The Illustrious 18 is a set of important count-based departures from basic blackjack strategy associated with Don Schlesinger. Their value depends on the game, counting system, penetration and betting plan. Basic strategy alone does not normally produce a positive hourly profit.
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There is no general hourly income or fixed percentage improvement that applies to every player. Any estimate must state the stakes, number of hands, rules, counting method and simulation assumptions. A positive expectation also allows losing sessions.
The purpose of a selected index set is to capture useful decisions without memorizing every possible departure. Before using the examples below, check the counting system, true-count conversion, rounding convention and exact table rules against a current strategy source. These are not interchangeable with indices for other counts.
1.1 You should use Insurance in single-deck games, in case your count equals or is larger than +1.4;
1.2. You should use Insurance in double-deck games, in case your count equals or is larger than +2.4;
1.3 You should use Insurance in shoe games, in case your count equals or is larger than +3;
2.1 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in single-deck games, you should stand at a count of 0 or higher;
2.2 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in double-deck games, you should stand at a count of 0 or higher;
2.3 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in shoe games, you should stand at a count of 0 or higher;
3.1 If you have a hand of 15 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in single-deck games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
3.2 If you have a hand of 15 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in double-deck games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
3.3 If you have a hand of 15 against the dealer’s 10-valued card in shoe games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
4.1 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 5 in single-deck games, you should split at a count of +5 or higher;
4.2 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 5 in double-deck games, you should split at a count of +5 or higher;
4.3 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 5 in shoe games, you should split at a count of +5 or higher;
5.1 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 6 in single-deck games, you should split at a count of +5 or higher. If H17, you should split at a count of +4 or higher;
5.2 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 6 in double-deck games and if S17, you should split at a count of +4 or higher. If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 6 in double-deck games and if H17, you should split at a count of +4 or higher;
5.3 If you have a pair of 10-valued cards against the dealer’s 6 in shoe games and if S17, you should split at a count of +4 or higher;
6.1If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s 10 in single-deck games, you should double at a count of +3 or higher;
6.2 If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s 10 in double-deck games, you should double at a count of +4 or higher;
6.3 If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s 10 in shoe games, you should double at a count of +4 or higher;
7.1 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 3 in single-deck games, you should stand at a count of +3 or higher;
7.2 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 3 in double-deck games, you should stand at a count of +3 or higher;
7.3 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 3 in shoe games, you should stand at a count of +2 or higher;
Running Count Keeping Hints
Learning to Keep a True Count
True Count Drills
Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation
The Illustrious 18
8.1 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 2 in single-deck games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
8.2 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 2 in double-deck games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
8.3 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 2 in shoe games, you should stand at a count of +4 or higher;
9.1 If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in single-deck games and if S17, you should double at a count of -1 or higher. If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in single-deck games and if H17, you should double at a count of -2 or higher;
9.2 If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in double-deck games and if S17, you should double at a count of 0 or higher. If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in double-deck games and if H17, you should double at a count of -1 or higher;
9.3 If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in shoe games and if S17, you should double at a count of +1 or higher. If you have a hand of 11 against the dealer’s Ace in shoe games and if H17, you should double at a count of 0 or higher;
10.1 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 2 in single-deck games, you should double at a count of +1 or higher;
10.2 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 2 in double-deck games, you should double at a count of +1 or higher;
10.3 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 2 in shoe games, you should double at a count of +1 or higher;
11.1 If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s Ace in single-deck games, you should double at a count of +2 or higher;
11.2 If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s Ace in double-deck games, you should double at a count of +3 or higher;
11.3 If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s Ace in shoe games and if S17, you should double at a count of +4 or higher. If you have a hand of 10 against the dealer’s Ace in shoe games and if H17, you should double at a count of +3 or higher;
12.1 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 7 in single-deck games, you should double at a count of +4 or higher;
12.2 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 7 in double-deck games, you should double at a count of +4 or higher;
12.3 If you have a hand of 9 against the dealer’s 7 in shoe games, you should double at a count of +4 or higher;
13.1 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 9 in single-deck games, you should stand at a count of +5 or higher;
13.2 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 9 in double-deck games, you should stand at a count of +5 or higher;
13.3 If you have a hand of 16 against the dealer’s 9 in shoe games, you should stand at a count of +5 or higher;
14.1 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 2 in single-deck games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
14.2 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 2 in double-deck games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
14.3 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 2 in shoe games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
15.1 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 4 in single-deck games, you should hit at a count of +1 or lower;
15.2 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 4 in double-deck games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
15.3 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 4 in shoe games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
16.1 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 5 in single-deck games, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower;
16.2 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 5 in double-deck games, you should hit at a count of -1 or lower;
16.3 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 5 in shoe games, you should hit at a count of -1 or lower;
17.1 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in single-deck games and if S17, you should hit at a count of +1 or lower. If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in single-deck games and if H17, you should hit at a count of -2 or lower;
17.2 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in double-deck games and if S17, you should hit at a count of 0 or lower. If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in double-deck games and if H17, you should hit at a count of -3 or lower;
17.3 If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in shoe games and if S17, you should hit at a count of -1 or lower. If you have a hand of 12 against the dealer’s 6 in shoe games and if H17, you should hit at a count of -3 or lower.
18.1 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 3 in single-deck games, you should hit at a count of -1 or lower;
18.2 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 3 in double-deck games, you should hit at a count of -2 or lower;
18.3 If you have a hand of 13 against the dealer’s 3 in shoe games, you should hit at a count of -2 or lower;
Keep in Mind
To split against Fives or Sixes may be an effective way to play, but you should know that it could draw undesired attention from the dealer or the pit boss and it may intimidate other players. In case you wish to avoid such attention, you may simply not split.
We should note that a few strategy variations based on negative count are featured in the Illustrious 18, because of the fact that players should either bet the minimum, or not bet at all in negative counts.
Insurance and hard-total departures are important examples of count-dependent decisions. Their relative contribution changes with the game and betting plan, so a fixed percentage of “profit captured” should not be treated as a universal result.
Use one internally consistent, rule-matched set of indices. An index tells the player when to change a decision under its assumptions; it does not promise that the resulting hand will win.
FAQs
Yes, if followed strictly, the Illustrious 18 is a pretty efficient way to success. Naturally, you have to memorize basic strategy first and be ready for a lot of card counting.
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