Simple Knock-Out Strategy House Edge

I recently started playing/counting blackjack. I play at a local casino: double-deck, dealer hits on soft 17, double on any two cards, no double after split, no resplitting aces, no hitting after splitting aces.

I use a simple knock-out strategy: 2 through 7 as +1, aces and 10s as -1, increase bets when +5 or more. Take insurance when +8 or more.

Everywhere I've seen online says the odds will be in the player's favor only if I bet A LOT more when the count is high. If I play the appropriate basic strategy (from the Wizard of Odds) and only double my bet when the count is +5 or more, what is the house edge? or is it in my favor?

Short answer: spreading 1-2 is not enough to overcome the house edge.

You are being ground up waiting for high plus counts and 2 to 1 spread will not allow yoiu to break even, let alone win.

Quote: debitncredit

I recently started playing/counting blackjack. I play at a local casino: double-deck, dealer hits on soft 17, double on any two cards, no double after split, no resplitting aces, no hitting after splitting aces.

I use a simple knock-out strategy: 2 through 7 as +1, aces and 10s as -1, increase bets when +5 or more. Take insurance when +8 or more.

Everywhere I've seen online says the odds will be in the player's favor only if I bet A LOT more when the count is high. If I play the appropriate basic strategy (from the Wizard of Odds) and only double my bet when the count is +5 or more, what is the house edge? or is it in my favor?

debitncredit,

You failed to provide two important pieces of information:

1. What is the penetration?

2. How many players are playing?

I fired up CVCX and looked at KO-Preferred (a bit more advanced than the Basic version you're using) with 3 total players and 50% pen, and found that the house still has the edge for a 1:2 spread: your IBA is -0.150%. If the pen is 75%, though, then you have a 0.098% IBA.

Hope this helps!

Dog Hand

Yeah, that's a breakeven strategy. That's not horrible.

Many's a time I wished I had broke EVEN !

Thanks for looking in Dog Hand!
The penetration is about 75%. I can usually play alone, but 3 (including me) at most. How about 1:5 spread?

How much is playing alone better than with 2 people?

Quote: debitncredit

Thanks for looking in Dog Hand!
The penetration is about 75%. I can usually play alone, but 3 (including me) at most. How about 1:5 spread?

How much is playing alone better than with 2 people?

debitncredit,

With 75% pen and a 1:5 spread (and using KO Preferred), for heads-up play I find an IBA of 0.925%, while with 3 players, the IBA is 0.886%.

Hope this helps!

Dog Hand

gee I am not a math **** , but seems to me you might be playing , well, like, sort of, twice as many hands ??