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If you expand the TC range downward to include the 3 integers, as shown on the next table (MBS-2), then you will have at your disposal the perfect playing strategies for over 86% of the TC’s that normally occur within any six-deck shoe game. As mentioned in chapter 4, the TC stays within the limits of + 3 and 3 approximately 86.6% of the time. Therefore, if you have absorbed the MBS-1 information without too much difficulty, you are well advised to study the next chart, since you will probably find yourself playing with a slightly negative count from time to time, and knowing the proper MBS plays within this TC range will certainly save you money in those instances.

Modified Basic Strategy Table 2 (MBS-2)

For Hi-Low TC’s from 3 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.

The DEALER is showing a:

YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
5-7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
8	H	H	H	3	2	H	H	H	H	H
9	1	-1	-2	D	D	3	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	-1	H	H
II	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	-3	1

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

The DEALER is showing a:

YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
12	2	1	0	-1	-2	H	H	H	H	H
13	-1	-2	s	s	s	H	H	H	H	H
14	-3	S	s	s	s	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	s	s	s	s	H	H	H	3	H
16	S	s	s	s	s	H	H	H	0	3
17 +	s	s	s	s	s	S	S	S	S	S
I8sf	s	s	s	s	s	S	S	H	H	1*

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

A, 2	H	H	2	- |	-2	H	H	H	H	H
A, 3	H	H	1	-2	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 4	H	H	-1	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 5	H	3	-1	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 6	1	-2	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 7	1	-1	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	1*
A, 8	S	S	3	1	1	S	S	S	S	S
A, 9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

(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.)

2,2	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3, 3	-2	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	3	-1	-2	H	H	H	H	H
6,6	-1	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	-2	-3	P	P	P	3	P	P	S	3
A, A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

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

MBS-2 Notes

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

2. If surrendering is allowed, surrender your 15 versus 9 or A when the TC = 2 or more. Also surrender 16 versus 9, T, or A with any positive count.

3. Splitting 4s is always preferable to doubling the 8, unless doubling after splitting is not allowed.

4. Soft 18 (shown as “I8sf” above) is often obtained after doubling is no longer an option. It is included here, since it is the only soft total that has a potential MBS.

Perhaps an easier way to grasp the significance of the MBS integers shown on these charts is to view them simply as “cutoff” points, beyond which correct playing decisions depart from the regular “tried and true” BS. The numbers simply represent the “limits” where BS no longer properly applies.

For those readers who are not very mathematically inclined, let’s quickly review the BS play changes indicated on the MBS-2 chart above, section by section. This concept is far too important to risk any confusion. Once you are completely at ease interpreting the information presented on the table above, reading subsequent MBS charts will be more beneficial, because they will be easily understood and more quickly absorbed. Those readers who are having no difficulty grasping these MBS concepts may decide to skip ahead to the MBS-4 chart.

The DEALER is showing a:

YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
8	H	H	H	3	2	H	H	H	H	H
9	1	-1	-2	D	D	3	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	-1	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	-3	1

When you receive a total of 8 against the dealer’s 5 or 6, BS tells you to simply hit it. However, if you know that the TC is + 3 or more, you can gain the advantage of a bonus bet in these two cases by doubling-down. You are more than likely to end up with an 18, while the dealer is even more apt to bust, since she will be forced to add at least two more draws to the stiff 5 or 6 up-cards. The index “2″ means that + 2 is the “point of departure” from BS. If the TC = + 2 or more, double your 8 versus a 6.

When the TC is less than +2, you revert to BS and just take a hit. Similarly, the TC must be + 3 or more before doubling your 8 against a 5 is justified.

The same reasoning applies to your 9 versus a 2 or a 7. Double-down when the TC is +1 or more and + 3 or more, respectively. Otherwise simply hit these hands, as you would playing normal BS.

The ” 1″ index for your 9 versus 3 means that you should not double if the TC is less than 1, but abide by BS if the TC equals or is greater than 1. Similarly, the ” 2″ index for your 9 versus 4 means that you should not double-down if the TC is less than 2, but do follow BS as long as the TC is 2 or higher.

