BJ pays normal 3-2 or pays normal as in even money!? If it pays even money then get out of the game, that's a pretty huge swing, over 2% if I remember correctly.

It sounds like you have a pretty relaxed atmosphere to play in. One thing you will need to incorporate once you get to the point where counting is no longer 'taxing' but second nature is spreading your bets. Flat betting is just that, flat. Much better to make larger bets (esp. since the place you're playing doesn't sound like they'd recognize Stu Ungar if he walked through the doors!) when you have the true count advantage. I don't know what count you're using, fill us in?

I'm sure you are since you've obviously read up on it, but make sure you make all the 'little' adjustments in your game that differs from 1 or 2 decks to a six deck game. Such splitting sixes vs. a deuce if indeed you are allowed to double after a split? You weren't clear on that point. I've been in a game where they allow you to double on more than two cards also, you don't happen to be lucky enough to be in one of those games do you?

I haven't read Professional Blackjack so I'm not sure what you're using to memorze the charts/tables but just keep practicing. 60 hours may seem like a lot of time but it hardly is. When I started I put in 6 solid months of reading, memorizing, counting and I don't even play blackjack anymore lol You're trying to do something that very few people can do, make consistent money from the casino, it's going to take a little work.

I'll write more later, waiting to hear from you.

Stick

That's good, I was scared you were playing in a game where blackjacks paid even money, I wasn't referring to insurance, which you should never take unless your count justifies it.

It isn't common practice to be forced to play 2 circles if nobody else is around. Ludicrous in my opinion ... they either want your money or not right? I mean one player playing is better than ZERO people playing? Still, I wouldn't mind at all playing two circles, it doesn't really change much.

Triple sevens gets paid twice basically? Hehehe...not that it happens much, but every little bit of equity helps! And free drinks :)

It sounds like you're very practical and very patient and should do well if you keep on it. Once you get fully comfortable counting cards, betting according to the count/adjusting the true count & running count back and forth, and maybe even keeping a side count (of aces) I'd suggest you go with a stronger count system if it's within' your capabilities. I have heard no tell of one stronger than the one I use(d) on these boards, but the closest thing was the Zen Count which I believe was in Blackbelt in Blackjack.

I use the Advanced Omega II taken from Blackjack for Blood
2/3/7 = +1
4/5/6 = +2 (it is more advantageous if the deck is depleted of 4s, 5s, and 6s than 2s, 3s, and 7s ... the 4/5/6 are the 'meatier' of the positive cards, cards that will typically make hands the dealer is forced to hit)
8 = 0
9 = -1
10 = -2
A = 0 (but with an adjusted sidecount)

Also sounds like you're playing within your bankroll/means which is good for fluctuation purposes. You're doing well so far, just remember, you will have bad days, don't let this put you off. Practice practice practice ... I've played cards my entire life so I never did the 'how many decks are in the discard tray' thing but it's good to see you are if it helps you. I also played back in the early 90s before computers were so widely available so I dealt out a ton of hands manually to myself to keep a count and make sure I knew all the right plays. This may not be for you but I always feel more securing doing such 'tests' myself, rather than have a computer simulate 'random hands'. It also etches it in my memory when I split 3x with fours vs. the dealer's five, end up doubling down on 2 of them, and lose every last bet. I swear under my breath but I certainly remember the hand and that I played it correctly.

Have to run ... good luck out there ... that casino sounds like the perfect conditions to play.

Stick

Stick....why dont you play BJ anymore??? After all that trouble>>>

Stick said:

I don't play anymore because I have more lucrative 'gambling' opportunities. I play poker for a living, and thanks to ESPN, WPT, Travel Channel, Chris Moneymaker, etc...there an entire planet full of fish who 'play poker'. I've always loved card games, so learning all the blackjack stuff wasn't 'trouble' to me. In fact I still don't play and these past two weeks I went out and bought two of the new BJ books that I've heard much talk about on here and read them from cover to cover.

Also, most of my time when away from poker is spent playing Backgammon, my current obsession. I'd play blackjack from time to time if it was more convenient, but I live in Ohio and the best/closest game I can get is still two hours away on a riverboat.

Stick

I THOUGHT SO!!!

aka: suited89

I have played Caribbean stud, but only briefly, and only to fully understand the game after reading about it. I have no problem knowing that I'm going to lose X% of my money and keep my bets to a minimum while learning a game. I just like to know all the ins & outs and if it costs me $500 to sit around, have a good time, socialize, and completely learn a game np, I won't play it anymore, but I like to etch it into my memory. The more weapons you have from any card game the more likely some of the information picked up from it is likely to leak over into another game and pay you off for something most other people would never think of. I know none of the other casino games are near beatable but that doesn't mean somewhere along the lines I didn't have a couple weeks of fun reading about them, learning to play, and then finally putting the statistics to the test :) Hell, I even played poker slots [which were at the time the best return on your money] for a while. Cheap entertainment if nothing else, knowing what I'm willing to lose on the game for fun, and like all the gamblers say...just might get lucky once.

Stick