Figure 1: Count options
Figure 2: Count-down drill
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Once you've selected or entered a count system, you can try any number of counting drills. There are a many options that let you control every aspect of the count-down drill; timed or fixed, display cards or hands, number of decks, penetration, etc. For example, figure 1 shows the settings to run through one deck of a two deck shoe, two cards at a time displayed for 0.75 seconds. The player keeps track of the run count during the drill, then enters the correct count at the end.
Another useful drill is to display the cards in 'Hand' format and specify the correct run count for each round, as shown in figure 2. Players can master the skill of quickly counting a spread of cards on the table. The count is entered using the numbered buttons along the bottom (positive counts start on the top, negative counts on the lower row).
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Figure 1: Count options |
Figure 2: Count-down drill |
Blackjack Counter has full support for Indices, supported in Index mode. Index tables are matched to the count system, action table and specific casino options. A number of simple index sets are included with the software, or users can edit or create their own index tables.
Blackjack Counter uses a simplified format for specifying indices. Most published material lists different tables for Hit/Stand, Double, Split, etc. In Blackjack Counter, each play combination can be assigned a single 'play deviation' index: a count at which to use a different action and deviate from basic strategy. Figure 3 shows the the index dialog for hard 13 versus a dealer 3, for example. This 'single table' approach to indices is much more natural to memorize than separate disparate tables.
Version 3.0 includes a new feature called 'secondary index sets' which supports unusual multi-level indices. Although rarely used in common count systems, this feature is particularly useful with late surrender indices (i.e. 16 versus 10... hit if count < 0, surrender if possible at count > -2, or stand if count >= 0).
Once an index set is selected, Drill mode is enhanced to let users test their knowledge of the indices. Hands are randomly selected and displayed as in Blackjack Mentor, as well as a random count value. Players must select the correct play, which could be affected by the count. In Index mode, users can choose to be tested only on index plays, to concentrate on learning indices. Figure 4 shows Drill mode when using an index set.
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Figure 3: Setting an index |
Figure 4: Index drill |
Blackjack Counter costs $20 for Palm OS, and is also available for Microsoft Windows ($25) and Pocket PC ($35).
Additional count systems, action tables and index sets can be purchased for Blackjack Counter. These supplementary database add-ons are designed around popular count systems. Currently, DeepNet has extra databases for the High-Low count system and the level-two Omega II system ($18 each). Additional action tables are included with every database that cover most casino variations (DAS/noDAS, H17/S17, single deck/multi-deck, etc.).
Each database includes detailed documentation and notes about every index set. In addition, detailed analysis reports from DeepNet's simulation program Blackjack Audit are included that show the expectation, bankroll requirements, and other critical performance data.