Blackjack Counting Betting Spreads and Bankroll Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'betting spread' in the context of card counting?
- The ratio between minimum and maximum bets placed (Correct answer)
- The number of hands played per hour
- The range of casinos visited
- The number of cards counted per session
Correct answer: The ratio between minimum and maximum bets placed
A betting spread is the ratio of the largest bet to the smallest bet a counter makes, such as 1-to-12 spread.
Question 2: Why do card counters use a 1-to-12 spread rather than flat betting?
- To maximize profit at positive counts and minimize loss at negative counts (Correct answer)
- To confuse pit bosses
- To stay within table limits
- To satisfy casino bonus requirements
Correct answer: To maximize profit at positive counts and minimize loss at negative counts
Varying bet size by count allows counters to bet heavily when they hold the edge and minimally when the house has the advantage.
Question 3: What is the recommended minimum bankroll for a $10 minimum bet card counter using a 1-to-12 spread?
- 150-200 units (at least $1,500) (Correct answer)
- $100
- $500
- $10,000 minimum
Correct answer: 150-200 units (at least $1,500)
A bankroll of 150-200 betting units at your minimum bet size is typically recommended to survive natural variance swings.
Question 4: What does 'risk of ruin' measure in blackjack bankroll management?
- The probability of losing the entire bankroll before reaching a profit goal (Correct answer)
- The chance of being caught counting
- The probability the dealer draws a natural blackjack
- The likelihood of table rules changing
Correct answer: The probability of losing the entire bankroll before reaching a profit goal
Risk of ruin is the statistical probability a player will exhaust their entire bankroll given their edge, spread, and starting capital.
Question 5: A card counter who flat bets regardless of the count will:
- Eliminate their counting advantage entirely (Correct answer)
- Still profit due to basic strategy
- Win more consistently
- Confuse casino surveillance more effectively
Correct answer: Eliminate their counting advantage entirely
Flat betting removes the ability to capitalize on positive counts, eliminating the mathematical edge card counting provides.
Question 6: The Kelly Criterion applied to blackjack betting suggests wagering:
- A percentage of bankroll proportional to the player edge (Correct answer)
- Half the bankroll on every positive count hand
- The table maximum at all positive counts
- A fixed $25 unit at all times
Correct answer: A percentage of bankroll proportional to the player edge
Kelly Criterion recommends betting a fraction of your bankroll equal to your edge divided by the odds, maximizing long-term growth while controlling variance.
Blackjack Counting Betting Spreads and Bankroll Management 1
What is a 'betting spread' in the context of card counting?