2009 year in review

[creeping panther]

Artic

Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about.
The smaller they are, the worse their jealousy.
It turns out that even the veterans who should know better are not immune to envy.
Envy/jealousy is human nature, and very few, if any, are immune to it.
When I was playing red and green chips, advice and suggestions were plenty and generous.
When I advanced to black and purple chips, not only were helpful advice/suggestions rare, but there was some hostility for being at this level.

I’m at a point where winning/losing couple of hundred dollars has absolutely no affect on me. When I win only a few thousand dollars, I’m not moved by the experience anymore. Winning/losing $5k or more gets me going.
Playing at this level brings about a whole new set of problems that I never had to deal with, and no books or resources could possibly have prepared me for this. Ian Anderson’s book was useless. He says that a lifetime winning of some amount of money will alert the security. Bullshit! A lifetime winning/losing of zero amount will alert the security. How can you play hundreds of hours over years, and lose nothing?! This is a game where you’re supposed to lose, so any amount of cumulative winning will alert the security.

Why not play anonymously? If you play at the $100 table and spread to 2x$600, and lose $5k in one shoe without a blink, the hostess comes over and asks, “Why don’t you get rated, so I can give you the top floor suite?” How do you answer that?
If you win $5k in one shoe and then leave, the pit immediately gets on the phone and starts talking at length. I know because I watch them from a distance.

The high-limit room is a small community, so if you go in there too often, the dealers and the pit crew will start to recognize you. If you’re the only one winning money while everyone else is losing money, there’s no cover play or Oscar winning act that will fool them.

Kewljason, you shouldn’t feel self-conscious about sharing your experiences. If the little ones spew hatred out of jealousy, you just have to develop a thick skin and ignore them.
I play Blackjack part-time on weekends, and play mostly 6D, and some 8D. I play DD in Las Vegas.
I started with Hi-Lo early this year, and then advanced to a level two system (Ace reckoned), and finally to a level three system (Ace reckoned). I’m sure a level two system would’ve yielded a similar result.
So far this year, I won slightly over $100k. My bankroll was $40k.
I would never quit my “legitimate” job, but Blackjack is a fun side gig.

Are you referring to your very recent experiences on BJ21 GC page?

CP

 

[Beldin]

DD vs a 6 or 8 deck game.....................far better and you should have far better results depending on rules etc,,,,actually rather elementary.

CP

Okay - this part then makes more sense. Would you agree then too on a double deck its far easier to get away with only keeping track of the count in the beginning of the shoe (even though supposedly most of the advantage comes in towards the end?)

Its not to say I shouldn't keep diligent count, I'm just saying I can get away with it?

 

[ArcticInferno]

Kewljason: “Why do you feel the need to state your bet level when asking for advice and suggustions? If you don't throw it out there, I don't see how it would be an issue?”
My questions were about playing anonymously in the high-limit room and routinely pushing out 2x$600, and winning/losing $10k at one table.
Those questions can’t be asked without specifying that the bet levels were black/purple.

Kewljason: “100K is a lot to win in a year, at the bet levels you have spoken of throughout the year (not breaking the purple barrier until August), Can I ask how much time you devote to this "fun side gig"?”
Let’s consider a player who plays approximately one day a week for a year, which is approximately 50 days/year.
In one day, he plays approximately 8 hours.
During the 8 hour period, if he gets a chance to push out 2x$600 twice, he would win $2400.
$2400 x 50 = $120k
Naturally, you will get more than two opportunities to push out 2x$600. Actually, such opportunities arise quite a lot. One time at MGM Grand, after only a few initial rounds, the rest of the 6 deck shoe was bet 2x$600, and I walked away with $8k in one shoe. The whole event lasted less than 20 min.
With some negative/positive variance and some roller coaster fluctuations, the final outcome will vary.
If you spread from 2x$100 to 2x$600 or 2x$800 routinely, you will win/lose $10k easily, and I mean very, very easily.
I personally play approximately once a week in NJ, PA, & CT.
I visited Las Vegas a few weeks ago and won $35k during that trip.
The double decks in Las Vegas are truly amazing.
Most of my $100k winnings came in the latter part of the year.

