To use the SPI, start by finding the column for the number of decks being shuffled together, then add and subtract points according to the crowd conditions, the shuffle-point, the rules, and the betting spread you intend to use. In estimating shuffle-points, the SPI offers four choices—50% penetration, 67% penetration, 75% penetration, and 80% penetration. Be conservative in your estimates; don't use the 80% value unless the shuffle point truly is quite a bit deeper than 75%. Remember, it's your money on the line, so proceed cautiously. In rating a game, use this barometer:

Above 50 a winner
0-50 table-hop only
Below 0 a time waster

Seek the game with the highest point value. If a game scores 50 or above, it will almost certainly provide a long-run profit for a card counter. In most cases, the SPI will accurately gauge the right game. In creating the SPI, my goal was to try and come up with an easy scoring system that would inform a player that his counting strategy in a particular game would yield at least a 1% advantage over the house, with enough hands per hour to make the game worthwhile. But do not attempt to use the SPI to discover your precise advantage as a "percentage;" the Index won't tell you that, as the crowd conditions automatically adjust the SPI for the increased hands per hour. If a game scores below 50 on the SPI, then you will probably not find it profitable to sit down and play. If you're going to play these games, you must table-hop to avoid negative counts.

THE SNYDER PROFIT INDEX
NUMBER OF DECKS
Ì 2 3,4 5, 6 7,8
Heads-Up +85 +50 +37 +30 +27
2-4 Players +55 +31 +21 +18 +16
5-7 Players +25 +13 +7 +4 +3
80% Dealt +35 +20 + 18 + 16 +14
75% Dealt +20 + 11 + 10 +9 +8
67% Dealt 0 0 0 0 0
50% Dealt -32 -20 -15 -13 -11
Early Surrender +55 +33 +26 +23 +21
Double After Splits + 10 +8 +6 +5 +4
Late Surrender +12 +9 +7 +6 +5
No Re-Splits -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
Stands Soft 17 0 0 0 0 0
Hits Soft 17 -15 -12 -10 -9 -8
Double Any Two 0 0 0 0 0
Double 10/11 Only -20 -16 -14 -12 -11
No Insurance -50 -34 -24 -20 -18
No Hole Card -9 -7 -5 -4 -3
(European)
1-2 Spread +20 + 12 +8 +6 +5
1-4 Spread +30 +19 + 14 + 11 +9
1-8 Spread +40 +26 +20 + 16 +13
1-12 Spread +50 +33 +26 +21 +17

Let's use the SPI now to evaluate a sample game: Let's say you've just walked into a downtown Las Vegas casino. The tables are about half-full (with 2 to 4 players at most tables), and the games are being dealt from 6-deck shoes. After observing for a few minutes, you note that the dealers tend to cut off about one and a half decks, so about 3/4 of the cards are being dealt out between shuffles. The standard downtown Vegas rules are in force, so dealer hits soft 17, double on any two cards. Stepping into the coffee shop, you check the Index. Under 6 decks, with 2-4 players, you get 18 points. With 75% of the cards dealt, you add 9 points to this, for a total of 27. Since the dealer hits soft 17, you subtract 9 points, bringing you back to 18 points. With a 1 to 8 betting spread—16 points—the SPI would total 34 points, and even with a 1 to 12 betting spread, the SPI would only get to 39 points. You might also note that if you could play heads-up with the dealer in this game, the SPI would go up to 49 points, bordering on playable.

• Blackjack – The Snyder Profit Index Part5 (0)
• Blackjack – The Snyder Profit Index Part4 (0)
• Blackjack – The Snyder Profit Index Part3 (0)