You must remember, of course, that 1 is more than 2. Thinking about subzero temperatures on a thermometer scale can help clear up any difficulty you may be experiencing in ranking negative integers. For example, a reading of 1 degree on a thermometer is “one below zero,” which is a higher temperature, i.e., more heat, than 2 degrees. Similarly, a TC of 1 is greater than 2.

The cutoff points indicated by these negative indices make good sense, because you would not want to risk receiving small cards after doubling-down, especially when the dealer’s chances of drawing pat hands are actually increased because of the weaker TC’s (which indicate a superabundance of low-ranking cards available). Likewise, doubling your 10 versus 9 is not wise if the TC is less than 1, since there is a better chance you will not receive a T.

Doubling your 11 versus A is advisable now, since your chances of getting 21 are somewhat increased with a TC of -I-1 or more. The ” 3″ means that you should depart from BS if the TC is less than 3, because the odds of your drawing a low card on your double would be too great.

The DEALER is showing a:

YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
12	2	1	0	-1	-2	H	H	H	H	H
13	-1	-2	s	s	s	H	H	H	H	H
14	-3	S	s	s	s	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	s	s	s	H	H	H	3	H
16	S	s	s	s	s	H	H	H	0	3
I8sf	s	s	s	s	s	S	S	H	H	1

When you draw a 12 versus 2 or 3, BS dictates taking a hit, but when the TC’s reach +2 and +1 respectively, correct MBS requires you to stand. Although the chance of the dealer’s busting is greater with these counts, so is yours! It is no longer worth taking the chance of trying to improve your hard 12, as it was when the count was neutral or unknown. The “0″ index for 12 versus 4 means to stand on any positive RC, but hit for any negative RC. ” -1″ and ” - 2″ for the 5 and 6 indices tells you to stick with the BS unless the TC drops below 1 or 2 respectively, in which case you would obviously hit.

Hit your 13 versus a 2 or 3 when the TC is lower than the table numbers of 1 and 2 respectively. Similarly, 14 versus 2 justifies a hit if the TC is less than 3. You are more apt to improve your stiff totals in these cases, rather than bust, when the counts are negative.

With surrendering not being offered as an option, stand with a 15 versus T if the TC is + 3 or more. Also, a 16 versus T or A does not warrant a hit if the TC’s are better than 0 and + 3 respectively. With these losing hands, in such situations your best option is to stand and hope the dealer busts because of the extra T’s that are ready and waiting to appear.

The DEALER is showing a:
YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
A, 2	H	H	2	-1	-2	H	H	H	H	H
A, 3	H	H	1	-2	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 4	H	H	-1	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 5	H	3	-2	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 6	1	-2	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A, 7	1	-1	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	1*
A, 8	S	S	3	1	1	S	S	S	S	S

All of the numbers in this section, except one, indicate that a double-down is required if the TC equals, or is greater than the indices shown. The sole exception is the case of A,7 versus A. It is sometimes recommended to stand (rather than take a hit as BS dictates) with any soft 18 versus an Ace when the TC is +1 or better. Although this advice is not unanimously accepted as the correct strategy, its merit is definitely worth considering. The argument is basically this: As the TC increases, the likelihood of your improving an 18 total diminishes, since you will probably just turn your hand from soft to hard. The dealer must have a small card in the hole (smaller than a T at least) and may be forced to draw an additional card to it, thereby creating a greater chance of breaking.

Since I can find no definitive answer regarding this particular situation from extant sources, it must be left up to you to make your own decision. Whichever way you decide to play this hand, though, be consistent. Don’t worry about it much. Even if you choose the “wrong” play, your losses over time will be negligible. It is presently an arbitrary call, of which players should be aware, and I would welcome proof one way or the other so that future printings of this publication could provide unambiguous advice regarding this particular circumstance.

The DEALER is showing a:

YOU have:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
3, 3	-2	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	3	-1	-2	H	H	H	H	H
6,6	-1	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
9,9	-2	-3	P	P	P	3	P	P	S	3

Do not split if the TC is less than the table numbers shown in this section. Split only if the TC equals or is greater than the appropriate indices indicated. Otherwise follow BS rules for the remaining splits.