Creeping Panther: “Are you referring to your very recent experiences on BJ21 GC page?”
Mostly yes. You would think that a paid site would have more seriously players who’re more developed, but no. My original post, which was well constructed and detailed, received no response that was useful. Some nincompoop named Harold Harvey posted two useless responses, and the rest of the responses by others were in defense of this idiot. There were a lot of responses that obviously displayed hostility for black/purple level play. One reason I got no useful response was because very few people at that site play at black/purple level, so they were clueless, but hostility for black/purple was pretty obvious. That site allows poster to be anonymous and change their handle/username, which is another reason why so much garbage can be posted.
Some schmuck named Al Rogers actually emailed me because I disagreed with Harold Harvey. Unbelievable! I replied to him and asked him about the immature posts from others, and naturally he was embarrassed and couldn’t reply back.
Ultimately, there was no mature and well constructed response to my post there.

Now I’m convinced that I may have hit the proverbial wall. How can I go higher to purple/yellow level? Impossible!
Ian Anderson’s book is really, really useless. The ultimate gambit that he talks about is garbage. You can’t fool the pit/security with some foolish cover plays because it’s not about the cover plays. It’s about the shear winnings. If you win $5k at a table while everyone else is losing, there is no camouflage play that will through them off. Actually, they will assume that you’re intentionally deviating from basic strategy because you’re smart.
Has anyone actually tried to befriend a pit crew? LOL!
I talk a lot. One of the dealers actually told me that he can’t talk because he has to focus on doing his job. That’s how much I talk. The Oscar winning act will not throw them off.
It’s very difficult to play anonymously in black/purple.
If you play rated, then the cumulative winning of even a dollar will immediately alert the pit/security, because this is a game that you’re supposed to lose.

 

[ArcticInferno]

Another really annoying problem that arises at black/purple level is cashing out.
If you cash out $10k in one day, then they will request an ID to generate a CTR.
So, then cash out less than $10k in one day?
Depending on the casino, cashing out more than $3k will require an ID.
Caesars in Atlantic City and Foxwoods will allow you to cash out $5k without an ID.
Borgata will require an ID for more than $3k.
The Mirage will require an ID for more than $3k.
Aria will require an ID for more than $5k.
To make things more complicated, each cashier has his/her own threshold for requiring an ID.
At home, I have $12k in chips from Foxwoods and $6k in chips from Sugarhouse.
Cashing out the chips has become a chore in and of itself, and requires a strategy.

 

[Beldin]

Another really annoying problem that arises at black/purple level is cashing out.
If you cash out $10k in one day, then they will request an ID to generate a CTR.
So, then cash out less than $10k in one day?
Depending on the casino, cashing out more than $3k will require an ID.
Caesars in Atlantic City and Foxwoods will allow you to cash out $5k without an ID.
Borgata will require an ID for more than $3k.
The Mirage will require an ID for more than $3k.
Aria will require an ID for more than $5k.
To make things more complicated, each cashier has his/her own threshold for requiring an ID.
At home, I have $12k in chips from Foxwoods and $6k in chips from Sugarhouse.
Cashing out the chips has become a chore in and of itself, and requires a strategy.

Gawd...thats the **** that I have to deal with now. I actually made a call to HR & block and they confirmed that they've seen CTR's show up in tax audits. Another funny thing was that my initial assumption - with other people trying to simply support it with "i know" statements that if I didn't sign a CTR - they didn't send it. Now I've found out a couple things. In the past - you used to have to sign a CTR and write your social on it. Casinos didn't have your social on record. I just happened to win one of their promotional prizes and got a $500 winning form that I had to sign. Strangely enough - they got my social on it written on it before I signed it. My friend got the **** talk from me for a while now as the swore up and down that CTR's were *not being done on me. in the past

I've basically decided to cash out my 48k remaining in chips $9500 at a time and $500 at a separate cashier to try to cash out in a couple days - though me continuing to play has added chips which is making the task a little longer - a good problem I guess to have. I still feel like the big loss possibility is there (like my 42k I had one day)

As far as befriending a pit boss - I've actually spent quite a bit of time chatting with pit bosses and all of them are cautious when I mention I'd be more then happy to comp out some of the ridiculous amount of comp I have to them in a form of a buffet or what not - none of them have ever accepted my offers. That being said - 1 of my main friends that gambles with me supposedly has a pit boss as part of his poker group. I'm thinking that might be an angle I could take though its probably a dangerous game to play as pit boss's loyalties will most likely lean with the casino.

