Apr 22, 2011  I am Antoniya Hamberg and I have been a Las Vegas blackjack dealer for over two years, working at Binion's Hotel and Gambling Hall (which used to be known as the Horseshoe), as well as at a.

...Now, if I could only satisfy my curiosity about the max TC count in a 6 deck game. If all the 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s somehow miraculously got dealt out, my bare bones math brain still says that's:
5 pts (1 for each 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) X 4 suits = TC +20 X 6 decks = 120?
Maybe I missed the boat on this one . . . I woudn't have a BR big enough to satisfy a TC + 120 anyway . . . :-)

FYI
Max RC in 6 deck (using Hi/Low): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... 5*4*6 = +120, HOWEVER you must take in to account what the 'neutral' cards do to effect the true count. They are worth 0, but they keep the deck diluted with not only 'big' cards. THUS, to get the MAXIMUM TC possible you must ALSO remove the 7, 8, and 9. So the RC stays the same (RC +120), but now the number of cards remaining goes down from 192 to 120. With 120 cards remaining that's about 2.3 decks, thus the maximum true count one could possibly reach in a 6D game is 120/2.3 = 52.174. You will literally never see this in your lifetime, and if you do I would be that the deck was gaffed by human error rather than you seeing this 'randomly' occur. Either way you should literally bet the table max and watch your 20 push every time and just try to trade blackjacks back and forth with the dealer (because your 3:2 payout will make you win that battle).
Thinking more about this, if there's only aces and 10's left in the deck, the TC division by 2.3 decks seems to be a moot point? Alas, it's all a moot point because this will literally never happen lol.

. . . thus the maximum true count one could possibly reach in a 6D game is 120/2.3 = 52.174!

And this brings me back to a strict, British-run grade school in the heart of Djakarta, Indonesia. Wha? Well, I'm immediately reminded of Sister Nurberge (very feisty, 4' 5' French nun, with hands of steel and laser eyes) who taught us arithmetic. 'You learn the basics, don't forget to APPLY . . . you APPLY and put into action!!! '
So I learned about TC and RC. I learned about card-counting. I knew that TC = RC/remaining deck estimate.
I did not APPLY . . . forgot to divide RC by the estimated remaining decks, which you have once more eloquently explained.
I can sleep better tonight, knowing I'll never see a TC = +120 (my dreams for the last 2 weeks), but maybe a high 20 . . . that'll work. I'll even DOUBLE my humongous BR session ($100 + $50 emergency for double-down)!!!!
To trip #3!

1) assuming hi-lo...(someone correct me if I'm wrong) +52. That would be nothing but 10's/A's.

Indeed, IBYA, you are correct, that the maximum TC is a 6-deck BJ game is 52 for Hi/lo. This assumes Romes's calculations are correct:
Max RC in 6 deck (using Hi/Low): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... 5*4*6 = +120, HOWEVER you must take in to account what the 'neutral' cards do to effect the true count. They are worth 0, but they keep the deck diluted with not only 'big' cards. THUS, to get the MAXIMUM TC possible you must ALSO remove the 7, 8, and 9. So the RC stays the same (RC +120), but now the number of cards remaining goes down from 192 to 120. With 120 cards remaining that's about 2.3 decks, thus the maximum true count one could possibly reach in a 6D game is 120/2.3 = 52.174.

Confessions Of A Las Vegas Blackjack Dealer

With only tens and aces left in the deck, either player or dealer could possibly get A-A as well as 10-10 or A-10.

How interesting! Something to at least give a passing thought of reflection. Your scenarios somewhat match the expected BJ outcomes of 43% win, 48% lose to the dealer, and 9% push, huh?
Thanks for your comment!

Aka TC +52 the player would absolutely decimate the game, as expected.

This is now my favorite (and recurring!) dream: TC+ is now in the 50s? What to do . . . ? (Heh! Heh!)
Now that I'm trying to be more math-conscious, I'm remembering the calculations that produced 52.174 as the max TC+ in a 6-deck game.

Confessions Of A Blackjack Dealer Crossword

Just for fun, I applied the concept to 'What is the max TC + for an 8-deck game?' and made an interesting discovery.
My calculations (please correct as necessary):

Blackjack Dealer Training

8 decks (416 cards) x 5 (2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s) x 4 suits/deck = 160 RC
416 cards less (8 decks x 3 (7s, 8s, 9s) x 4 suits/deck) 96 = 320 cards left in deck
320/52 = 6.15 decks left
TC = 160/6.15 = 26.016
Huh? For an 8-deck game the max TC+ is LESS than a 6-deck game (52.174)? Almost TWICE as less? Doesn't this signal that -- given a choice -- a 6-deck game is better to play than an 8-deck game? Or am I missing something, like an 8-deck game provides MORE ROUNDS to continue with ramped up bets?

Also... What game has a bigger max true count IS A TERRIBLE WAY to decide what game to play.

And now I know:
- how to correct my 'rithmetic! 8D TC+ max is just like 6D, 52!

Being A Blackjack Dealer

- don't decide on game to play based on max true count!
I think it's high time for me to decompress a week or two, and just practice card-counting.
Counting apps --> here I come!
BTW, BIG Thanks for taking time to explain!
LW