Red 7 Count
. Learn How To Play Red7.Published By Asmadi Games'The rules of Red are simple: Highest card wins! But Red is only one of seven games you'll be playing. A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that measures your hemoglobin level and other characteristics of your red blood cells (such as their size). This test not only shows if you have anemia, but it can also help your doctor figure out what might be causing it.
Six Deck Unbalanced Red 7 Running Count Conversion to Equivalent Hi-Lo Balanced True Count and Sensitivity of True Count to Errors in Estimating Decks Remaining
By Conrad Membrino(From Blackjack Forum Vol. XVII #4, Winter 1997)
© Blackjack Forum 1997
| rc.u = 23456p + (7p/2) - TAp |
Red-7 is almost equivalent to hi-lo count + counting all the sevens as (1/2) each.
rc.u = unbalanced running count = 23456+ (7p/2) - TAp
tc.b = balanced true count
n = number of decks
dp = decks played
dr = decks remaining
rc.u(tc.b) = unbalanced running count corresponding to a balance true count of tc.b
rc.hl = hi=lo running count = 23456p - TAp
rc.u = hi-lo + (7p)/2
if hi-lo has a true count of 't' then rc.hl = t*dr and
rc.u = rc.hl + ExpVal(7p)/2 = t*dr + 2*dp = (t+2-2)*dr + 2*dp = (t-2)*dr + 2*n
| rc.u = 2*n + (tc.b - 2) * dr |
Number of Decks = 6
Red-7 Running Counts Corresponding to Various True Counts for a Six Deck Game
| Six Deck Game | rc.unbal | |||||
| rc.unbal = 23456 + (7p/2) - TAp | decks played | |||||
| tc.bal | rc.unbal | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 0 | 12 - 2*dr | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 1 | 12 - dr | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 2 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 3 | 12 + dr | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| 4 | 12 + 2*dr | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 |
Sensitivity of True Count to Errors in Estimating Decks Remaining
Estimation of True Count Using the Red 7:
| rc.r7 = red 7 running count | n = number of decks |
| tc = true count | dr = decks remaining |
| rc.r7 = 2*n + (tc - 2) * dr |
Number of Decks = 8
Red-7 Running Counts Corresponding to Various
True Counts for an Eight Deck Game
| Eight Deck Game | rc.r7 | |||||
| rc.r7 = 23456 + (7p/2) - TAp | decks played | |||||
| tc | rc.r7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 3 | 16 + dr | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
| 4 | 16 + 2*dr | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
Estimation of true count with the Red 7
in an Eight Deck Game:
- Estimate decks remaining
- Compare Red 7 running count with 16, 16 + dr, or 16 + 2*dr for true counts of 2, 3, or 4
- Use calculated true count with High-Low strategy indices.*
(*Ed. Note: Membrino is suggesting here that you may use this true count method not only to estimate your advantage, but also to alter your strategy with all Hi-Lo strategy indices. This is not the way I have developed the Red 7 in the new Blackbelt, but if you used a Starting Count of 0, then you could use this true count methology with any standard set of Hi-Lo count-per-deck indices. --Arnold Snyder)
Sensitivity of True Count to Errors
in Estimating Decks Remaining:
- The closer to the pivot point, the less sensitive the true count is to errors in estimating the decks remaining.
- At the pivot point, the true count is independent of the decks remaining
- Pivot Point of the Red 7: True Count = 2
- Pivot Point of Hi-Lo: True Count = 0
- At True Counts ≥ 2:
(a) Red 7 is closer to its pivot point (tc=2) than the Hi-Lo is to its pivot point (tc=0)
(b) Red 7 is less sensitive to errors in estimating decks remaining when calculating true count.
(c) Red 7 gives more accurate true counts than Hi-Lo.
