K-O Fab Fives

Could someone please explain to me the significance of this customisation of the K-O Count? Why would it be favoured over the K-O Preferred system?

The authors write that this customisation is specific to a 6-deck game, but it adds something new: a rounded Preferred Matrix. However, the original K-O Preferred strategy also uses a "rounded" matrix (a rounded matrix is defined by the authors as a matrix whose entries are not described by a range of integer values). What does this mean, and what is the difference between the two systems?

Furthermore, the authors state that the advantage with this customisation is that all matrix plays and critical betting counts are now divisible by 5. How does this work out, and how does it benefit the player?

Thank you.

What's the source of this info? Is it a book or a link?

Quote: Wino

What's the source of this info? Is it a book or a link?

"Knock-Out Blackjack" page 109
Only an example of simplification. IMHO, completely useless.

I think I might know what the author is trying to get at. By rounding the numerous index plays to the nearest '5' it's easier for the player to remember and execute in LIVE casino play. Time/speed / more hands per hour is money. Using rounded indices does not hurt performance very much (see Arnold Snyder's website about rounded vs. exact indices.). I play the Red7 count and I round a lot of my negative index plays because they are worth so little and there can be so many of them that it's not worth the headache of remembering the exact index number.

Preferred KO has already (and equivalent) rounded index.
Fab Five only substitute -3 to -20 (IRC), 15 to -4 (group B and first betting up) and 20 to 4 (group A and max bet)

Again, it's an "example of count customization". Not useful by itself but, I agree, useful to show that's possible and how to do.

I suggest an IRC of 0 and so RC 16 and 24 to facilitate TKO or "Color of Blackjack" evolution.

Quote: Wino

I think I might know what the author is trying to get at. By rounding the numerous index plays to the nearest '5' it's easier for the player to remember and execute in LIVE casino play. Time/speed / more hands per hour is money. Using rounded indices does not hurt performance very much (see Arnold Snyder's website about rounded vs. exact indices.). I play the Red7 count and I round a lot of my negative index plays because they are worth so little and there can be so many of them that it's not worth the headache of remembering the exact index number.

Thanks for your explanation. The authors too mention that, despite the rounding, the power of this customisation is nearly the same as the standard Preferred approach. By the way, how is the Red7 count working out for you, and is it your primary count?

Quote: PhilippeB

Preferred KO has already (and equivalent) rounded index.
Fab Five only substitute -3 to -20 (IRC), 15 to -4 (group B and first betting up) and 20 to 4 (group A and max bet)

Again, it's an "example of count customization". Not useful by itself but, I agree, useful to show that's possible and how to do.

I suggest an IRC of 0 and so RC 16 and 24 to facilitate TKO or "Color of Blackjack" evolution.

Thanks for your explanation. I agree with you on the usefulness of this customisation, and I also believe that the values you have mentioned for the 6-deck count are the most practical. If I may, I would like to enhance the last point by clarifying that the values of 16 and 24 represent the key count and pivot point respectively, and for insurance one must take it when the count is at or above 23.

By the way, do you use the K-O count?

Yes, +16 and +24 are key count and pivot.

I use "Color Of Blackjack", a variation of KO

Few differences with KO
Pivot is same (24) but Key Count is fluctuant from +9 to +21
Insurance and most of playing variations are @+24
Only 16 vs 10 is @KC

For KC, you have to estimate played decks as you have to do for Wong Out in KO.

Hi Plato,

Yes I use the Red 7 count as my primary count as it turns out to be a good fit for me at this time. Because there isn't much literature on the Red 7 count, I had to do some extra reading about how to improve it which I found and continue to find interesting.