Best counting system for the itinerant counter

[vulturesrow]

As a guy that doesnt play blackjack regularly, probably a few days evvery 3 months or so, what would be a good choice of counting systems? I have employed the Hi-Opt I with only a few basic strategy variations and had success with it. I know it has a pretty high betting efficiency which seem the route to go with my frequency of play. On the other hand, I have seen advice that suggests a sometimes player would do well to learn a more complicated system to maximize his expectation on the occasions that he does sit down at a blackjack table. What say ye oh experts of 2+2?

[charlie_t_jr]

It would seem to me the less you play, the less complicated the system. Complicated systems take a lot of work and experience in the casino. There's really no point in a more complicated system if you're making frequent mistakes at the table.

I suppose it would depend on the game you would be concentrating on, but I would stick with the Hi/Lo or KO count...easy to pick up again after not playing for a while.

[CORed]

A more complex system will increase your EV, but only if you can play it without mistakes. It is better to play a simple system perfectly than a complex system imperfectly. BTW, Hi-Lo has a better betting efficiency that Hi-Opt (unless you are side-counting aces with Hi-Opt), because Hi-Lo counts the aces. You might also consider KO or Red Seven, which are unbalanced counts that can be used without true count conversion.

[Theodore Donald Kiravatsos]

...and I think you can find the Red Seven count in Arnold Snyder's Blackbelt in Blackjack.