Example:
| A = Actual | E = Estimated |
| dr:a = actual dr | dr:e = estimated dr |
| tc:a = actual tc | tc:e = estimated tc |
Eight Decks
| r7 = red 7 | hl = hi-lo |
| tc.r7 = 2 + (rc.r7 - 16)/dr | tc.hl = rc.hl/dr |
Eight Decks
dr:a = 4 and tc:a = 3
| Red 7 | Hi-Lo | |||||
| estimated | error | estimated | error | |||
| dr:e | rc.r7 | tc:e | (tc:e - tc:a) | rc.hl | tc:e | (tc:e - tc:a) |
| 6 | 20 | 2.7 | -0.3 | 12 | 2.0 | -1.0 |
| 5 | 2.8 | -0.2 | 2.4 | -0.6 | ||
| 4 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 3 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 2 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 |
♠
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I personally, am finishing my ninth year of supporting myself from solely from AP opportunities and the majority of that play is simple blackjack card counting. I started with the 'standard', level one, hi-lo count. After 4 years, I switched to a level 2 count, Revere Point Count, which I played for 18 months before switching back to hi-lo. I truly believe that much more important than what count you play is that you play it well, seek out and play good games and are properly bankrolled.
So while, Red seven is fine if you are comfortable with it, it would not be my choice for a couple reasons. First it is an unbalanced count. Unbalanced counts were created to eliminate the need to convert the running count to a true count for the number of decks in play. In doing so, it does give up a little bit of accuracy. I have never felt that true count conversion to be that difficult or bothersome, so I don't want to give up that accuracy for no reason. The second thing I don't like about unbalanced counts is the way you start counting with a negative number. I find counting negatives slightly more burdensome. But that is me personally, if you are comfortable with it and after 150 hrs of play and 450 hours of practice you should be, so no need to change. It will work fine.
What concerns me more than your choice of count, is your statement about 'insufficient funds' and 'overbetting your bankroll'. You are playing to a high 'risk of ruin' which if you are not familiar with RoR (and you should be), it is exactly what it sounds like. Playing to a high RoR is a disaster waiting to happen. Many players do so, especially early on when they are underfunded and get away with it. I myself did. But, doing so means that you could get wiped out, despite the fact that you are doing everything else correctly.
There Are 7 Red Counters In A Bag
Its not so great playing Red-7 on single/double deck games, its much better at shoe games (54/69 for Play Eff.{1-2 Decks} and 98/100 Bet Corr.{4+ Decks}). When you're ready to move up, try Hi-Opt II (no side-count of Aces). A second reason to move up is for gains when taking Insurance. R7 scores 78/100 and HO-II is 91/100. Essentially a top insurance Index like HO-II does not count 9's and Aces.
Cheers
The second thing I don't like about unbalanced counts is the way you start counting with a negative number. I find counting negatives slightly more burdensome. But that is me personally...
It's easy enough to eliminate the negative counts by just tweaking the IRC to your taste. KISS III uses a default IRC that is positive and rarely dips into the negative (and if it does, you should probably be taking a cell phone call). I don't remember what the 'default' IRC is for KO but in any case, all of these counts are easy enough to modify to taste.
Administrator
I'll try to keep it simple. What you can play perfectly is what you should play.
Good advice. I might replace 'perfectly' with 'well.' Personally, I've used the plus-minus for 25 years. It isn't going to get much better than that with me.
Good advice. I might replace 'perfectly' with 'well.' Personally, I've used the plus-minus for 25 years. It isn't going to get much better than that with me.
Wizard, I have a question for you. Everyone knows who you are. Your picture is on your website. How can you sit down at a casino and play blackjack without severe heat?
Say I use a spread of 1 to 5 and play in a 8 (or 6) deck game with no surrender and with 50% penetration where the house edge is exactly 0.5% from rules. What will be my edge using a Red7 count + IL18 compared with a Hi-Lo count but with only basic strategy?
AxiomOfChoice good point ! (I am very curious about that aspect too) And I too have a question which I think fits well in this thread:
Say I use a spread of 1 to 5 and play in a 8 (or 6) deck game with no surrender and with 50% penetration where the house edge is exactly 0.5% from rules. What will be my edge using a Red7 count + IL18 compared with a Hi-Lo count but with only basic strategy?
Your edge will be about 0 with that spread and those rules, regardless of system! A 1-5 spread is not enough to beat a shoe game. 1-10 is the bare minimum to have a decent edge. Add in really bad penetration at 50%, and I would not surprised if you would be playing with a net disadvantage under these conditions.
Now if we alter the above to be a 1 to 10 spread, 6 decks, 0.5% HE off the top, and 75% penetration, then you will have a workable edge - with
Blackjack Red 7 Count System
either system. The difference would almost be a roundoff error.Also, one note is that the 'stock' Red 7 as presented by Snyder in the literature doesn't have full index numbers for the I18, so you would have to generate those on your own, or find an additional resource.