Bet Spread

Nearly all of a counter's profit comes from one thing: having more money on the table when the true count is high than when it is low. The ratio between your smallest and largest bet is your bet spread. A 1–8 spread at a 25 table means 25 when the count is neutral and 200 at the top.

A common ramp for six decks: one unit at a true count of +1 or below, two units at +2, four at +3, eight at +4, and either stop there or go to twelve or sixteen at +5. The rule of thumb behind it is Kelly: bet about your edge in percent of your bankroll — at a one-percent edge, one percent of what you have.

The bankroll is what makes the spread survivable. Swings are brutal even with an edge; a common guideline is at least 100 to 200 maximum bets, and the smaller the bankroll the higher the risk of losing it all before the edge shows. The Bankroll tools in the trainer let you see that risk as a number instead of a feeling.

There is also the question of cover: jumping from one unit to sixteen the moment the count rises is the most visible thing a counter can do. Ramping up in steps, and not dropping to the minimum the instant the count falls, costs a little edge and buys a lot of time at the table. The Bet Spread mode trains the ramp; the casino session grades every bet you make against it.