Blackbelt in BJ

[Stick]

I only recently started playing blackjack again after about 10 years off. Not because I don't love the game but I live in Ohio so those six months I spent studying BJ never really paid off. Took a couple trips to Vegas, riverboats, etc...but aside from being happy with my results I realized I make a much better living on poker and it wasn't as much 'work'.

Anyway ... BJ is still fun, and I still like to have whatever advantage I can get so I decided to pull one of the 'new' books off the shelf that I'd heard talk of and bought Blackbelt in Blackjack just yesterday. I'm through 100 of 300 pages and I have to say, I'm mildly disappointed. I also skimmed the chapter descriptions of the rest of the book to see if it had anything new to offer and it really doesn't. I have never heard anyone talk of it but does anyone know of or use the Omega II system, Basic or Advanced?

After the Thorpe count it's the first one I used. (I never actually used Thorpe's count, just read the book) I learned the Adv. Omega II and found it to be quite powerful. Now I go through the books 10 years later and nothing seems as strong. Red Seven? Zen? Hi/Lo? Common sense told me when I started reading about them they would clearly be inferior ... my question is why aside from simplicity would someone use these when there's clearly a better/more profitable alternative?

If anyone has the software to run simulations I'd gladly do so with the Adv. Omega system as I don't have it nor have I searched for it yet. The count is:

2-3 +1
4-5-6 +2
7 +1
8-9 nul
10 -2
aces - sidecount (nul/-1 depending maincount)

Adjustment for the true count, bet accordingly, the play of hands differs for the count. Can be found in Blackjack for Blood by 'Bryce Carleson'

Stick

[Stick]

Well with all the replies I've received I'm going to take it as my old Omega II system from over 10 years ago is still top of the line, as I assumed it was after reading Blackbelt in BJ. I'd recommend it for any serious counter it's not that tough to keep a running counting and make the adjustments for betting & play. Once you add a sidecount of aces to the mix you're overall advantage will be a Tiger Woods-esque sweet spot drive ;)

Stick

[Nickels_n_Bullets]

Omega II is pehaps the best all-round. One does have to get past that:

1) its unbalanced with an adjustment
2) needs a side-count of Aces

I can think of one system that will give a run-for the $$$, and as far as I know, its not published. Its also level 2, but balanced and legalized murder on Ins.

I have simmed both, over the years and there is not much difference between them... but Om-II is still a little bit better. IMHO the unpublished one is easier to learn... but this is advanced stuff anyway, and not for beginners.

A quick glance:
OM-II reg. BC = 91.5% PE = 66.6% Ins. = 89.7%
OM-II adv. BC = 96.5% PE = 62.7% Ins. = 85% (A = -1)
Unpublish BC = 88.1% PE = 67.1% Ins. = 94.3%

One would 'average' the reg. and adv. forms of OM-II for the condition of A = 0 (reg.) and A = -1 (adv.)
A simple 50-50 mix would yield 94%, 64.6%, and 87.2%.
Generally, this is quite sound for all forms of play shoe or hand-held.

In fairness, the OM-II adv. comes with the full indicies including P 44 v. 4, P XX v. 5-6, and Surr. 14v.A.
The unpublished, uses Basic with very minor changes, such as S 12 v. 2-4, and DD 9,A6,A7 v.2... the closer decisions.

As such OM-II adv. can easily beat Unpub. by 0.2% spreading 1-6 at 6 decks.

FWIW