stories

Have had a great run since October, and figured I would share my experience. Before October, I had always played since I was 19 (late 20's now), but all I did was mess around counting and I didn't understand the concept of spreading. But it all changed as I taught myself how to count well.

Amazingly, I started with a 0 bankroll. I am student, have a bunch of debt and no money, and didnt go to the casino much until August. I had lost in August at a certain casino in PA, and they sent me $100 in free slot play, and then it all started. I went back there with 0 cash in hand, and hit a jackpot > $1000, and took it to the BJ table. Don't remember, but was probably playing $25/$50 units, and cashed out $3000 total that day. So I kept going back there, and played $50 units in the HL area, and would play all day, 8+ hrs, and often alone in the HL room. I booked win after win after win. Usually 1-3k. One day I booked a $9k win, which was split between 50 and $100 units.

In December, I finally hit a cold streak at a certain indian reservation as I booked two large losses. I was losing my bankroll (didn't lose all my profit, but had used the rest to pay bills). Next I went to Vegas and for 3 straight days, I lost, and was down 6 or 7 for the trip, and down to my last few units. Then it happend...

My last day in Vegas, I tried out the DD game at a major strip casino, $100 units, last $1300. I cashed out well over 10k. Played at two other casinos that day and cashed another 10k. Upon returning home, I returned to my "home" casino in PA, and was rolling, up about 1 or 2, when I hit a 12k shoe playing $100 units, 2X8 spread (the pit bosses were scrambling, because they had my average bet in as $100 since I had flat bet 4 shoes in a row). Upon my return, they took my players card and said no more! I think I had won 12 out of 13 sessions with 2 huge wins, and never had heat. Since then, I have been playing all over (east coast etc) about once a week - $50 units or $100, and I have continued to win big. At one AC casino, I won an astounding 160 units on a 6 deck shoe with max spread 2X7. Amazingly, I didnt get heat with the $16k win, but they were eyeing me closely when I returned to the table that night. My BR is about 500 units now, and a lot of that was gained playing 0.5 units ($50), and I have spent some of the winnings for expenses.

My strategy, particularly since my Vegas trip, has been from a fairly well known, straight forward book. I use a couple of "cover" plays that casinos think are bone headed, but are good plays when the count is positive. I also very rarely take insurance unless it's a casino I am comfortable at. If the TC is +3, I don't bother with insurance because the profit isn't substantial.

Aside from the cummulative win/friendly backoff at my "home" casino, I got backed off at a shady NY casino at the very beginning when I actually had no idea what I was doing and wasn't even spreading high (although I started playing there again a few weeks ago, with a players card). I also had a very shady experience at another casino in the area when I over stayed my welcome after a horrible losing day - kicked out down 5k on first trip there. Right now, I have a favorite place that has unbelievable comps, and I am friends with the pit bosses and hosts, so I will keep playing there.

That's my story for now.

Have you ever calculated your RoR?

newbctr, do you have more than one name/handle on this site?

Dear Penthouse,
I never thought these stories were real until......

shadroch said:

Dear Penthouse,
I never thought these stories were real until......

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It is a story. A fantasy story alright.

obviously I know the RoR is high - I have a very good feel for the numbers. It is however much lower now, and I generally play $50 units at my favorite casino. Also, I will be working full time and making 6 figures in a few months, and I shouldn't ruin before then only playing once a week. I have also improved my game substantially since I started.

No, this is the first time ever posting.

Just chill new guy

A lot of BS gets thrown around on message boards so people aren't going to believe you, don't worry about it. If you keep posting and show your prowess eventually you will be accepted. The posters here work hard and have studied the game for years so It sounds very fishy for a rags to riches story to them.
I personally have had to change my handle twice, and I'm trying to earn respect this time. Good luck man

MeWin$ said:

I personally have had to change my handle twice, and I'm trying to earn respect this time. Good luck man

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I guess I just don't understand message boards.

kewljason said:

I guess I just don't understand message boards.

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Don't worry kj. Neither do I!

I am surprised people don't believe me, but I don't care all that much. Regarding "friends with the pit bosses, etc," it is the most relaxed casino I have ever played at. The host is awesome and I take care of him because he takes care of me. I hit my one losing streak there in December and dumped 10k over 2 visits, before I read the book I mentioned. Since then, I refrain from increasing after a loss (at a cost), but it has really lowered my S.D. and reduced the number of nasty losing streaks into positive counts. They probably don't give me heat because it took a handful of visits to make back my 10k, and I haven't booked a 1 day win over 5k there yet. My favorite was my last trip there - a purple chip player had 1,000 on a hand next to me, with soft 17 against dealer 5.... he waived it off, and me and the other player had a stiff. I encouraged him to double, but he said no, so i asked if I could do it without him getting mad that it "changes the cards." He said fine, and I was thinking of possibly doing it for less, but he said "you gotta do full amount." I quickly put the 1000 up, and drew a 10. The dealer had a 4 in the hole (so would have been 19), drew a 6, and busted. I made myself 1k and saved him 2 (he would have lost 1k, but instead won). Things like this really add to the win rate in the long term, just like the insane slot free plays & bj match plays I get.

