Suppose you don't know if you have what it takes to be a counter (time, interest, BR, etc). Or, you are looking for a way to evolve at your own speed.
One draw-back is the 1-38 bet spread, but that's ok because you need to start out at low limit tables and we can reduce that to a more manageable spread as we evolve.
You can evolve by phases and stop where you like. Some examples with ideal rules in a 6 deck game:
Phase I
A....5
-1...1
Wizard bet method (1-38)
Indices- 16 vs 10 and 12 vs 4
B/S-surrender
Phase II
A,K....5,4
-1,-1...1 1
Wizard bet method (1-38).
Indices-16 v 10, 12 v 4, 13 v 2, 9 v 2, 11 v A, A7 v 2, A8 v 6(at some R-count)
B/S-surrender
Phase III
A,K,Q...5,4,3
Wizard bet method (1-20).reduce the Wizards multiplier/ or consider true conversion, but maintain 1-20.
Indices- same as above
B/S-surrender
Insurance (at some TC or RC)
Phase IV
A,K,Q,J...6,5,4,3
True Con.
Indices- I18
surrender
Insurance
The performance numbers are not great with the simple A/5 count, but with good rules and a large bet spread it gives a small edge. As you add more cards to the count the performance level improves 7-12 points (best guess).
At some point the performance increase will justify a lower bet spread (1-20),etc.
Ace Five Counting
Does The Ace/five Count Work
I'm not all that new to blackjack but I am new to the counting world. My goal is a simple system that will at least neutralize house edge and maybe be a little profitable with some luck. I'm sure you all know about the Wizard of Odds website and all the great information on there. He has the Ace Five count. Uston's Ace-Five Count has virtually no playing efficiency and is simply played with basic strategy. Aces count as -1, and fives count as +1. The betting correlation is about 53%, which is impressive only because the system is so simple. The 90% betting correlation you've attained, however, despite your bad eyes, is quite an accomplishment. Ace to Five Lowball Rules (A-5 Lowball) Ace to Five is the oldest form of lowball poker and is available in many formats. Today the most popular format is 7 Card Razz, which is a 7 Card Stud game that awards the pot to the lowest hand based on Ace to Five lowball rankings. In the past, Ace to Five lowball was much more popular in the Draw poker.
Ace-to-Five Count is the simplest card counting method available as you'll only have to track aces and fives. Needless to say it's also the least profitable when perfectly executed, although also the easiest to execute perfectly. (Credit for the A-to-5 Count goes to Michael Shackleford.). The Wizards Ace/Five count. Ray November 2006. If you do a Google search on blackjack A,5 count, it will take you to a link for the Wizards A/5 count. China mystery casino game. This is ground zero for counting, but offers a good starting point for any new player who is just testing the water.