Ultimately I'm somewhat in agreement with you in the logical argument that if a player is winning big - its a big flag - nothing you can do to avoid it. In chatting with a pit boss today - they definitely are keeping of the total chip count at the table and if any winners, how much they walked away from EACH TABLE. That being said - for my case - it does not seem that winning big over an extended period with some counting mixed in will get your barred. Winning big doesn't get you barred. I still haven't actually seen a case at this casino where someone got banned. I've heard rumors and stories - but none of them confirmed. Maybe I can just pray to stay "lucky" and continue to win. I don't know if you find my comments at all helpful - but at least I can share my story with you.

 

[kewljason]

Let’s consider a player who plays approximately one day a week for a year, which is approximately 50 days/year.
In one day, he plays approximately 8 hours.
During the 8 hour period, if he gets a chance to push out 2x$600 twice, he would win $2400.
$2400 x 50 = $120k

So this player that we are considering, pushes out 2 x $600 max wager twice a day, winning all 4, $600 wagers each and every day? yes 4 x $600 X 50 does indeed equal $120,000. I guess my problem is that I don't win my max wager 100% of the time. I will have to try to do better. :laugh:

 

[creeping panther]

Artic

Another really annoying problem that arises at black/purple level is cashing out.
If you cash out $10k in one day, then they will request an ID to generate a CTR.
So, then cash out less than $10k in one day?
Depending on the casino, cashing out more than $3k will require an ID.
Caesars in Atlantic City and Foxwoods will allow you to cash out $5k without an ID.
Borgata will require an ID for more than $3k.
The Mirage will require an ID for more than $3k.
Aria will require an ID for more than $5k.
To make things more complicated, each cashier has his/her own threshold for requiring an ID.
At home, I have $12k in chips from Foxwoods and $6k in chips from Sugarhouse.
Cashing out the chips has become a chore in and of itself, and requires a strategy.

I think we all would like the "Problems" you are facing:laugh:

You should be thrilled with your Fab. success and just deal with some of the
procedural as you would with everyday annoyances.

Usually playing Black and Purple, Yellow.. will garner you special treatment from the casino, tons of comps and special leeways, even rule changes.

Myself and a good friend have been watching a young player who uses the type of betting you speak of and he has claimed to be up $90,000 this year. If my partner, friend, was betting the amount of this young man or yourself he would be up some $50,000 in a 2 week period, so I think it is very possible.

A player with Skillz, and a large bank, and a set of Ballz could easily break the $150,000 mark in a year or even half a year, so as I view it all is possible, just take the great good with the few annoyances, and be thankful

CP

 

[ArcticInferno]

So this player that we are considering, pushes out 2 x $600 max wager twice a day, winning all 4, $600 wagers each and every day? yes 4 x $600 X 50 does indeed equal $120,000. I guess my problem is that I don't win my max wager 100% of the time. I will have to try to do better. :laugh:

You seem to have misunderstood my post.
I was simplifying the example for the purposes of explanation.
In an 8-hour day, you will have many opportunities to push out your max bets.
You will win some and lose some, but overall, if you win two more than lose, then you’re done for the day.
Some days, you will win $15k, while another day you will lose $11k, so the average will be approximately $2k in each day.
By the way, I always play two hands of $100 each.
So my spread is from 2x$100 to 2x$600.
I have pushed out 2x$800, but that may draw unwanted attention too early.
The max that I ever did was 2x$1000 at Sugarhouse, but I usually try to cap my max bets at 2x$600.

 

[21gunsalute]

Okay - this part then makes more sense. Would you agree then too on a double deck its far easier to get away with only keeping track of the count in the beginning of the shoe (even though supposedly most of the advantage comes in towards the end?)

Only if you have to take off your shoes and socks to keep the count when it reaches double figueres.

 

[Beldin]

Only if you have to take off your shoes and socks to keep the count when it reaches double figueres.

Come on - I'm not a pro like you all at this! Give me a break!

I still carry around an abacus to calculate my winnings and losses!

Hell - I used a freaking flip phone for 2 years before I got a cell phone with a querty keypad....oi....that was freaking impossible to text....

 

[21gunsalute]

Come on - I'm not a pro like you all at this! Give me a break!

I still carry around an abacus to calculate my winnings and losses!

Hell - I used a freaking flip phone for 2 years before I got a cell phone with a querty keypad....oi....that was freaking impossible to text....

What else would make it so difficult to count the latter portions of the shoe unless you can't count past 10? And you won't even have to do that most of the time. Are you lazy, stubborn or both?