Optimal Strategy & Blackjack

Why didn't I just calculate all the strategies' expected value against the "optimal hands" and use that as my fitness algorithm instead of playing x games against each other? Well, I think I'll just calculate the expected value for my next program.

I haven't decided weather to use C++ or Java, but I want to output a table of the optimal blackjack strategy (the basic strategy should be for when the count is at 0), based on the count.

First of all, I want to see, based on the rules at Spirit Mountain, is this the optimal strategy when the count is 0. Second, I want to know how the strategy changes based on the count. Third, I want to know, do I have an advantage, if I simply bet the minimum, but play the optimal strategy. If not, then how wide of a spread do I need to play in order to cut my losses and maximize my wins in order to gain an advantage. I'm guessing playing the minimum when I expect to lose, and 2x when I expect to win might be enough if I use the optimal strategy, but I want to know for sure.

This all started because I have some friends who play blackjack. I played blackjack in a casino for the third time in my life, lost $20, bringing my lifetime wins/losses to a grand total of -$10. I won $15 using a coupon at a $10 min. bet table in Vegas, and I lost $5 at Spirit Mountain on my 21st birthday. Anyways, I realized I didn't even know basic strategy, and I really wanted to learn. Plus, I knew about counting cards, and yet none of my friends seemed like they were serious about doing it, even though they all knew how too.

Honestly, I think if you're going to play blackjack, you may as well count cards to gain a little edge. And as long as you're only playing $5-$10 a hand, I don't think anyone will even really care if you try to count cards. Chances are you will mess up or go broke trying anyways.

I've been practicing, and last night I counted down a deck in 42 seconds. I heard in an episode of Breaking Vegas that one team of pros required you to be able to count down the deck in less than 30 seconds, so I still have a ways to go. But it took a lot of work for me to even get under 1 minute, so I'm proud of that (a lot of work = 2 days practice ~1 hour or less each day, lol).

So anyways, weather I do it in C++ or Java I just plan on outputting to an html file. Html makes such pretty tables you know. ;)

Thanks for reading.