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The first MBS chart below (MBS-1) shows in bold type the points at which changes should be made to normal BS plays, as the TC rises to + 3 according to the corresponding index numbers listed. Various plays indicated are to be altered from regular BS plays for specific hands only if the TC is equal to or greater than those particular indices shown.

For example, if the TC is merely +1, you can see that the usual playing strategy should be modified by doubling both your 9 versus 2 and your A,8 versus 5, instead of hitting and standing respectively, as correct BS dictates for these cases. If the TC climbs to + 2, however, you would then double 8 versus 6 and stand on 12 versus 2, etc., as well as follow all of the +1 indices, but not vet the + 3s. When the TC does reach +3 or more, you naturally adopt appropriate playing strategy changes for all of the index numbers on the MBS-1 chart, since they stand for TC’s that are equal to or greater than each number shown, and + 3 obviously meets this minimum requirement.

The following abbreviations are used in all the MBS tables in this chapter:

H = Hit P = sPlit

S = Stand sf=soft

D = Double An asterisk (°) indicates a questionable play.

Modified Basic Strategy Table 1 (MBS-1)

For Hi-Low TC’s from +1 to + 3, in shoe games where dealers must hit soft 17s, and where doubling-down on any two cards is allowed even after splitting. No surrender offered.

(Double, if the TC equals or is greater than, and hit if the TC is less than, the integers in the section above.)

(Stand, if the TC equals or is greater than, but hit if the TC is less than, the integers listed in the section above.)

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The DEALER is showing a:

(Double, only if the TC equals or is greater than, the integers in this “soft doubling” section above. Otherwise hit or stand as BS dictates. The possible exception is A,7 versus A; stand if the TC is I or better.)

(Split, only if the TC equals or is greater than, the integers in the section above; otherwise, hit or stand as BS suggests.)

MBS-1 Notes:

1. The 16-versus-T index is 0, which requires you to stand on any positive count. This apparently contradicts BS, which requires a hit here; however, an “unknown” count is not the same as a 0 count.

2. Taking insurance is not justified with a TC of only + 3.

3. If surrendering is allowed, surrender your 15 versus 9 or A when the TC = +2 or more, rather than merely hitting as BS indicates. Continue to surrender 16 versus 9, T, or A with any positive count.

4. The + signs for positive indices will not appear on subsequent tables. The negative TC’s will retain minus signs in front of them in order to distinguish between these two different types of integers.

If you plan to learn only a bit of MBS, for whatever your reasons, then the MBS-1 chart shown above should certainly be it. First of all, knowing the correct plays to make when the count is positive is much more important than when the count is negative. This is true because you will have more money on the table with positive counts, and therefore stand to win or lose more on these hands. (Very conservative players do not play at all unless the count is positive.) Second, learning the correct indices for TC’s up to +3 includes most of the positive ranges that you are apt to encounter in a shoe game.