Extra: FELT

FELT is a balanced multi-level card counting system using three count values: +1, +2, and -2. It gives the five core low cards (3–6) a stronger +2 signal than Hi-Lo while maintaining a balanced structure, allowing True Count conversion for precise betting decisions.

Hi-Lo counts all low cards (2–6) as +1 and high cards (10–A) as -1, making it the most common beginner system. FELT raises 3–6 to +2 for stronger signals on the most favorable low cards, and lowers 10 and A to -2 to preserve balance. The trade-off is higher tracking difficulty than Hi-Lo, requiring you to handle different count magnitudes at dealing speed.

FELT Card Values

Card	Count
3–6	+2
2, 7	+1
8, 9	0
10, J, Q, K, A	-2

True Count Conversion

FELT is a balanced system (RC returns to 0 after a full deck), so True Count conversion is required. TC = RC / remaining decks — the same formula as Hi-Lo. However, because the count range is wider (-2 to +2), the absolute values of RC and TC will be larger than Hi-Lo for the same card distribution.

FELT's TC thresholds do not map directly to Hi-Lo's deviation indexes. The two systems have independent index specs in the app.

Insurance

Situation	Basic Strategy	Deviation
Dealer A	No Insurance	Take insurance when TC >= +6

Surrender Deviations

Player Hand	Dealer	Deviation
15	10	Surrender when TC >= 0
15	A	Surrender when TC >= +2
15	9	Surrender when TC >= +2

Hard Hand Deviations

Player Hand	Dealer	Basic Strategy	Deviation
16	10	H / R	Stand when surrender unavailable and TC >= 0
15	10	H / R	Stand when surrender unavailable and TC >= +4
16	9	Hit	Stand when surrender unavailable and TC >= +4
16	A	Hit	Stand when surrender unavailable and TC >= +4
13	2	Hit	Stand when TC >= -1
13	3	Hit	Stand when TC >= -2
12	2	Hit	Stand when TC >= +3
12	3	Hit	Stand when TC >= +2
12	4	Stand	Stand when TC >= 0; Hit when TC < 0
12	5	Stand	Stand when TC >= -1; Hit when TC < -1
12	6	Stand	Stand when TC >= -1; Hit when TC < -1

Double Deviations

Player Hand	Dealer	Deviation
11	A	Double when TC >= +1
10	10	Double when TC >= +5
10	A	Double when TC >= +7
9	2	Double when TC >= +1
9	7	Double when TC >= +3
8	5	Double when TC >= +4
8	6	Double when TC >= +2

App Simulation Stats

The result below runs Hi-Lo and FELT each for 500,000 rounds. Hi-Lo uses Bet Ramp 4/8/12/16/20 and FELT uses 3/6/9/12/15. Hi-Lo shows ROI 0.55%, EV / 100 of 18.7, and SD / 100 of 580.49; FELT shows ROI 0.57%, EV / 100 of 24.78, and SD / 100 of 686.31.

500,000-round simulation comparison of Hi-Lo and FELT — Hi-Lo vs FELT, 500,000-round simulation result

Reading these numbers directly as a head-to-head comparison has limited meaning, because the two systems use different TC scales and different bet ramp structures. What the numbers do reflect is a key trait of FELT: its wider count range (−2 to +2) causes TC to swing more sharply, which naturally produces a higher SD / 100. When the deck turns favorable, FELT detects it with a stronger signal — which is also why its EV in favorable zones can be higher — but the same amplification applies to downswings as well.

FELT has more deviations than Hi-Lo, including double situations like 8 vs 5 and 8 vs 6 that Hi-Lo does not cover. Because the count range is wider, TC moves faster at high counts, making these edge cases trigger more often than in Hi-Lo.