Speed count defense

Dear Mr. Scoblete,

I purchased the Speed Count book Beat Blackjack Now and started playing using the Speed Count. I have had a remarkable start winning the first seven nights: $1,100, $600, $200, $1,475, $675, $700 and $300.

The reason that I am writing is I participate on a Las Vegas website. When I started a thread regarding the Speed Count asking anyone if they had any experience with this, I got a number of derogatory comments saying the count was basically the same as the Ace-Five count. They basically spoke of your product that it was a joke. I did a search on the net regarding your product and it has seemed to have received a lot of criticism over the years. I like it but I know my tremendous success will not continue.

Could you please quantify the success rate of the speed count versus the KO count and the Hi Lo count?

Any other comments you might have would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

Frank's response: I sent this to Dan Pronovost the creator of Speed Count. Over the last few years, Speed Count and the Optimum Basic Strategy have had a tremendous positive impact for players who had difficulty learning or couldn't learn the traditional and far harder counting systems such as KO and Hi Lo. Of course, there are critics, usually other writers who have their own agendas, one of which is to put down Dan Pronovost, a true genius, for his breakthrough discoveries. Speed Count is easy to learn (maybe 15 minutes and two hours of practice); it does not operate as other counts do, which means it is far harder for the casino to tell you are counting, and it makes the game of blackjack have a decided player advantage. Pronovost has created something new and easy, and the envious lesser lights enjoy taking shots at him because they can't match his brilliance.

Below is Dan's response to Ben's e-mail.

Dan Pronovost's response:

Hello Ben:

Norm Wattenberg, a competitor to my software, and Don Schlesinger have made many negative remarks online regarding me personally and about Speed Count.

I will let the facts speak for themselves:

- The Ace/5 count is not anywhere the same count in method at all. A simple analysis will show you why (different cards counted, Speed Count has no on the fly subtraction, which is the key reason it is better).

- The speed count system has been vetted, and replicated in software, by another well-known expert: Fred Renzey, author of Blackjack Bluebook, and creator of several simple card counting methods for blackjack. Here is a link to his independent analysis and article, which includes details on his data from Speed Count: http://www.midwestgamingandtravel.com/Articles/2007/07-06%20Worlds%20Easiest%20Card%20Counting%20Systems.htm

Specifically, he wrote: "...the Speed Count, played appropriately, would yield a net player advantage between 4/10% and 1/2%."

- With our own Blackjack simulator software, you can replicate the edge with Speed Count, and verify it works as documented.

- The books by Frank include detailed tables of simulation data showing every permutation of data and the edge/bankroll requirement for Speed Count.

- What I tell people is, "Speed Count is a very fast and simple way to get a real positive edge in blackjack in a couple hours of training. It is not as powerful as High-Low and other advanced systems, but its ease of use is good for many average players, and helps enormously with camouflage and reducing player errors."

- Al Rogers of Bj21.com and Michael Shackleford have reviewed and used the Speed Count system, and did provide public commentary here, which we use with their permission: http://www.goldentouchblackjack.com/reviews.shtml

So, you may conclude what you wish! Your own bankroll results also provide some positive examples, which I get many, many e-mails similar to.

Thanks,

Dan Pronovost
dan@deepnettech.com
DeepNet Technologies
www.DeepNetTech.com
www.BJInsider.com