, you know how to play the game blackjack illustrious 18 fab 4 at an internet casino.
For example, the Index Number for a player 15 against a dealer 10 is +4. This means the player should stand if the True Count is +4 or higher, otherwise hit. The following tables are known as the 'Illustrious 18' and 'Fab 4' respectively.2 They appear in Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger, and are republished here with permission.

1BB

I'm beginning to memorize the 'Illustrious 18' and have a couple of questions. I went to the WoO website and generated a BS chart for the BJ game that I find locally: 6D, H17, DAS, No surrender. (Ive been using this chart for all my play in the last few months.) I also referred to the Wiz's I18 chart.
1. BS chart says to hit 16 v. A, but I18 says to stand with +0 [perhaps I am misunderstanding what '+0' means?]. Likewise for 12 v. 4. BS says stand, I18 says hit when the index = 0.
2. The BS chart says to double an 11 v. A--which duplicates the I18 #9 (index = +1)--as the basic strategy. Should doubling be my standard play regardless of TC = 0 or less?
Now, I assume the BS chart is trying to help me overcome the extra house edge due to the no surrender and dealer hitting a soft 17, right? So shouldn't I follow the BS even if the TC is negative?

Are you confusing 16 vs ace with 16 vs 10? The index is 0 vs the 10 however it is +3 or +4 vs the ace depending on who you read.

Nov 23, 2011 Illustrious 18 with Surrender. Then also there is the Fab 4 surrenders which give 15 vs 10 for +0 and 15 vs 9 for +2. Again basic strategy is to surrender in both cases. Is 'fab 4 surrender' only for late surrender and dealer peek for blackjack? We should ignore fab 4 if early surrender is allow and no hole card rule? 14 vs 10 a little.

Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi

Avincow

16 v 10. Stand when count is 0 or greater. Otherwise hit.
12 v 4. Stand when the count is 0 or greater. Otherwise hit.
Recheck your 11vA index... Sounds like you are using the index for S17. In fact, I believe wizards illustrious 18 page is for s17. So you have to recheck the indices for 11vA, 12v6, 10vA for H17 game.
You should follow what the count says and deviate from BS when necessary...,or you can solely follow BS and have reduced EV and increased ROR. Sometimes you hit in negative counts.

theoriemeister

Avin,
You may be right. Wiz's I18 chart is taken from Schlesinger. Are there are variations of this chart based on some of the game's variables, e.g., S17 v. H17?
Here's the BS chart I'm referring to. (You may have to set the variables, as I couldn't figure out how to upload a screenshot into this post)
One last thing. Isn't the TC always 0 at the beginning of a shoe?
Theorie

Romes

...One last thing. Isn't the TC always 0 at the beginning of a shoe?
Theorie

For Hi/Low and other 'balanced' counts, yes... BUT you must remember, when inspecting these hands, you must account for their values. So yes TC is 0 at the beginning, but if you have 16 v 10 as your very first hand, the count will ALWAYS be -1. Think of the combinations for your 16 (k-6, 9-7, A-5, etc). These all cancel each other and you're left with the dealers face up 10 for a count of -1. This is why basic strategy says to hit 16 v 10, because if this is the first hand dealt, if you're in this situation the count MUST be negative. Of course if you have other players at the table then there's other information to include, but I hope you see my point.
Also, basic strategy differs (just slightly) pending your game rules. For example, if you're playing a H17 game, you double 11 v A as basic strategy. However, if you're playing a S17 game, you just hit 11 v A at TC = 0. The index of TC +1 would apply on when to double your 11 v A. So now what if you're playing a game with surrender? Then your BS would change yet again and you would surrender all your 16 v A-10-9, and 15 v 10, then after that take in to account the count and your indexes for your Fab 4 surrenders.

Playing it correctly means you've already won.

Dieter

Are there are variations of this chart based on some of the game's variables, e.g., S17 v. H17?

Yes.
fNumber of decks, S17/H17, NS/LS and DAS will probably change things around.
Professional Blackjack is a fine resource for this.

May the cards fall in your favor.

Kellynbnf

Think of the combinations for your 16 (k-6, 9-7, A-5, etc).

A-5 isn't the same because that's a soft 16 (which you'd always hit without question).

Ibeatyouraces

A-5 isn't the same because that's a soft 16 (which you'd always hit without question).

A-5 should be called A-5. Not 6, not 16, not soft 16. Just 'A-5'

DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!

Romes

A-5 isn't the same because that's a soft 16 (which you'd always hit without question).

I was illustrating the counting point that even that (which yes you always hit) is a 0 count, leaving the dealers face for a running count of -1.

Playing it correctly means you've already won.

The effect of using variations to the strategy is dependent on the card counting system employed, the depth of penetration and the number of decks in play. In case you participate in a single-deck game, the potential profit, you could achieve by changing basic strategy plays based on the count with perfect play, could be 66% greater than the expected profit from basic strategy play. In case you expect to gain $150 per hour, relying on basic strategy play in a single-deck game, you could expect to profit as high as $249 per hour, if you play all strategy variations based on count in a perfect manner.

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When it comes to multi-deck games, the potential profit, which an appropriately sized bet could bring, is higher than the profit from perfect play. In this case, you may expect to gain about 41% additionally, if you play all strategy variations perfectly. If you expect

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