Cover 4: This adds the opposite. It allows an increase after a loss if we had a split or double. The gain here is more substantial.

Cover 5: This game includes surrender. After a surrender, it is common to top off the bet. Let us also allow an increase or decrease after a surrender along with a suitable excuse.

Cover 6: Full cover does not allow a large increase or decrease. Let us relax this somewhat and allow a larger increase or decrease moving two rungs instead of one but still not allowing a jump of three or more rungs. That is, allow a jump from 2 to 8 units or vice-versa, but not allow a change from 1 to 8, 8 to 1, 2 to 16, or 16 to 2 units bet. This modification returns a substantial amount that we lost by allowing quicker reaction to changes in the count.

Summary

The point of this chart is that we can retrieve much of the lost advantage through various compromises in cover. Additionally we can jump bets after a split, jump bets after a Blackjack, and make excuses for rare large jumps when the count takes a nosedive or spurts up.

Don Schlesinger adds pretending to “steam” (increase after a loss), reducing after a push with 20 against 20, mentioned in Blackjack Attack (“What's the sense; can't even win with a 20,” “taking profits”), reducing after a win (“Let's not get crazy here”), jumping (“last hand before I go — taking a shot”). The point is that you do not need to completely destroy your game using cover. But when you make betting changes that do not look like a normal gambler, making a comment can be a form of cover in and of itself.

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger