Rarely much of an advantage with counting?

[Whonder]

Yes this is my first post, and yes I'm a newbie when it comes to taking blackjack seriously. But I have a question about the hi-low counting system that I was hoping someone could answer.

It seems in my experience that there is barely ever enough of an advantage one way or the other as far as how many high cards or low cards are still in the deck. Sometimes it will get to 2 or 3 or so in a single deck game, one way or the other, but corrects itself very quickly.

Is card counting really only effective every once in a while, when a deck for some reason gets way out of proportion and the cards aren't being thrown out at nearly equal rates? It really just seems like most of the time, we're hovering right around 0 and it does me no good.

[Surfteq]

IF you are gonna Count, imo, avoid the 6 Deck Shoes and full tables,
and stick with Double-Deck "head-on" with the Dealer only,
using this Count :
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 = +1
8 = 0
9, 10, Ace = -1

[Whonder]

IF you are gonna Count, imo, avoid the 6 Deck Shoes and full tables,
and stick with Double-Deck "head-on" with the Dealer only,
using this Count :
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 = +1
8 = 0
9, 10, Ace = -1

And adjust your bets if it gets to +or-2?

[Surfteq]

After the Count is +3 or higher

[Whonder]

After the Count is +3 or higher

So what if you show up and the dealer is ready to go one on one but he uses 6 decks?

[Surfteq]

I AVOID 6 Deck Shoes whenever possible...VERY difficult to consistently beat, and the Dealer BUST Rate is usually not more than 20%...
there are a few Casinos here in California that have $2.00 minimum 6 Deck Shoes.

[Whonder]

I AVOID 6 Deck Shoes whenever possible...VERY difficult to consistently beat, and the Dealer BUST Rate is usually not more than 20%...
there are a few Casinos here in California that have $2.00 minimum 6 Deck Shoes.

Doesn't it give you away as a counter though if you say no thanks when you see them pull out 6 decks? Why would a regular player care?

[Surfteq]

No...You can walk around a Casino until you find a Double-Deck Table...You do not have to Play at a 6 Deck Table.

[Whonder]

No...You can walk around a Casino until you find a Double-Deck Table...You do not have to Play at a 6 Deck Table.

OK. I'm definitely a newb. I was in Vegas just a couple weeks ago, but I only was looking for how much the minimum bet was. It says how many decks they use right on the table or what?

[Surfteq]

You can find some low minimum Tables at the Freemont area there in Vegas, and also in Laughlin, where they have $1.00 Single Deck 24/7 at the Colorado Belle Casino

[Grifter]

........and also in Laughlin, where they have $1.00 Single Deck 24/7 at the Colorado Belle Casino
That game is 6:5 blackjack.....Don't play it !!

[Surfteq]

I like to play it for fun since it's only $1.00 minimum single deck, and it's right next to my favorite Roulette table there...
also, it's super fun to double-down on those Blackjacks = 2 to 1 pay instead of 6 to 5, and Split 10's when the Dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 up.

[Ray]

There is a great deal of bad information and advice in this thread...
avoid it!

[unclenorm]

OK so now the count is +5 or -5 what do you do then..... what's the next card out of the shoe????? only learn to count the spots on the cards and you'll do fine....

[Liezel]

There is a great deal of bad information and advice in this thread...
avoid it!



Yes, and lets guess from whom again?? The ever-famous roulette playing surfteq. Listen if you just wanna throw money away I can give you my address you know... I'll gladly take your free losings from Roulette.





also, it's super fun to double-down on those Blackjacks = 2 to 1 pay instead of 6 to 5, and Split 10's when the Dealer has a 4, 5, or 6 up.



it may be FUN, but do you know how bad 6:5 bj is compared to the normal 3:2 and HOW HORRIBLE it is to split 10's against *anything*?!?!?!?

SIGH.......................LieZeL

[Surfteq]

Liezel mate,
my point was that it is FUN at the $1.00 single deck table at the Colorado Bell in Laughlin...
imo, it's a great opportunity to experiment and learn,
and have a great time!!!

[Liezel]

...and lose money. :roll:


~LieZzzzzzzzzzeL

[i_dream_of_Jaynie3367]

I disagree with the person saying to avoid 6 deck games. I agree the pitch games are the better games to play. Thats a no doubt about it. I've played them in Vegas, and those are the only games I play while in Vegas because here in Atlantic City they do not offer them. They have single deck 6:5 in A.C., but thats a total crap game. So my only choices are 6 deck and 8 deck. 8 deck I find nearly impossible to beat. 6 deck I have been currently playing and it is no wheres near as hard to beat compared to 8 deck. I played 6 deck BJ today and I had more shoes with good counts than shoes with bad counts. There is definatley still opportunities in 6 deck game. 6 deck is definatley not impossible to beat if youyou know how to count accurately and know when to sit out when it is no good.

I'd say the only shoe game to avoid is 8 deck. You'll be lucky if you have 2 good shoes for the day in an 8 deck game thats how rediculous it is. I use K.O. and rarely see the count in an 8 deck game reach -6. If it does you usually have to try and take advantage of it while its there because it usually shoots back up real quick.

Those are just my experiences with being limited to shoe games in Atlantic City.

[Nickels_n_Bullets]

SurfTeq:

next time you sit at that $1 table...
Count A's as -1 and 5's as +1.

When the count is +1 bet $2 and when the count is +3 bet $3
LEAVE if the count is -3.

How did you do?

[Surfteq]

Yes, I always use this Count :
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 = +1
8 = 0
9, 10, Ace = -1

My favorite time to Raise my Bets is AFTER a Count of +3 or higher,
and AFTER the Dealer Wins 3 Hands in a Row...
It's a Combination of the Count + a Delayed and Limited Progression...
I go from $1.00 to $5.00, then to $10.00, then to $20.00,
and then sometimes to $40.00...
THIS has been and is by far my most EFFECTIVE Strategy...
Also, I prefer Double-Deck whenever possible.