Far be it for me to start trouble, but I was wondering, why is everyone so hell bent on the mathematical gymnastiscs of blackjack than the actual factual nuances of the game. It seems as if so many are so caught up in math theory and statistics they're forgetting the big picture, playing an overall winning game. Don't get me wrong I come from a math backround, thats what sold me on the potential success of card counting, as well as the great success of others I knew who used it. That being said I believe there comes a time when over analyzing the math and the potentials of it hinders actual play. Sometimes looking so hard at something doesn't allow you to truly see whats right in front of you. There are so many so called blackjack experts out there handing out in depth, and theoretically sound advice, but have never really made a profitable run at it in real life. I find it absolutely amazing that someone would go through great lengths to analyze every system of counting, pour over countless statistics and percentages, run endless computer simulations, in an effort to get a better educated guess what unknown random cards might be coming out next. For me, I'm not much into guessing, I'd rather put my efforts into putting cards into my hand that I've already seen from a previous shoe, cards that for a fact I know will be advantageous to me. Blackjack is beatable because its one of the only games that has a history. That meaning you can and use information from previously dealt hands to try to calculate whats coming next. Well I say why stop there, those cards that you so carefully counted in that discard tray, are just sitting there waiting to be used over and over again, and with those cards you already know what they are. Now I ask you would you rather play through all the negative variance waiting for what you hope will turn into a positive percentage for making some just above minimum unit bets, or would you like to be gauranteed a chance every shoe of making multi unit bets, whether it be for one hand or 2 decks, you are almost aways going to be able to use something to your benefit. You see so much of what I talk about cannot be run on a computer sim. For example, yes you can factor in something like dealer errors, but it wont teach how to spot them. Nor will it give you information on how to use them to your advantage, or how to manipulate the game so the cards you want come to you when you truly expect them. Heres a secret that alot of pros know but can't sell because its not really a secret. The only math you need to know is, how to size your unit to your bankroll, risk of ruin, how to figure your e.v. to properly track and examine your play, and which games are good to play, although experience and common sense will soon take over having to use math to figure out percentages on house advantage. Those things with a solid counting system and flawless basic strategy(including the indices that go with your counting system) is all the essential math you'll ever need. For those that don't really care about winning and just love the whole math theory behind it, well I'm not talking to you. But to everyone else, this I assure you, to be as close to a gauranteed winner as can be in this game, you need to drop the calculator and get in the game.