MeWin$ said:

A lot of BS gets thrown around on message boards so people aren't going to believe you, don't worry about it. If you keep posting and show your prowess eventually you will be accepted. The posters here work hard and have studied the game for years so It sounds very fishy for a rags to riches story to them.
I personally have had to change my handle twice, and I'm trying to earn respect this time. Good luck man

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Lets see he states "They" took his players card and told him no more. That makes no sense.

He rarely takes insurance. And if the count is +3 I don't bother with insurance because the profit isn't substantial.

Yeah thats some real prowess.

The O.P. is B.S.

You people crack me up. They took my players card, swiped it, and the pit boss walked over and said "sir, before you start, our pit supervisor (insert name) would like to speak with you." I waited a few minutes, and she came out. I didn't get banned, but she told me I could only play 1 hand at the min & never change my bet. So I went & played poker for 5 hrs, and never returned.

Regarding insurance, I simply avoid it when the decision as at the margin, especially at a casino that comps me substantially. The place I play comps me way more than the advantage gained from taking insurance when the count is less than .3 high enough to justify it.

please let me know if there are further questions.

Regards

newbctr said:

please let me know if there are further questions.

Regards

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umm, ok, since you asked. :laugh: Is this well known, straight forward book by L R? How can you not remember the value of the unit you were playing on your first trip only 6 months ago? A players first time playing is like sex. You remember the details forever. Can you explain the cash out prodecures involving CTR's and SAR's since you have experienced so many large wins in such a short time?

shadroch said:

Dear Penthouse,
I never thought these stories were real until......

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:laugh::laugh::laugh::whip:

Book was Burning the Tables in Vegas. I have never delt with any "cash out procedure" at all, except at the casino where I got booted on my first trip. I used no players card, and at one point when I hit -10k for the day, I had to give up all my information (and fill out IRS firm) or quit. I filled out the form, won back half my losses, got half shoed (and was too stupid to quit), started winning while count was spiking (fairly early in shoe), and when I spread to an extra hand, I immediately got booted. The 3 wins I had > 10k were never a problem with cashing out. At the large vegas casino, the pit boss asked if I was cashing out right away, and I said yes, and he called over to the cage, but no forms.

Look, if people don't believe me, I can care less, but I ain't going to post anymore if people are going to say I lack credibility. It's a cool story, which is why I posted, but I'm just as happy not debating with people and continuing to improve my skills.

Regarding the first day win, I probably don't remember because it wasn't cut and dry the first time i had done this. Like I said, I had tried counting before, but just didn't understand bet spreads. I was playing $25 units, but don't recall how high I was spreading. I developed a system after reading BTT and have stuck to that non-stop for 4 months, and hardly recall how I played before. Up until December, I was doing things decently, but didn't know index plays, cover, etc. Once I read the book, I improved my game a lot.

One other just general point of observation - I have done MUCH better playing alone at the table. i had 3 shoes that I would consider > 5 SD events, and they were all playing alone. The nastier lossing streaks were all with 1+ other players at the table. I have read that this is fairly typical to prefer playing alone for various reasons, but it seems exaggerated with me.

newbctr said:

...

I cashed out well over 10k.

Played at two other casinos that day and cashed another 10k.

when I hit a 12k shoe playing $100 units,

At one AC casino, I won an astounding 160 units on a 6 deck shoe with max spread 2X7. Amazingly, I didnt get heat with the $16k win,

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newbctr said:

I hit my one losing streak there in December and dumped 10k over 2 visits, before I read the book I mentioned.

I haven't booked a 1 day win over 5k there yet.

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newbctr said:

I used no players card, and at one point when I hit -10k for the day, I had to give up all my information (and fill out IRS firm) or quit. I filled out the form, won back half my losses,

The 3 wins I had > 10k were never a problem with cashing out. At the large vegas casino, the pit boss asked if I was cashing out right away, and I said yes, and he called over to the cage, but no forms.

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hum??

what's the apparent contradiction you are alluding to? Everything I said is accurate, but I'm happy to clarify what doesn't make sense to you.