Ace Five Card Counting Related Questions

Michael, phenomenal site(s)! I had never been to a casino nor have I ever really played any type of cards; but a rather unique opportunity arose allowing my wife and I to go to Las Vegas. So, I found your site, studied basic blackjack strategy, printed/fastidiously used the strategy charts and am happy to report that we finished money ahead by a factor of two after one week in Vegas.

(As as side note, our first night in Law Vegas was Halloween...we are still trying to recover from that culture shock).

Thank you...I almost, I repeat, almost want to send you a commission check.

And now I am hooked to the extent I am practicing card counting...therefore, my questions (I live in PA and table games are imminent in both DE and PA so I want to be ready when the time comes).

1. Ace/Five Counting:

A. In your explanation of the Ace/Five Counting, you advise that said system should be used w/S17 and other liberal rules. Will this system work with H17 rules and would the +2 benchmark be altered to compensate for the differing rules?

B. Could any of the Don Schlesinger Illustrious 18/Fab 4 or any variation thereof rules also apply with Ace Five and if so, which ones? And at what count levels? I guess the biggest question revolves around the Insurance decision and at whick count level should one start taking insurance...

2. Shufflemaster Blackjack Machines in Pennsylvania:

A. I think I understand from your site that there is a peculiarity in PA in that each player is dealt cards from their own individual shoe...if this is indeed the case, is card counting possible?

B. If card counting is indeed possible, using the HiLo system would seem to be the way to go. Is there any particular type of counting protocol that I would need to follow? What would be the assumed penetration? etc.

Thank you once again for information you provide...but you may have created a monster.

Be sure, more questions will follow.

boymimbo, I find your responses on other threads to be particularly enlightening so I hope you chime in.

I'm also wondering about Question 1A. Does anyone have any input?

Thanks for all the kind words.

Ace/Five count: Sorry, but I don't know. I would have to get my hands dirty with my code for this to answer it, and I haven't touched in a few years. You may find this article of some help.

Pennsylvania BJ: I don't know that either. Card counting would in theory be possible, but since the game is on a machine, I don't think the player knows when the cards are shuffled. It wouldn't surprise me if they are shuffled after every hand. Also, the dealer's cards are dealt from a separate shoe, which would require two counts. I've never seen anybody address a counting strategy for that.

I used the A/5 count with a 8 unit max today at Barona in San Diego. $5 table with 6 deck shoe.

The count had me betting 8 units twice and both times I hit a blackjack. It was awesome.