Where the numbers come from

Basic strategy

Hit, stand, double, split, and surrender cells are generated from the usual multi-deck total-dependent charts, with toggles for number of decks, H17/S17, DAS, and late surrender. The 16 vs 10 notes walk through the most searched cell. We do not invent a new composition-dependent strategy; if your table uses unusual rules, treat the highlight as a drill, not a casino bible.

Counting systems

Tag assignments for the nine systems are the publicly documented vectors: Hi-Lo, KO, REKO, Hi-Opt I/II, Omega II, Zen, Wong Halves, and Red 7. Betting correlation (BC) and playing efficiency (PE) quoted on each system page are the round figures from the counting literature (Griffin, The Theory of Blackjack; Schlesinger, Blackjack Attack; Snyder on Zen and Red 7; Wong on Halves). They are not re-simulated here on 10 million hands — yet.

True count and decks remaining

Balanced systems use running count ÷ decks remaining. Decks remaining can be inferred from cards seen or set by hand. Unbalanced systems (KO, REKO, Red 7) start at a published or formula IRC and never divide. Details: true count, running count.

Bet ramp

The suggested bet is a teaching ramp, not your bankroll. Balanced counts raise from true count +2 toward a user-set max at true count +5. KO/REKO use published rungs where we have them. Red 7 uses a step around the pivot. A full Kelly-criterion calculator needs your bankroll, risk of ruin, and a true EV table per TC — Anvil Table does not claim that. Use the ramp to practise when to jump, then size bets with a dedicated RoR tool if you play for real (not with this app).

Hi-Lo playing indexes

When Hi-Lo is selected and the Hi-Lo deviations plan is active, the trainer overlays Schlesinger’s Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 on the basic-strategy chart. Indexes are the six-deck Hi-Lo set republished on Wizard of Odds from Blackjack Attack. True count is floored. 11 vs ace is skipped on H17 because that cell is already a basic-strategy double. The overlay is $5 per month; Hi-Lo counting itself stays free. Details: Illustrious 18 notes. Prices: subscriptions.

Wong Halves playing indexes

Catch-18 uses the same 18 highest-EV plays as Illustrious 18, with six-deck floored indexes for fractional Wong Halves tags (not doubled Halves). A few cells differ from Hi-Lo by a point. We did not re-simulate a full Halves grid. The live overlay is $5 per month and includes the Halves counter — do not also buy the $1 count plan. Details: Wong Halves deviations.

Insurance indexes

Defaults are the commonly published round numbers (Hi-Lo insurance at true count +3, Zen +5, KO-family at the running-count pivot). Every index is editable in the UI because published values differ slightly by source and rule set.

What we cite

• Edward Thorp — Beat the Dealer (the project, not the tags)
• Stanford Wong — Professional Blackjack (Halves, Hi-Lo practice)
• Peter Griffin — The Theory of Blackjack (BC/PE language)
• Don Schlesinger — Blackjack Attack (Illustrious 18, ramps)
• Arnold Snyder — Zen Count, Red 7
• Wizard of Odds — independent strategy and house-edge tables

What this is not

Not a live-table device. Not a random-number casino. Not advice to play for money. Charts can be wrong for a specific shoe, penetration, or rule variant. If you find a cell that disagrees with a primary source, that is a bug — enquiry@aks-anvil.eu.