confused about counting and neg progression

[drew]

first let me say that i have found this site to be very helpful in getting me started. i started counting about 2 months ago using basic hi-low strategy. i switched to K-O because i wasnt winning. i have started winning consistently with K-O and am now learning Revere APC. I play a 6 deck das 75% pen, double any 2 cards, dealt face up at a nearby riverboat. they also have a handheld game with 2 decks that i have played, but i have trouble keeping track of the cards. My winnings have been consistent but insignificant, i earn much more hourly working.

recently i became disenchanted and got curious about the dark arts of progressive betting (i know, they dont work). anyway i have started experimenting with a negative system similar to the dreaded martingale. the difference is you only raise your bet by a single dollar, rather than an entire unit. i.e. 5 dollar unit, loss, 6dollar, loss 7 dollars... sometimes when u go on long losing streaks or after a double u must continue to raise your bets after u win a bet. if u lost a five dollar and a six dollar, winning a seven still wouldnt recoup your losses, so u bet 8, 9, 10 until u are up again.

i understand why this should not work. however, i have never wagered over 90 dollars using this system without being up again. i was wagering more than that in my 1-15 spread using K-O. the long and short of it, im averaging about 100 an hour now using this stupid betting progression. and when i do why is it working? and can u give some advice on how to do better with K-O on the type of game i mentioned. i have considered working with a partner and having him keep a side count... will that help? or should i just give up and resign myself to a life of practicing law.

 

[LV Bear]

Progressions are voodoo nonsense *LINK*

Your short term results are meaningless.

Please see link below. Click on Progresson Systems Don't Work. It may help.

If you are smart enough to have a law degree, you surely are smart enough to not believe in progression nonsense.

 

[drew]

Re: Progressions are voodoo nonsense

thanks for the response. i have seen similar pages. like i said, i know its not going to work- im just beginning to lose faith in counting. how can i make my time counting more worthwhile on the type of game i described?

 

[Rob McGarvey]

Straight Up Anti-Voodoo

If you want to play blackjack and make money doing so all you really need is basic strategy and a computer. The bonus creates a solid advantage, no ups and downs, and it is much simpler than counting.

If you like breathing second hand smoke, playing with dirty chips, dirty money, and like driving all over tarnation to do it, then playing online is not for you.

There is a precice bet for each instance of your advantage, and that is the one to make. Underbetting and overbetting it will change the results in short term returns. This is supposed to balance itself out, so get ready for a big correction. If you can't keep a count then I wouldn't bother playing right now. Don't take the easy way out and fiddle with progressions.

 

[learning to count]

"first let me say that i have found this site to be very helpful in getting me started. i started counting about 2 months ago using basic hi-low strategy. i switched to K-O because i wasnt winning. i have started winning consistently with K-O and am now learning Revere APC. I play a 6 deck das 75% pen, double any 2 cards, dealt face up at a nearby riverboat. they also have a handheld game with 2 decks that i have played, but i have trouble keeping track of the cards. My winnings have been consistent but insignificant, i earn much more hourly working."

First of all Drew Today it is very difficult to make a living at Card counting or to much less make a fortune at it. Few are still doing it but the time you need to put into it alone is rediculous. The swings will drive you nuts. I took a few months off after a mild negative run. To clear my head. Ko is a good start. I use hi-lo. If your having trouble keeping track of single deck then I think you needwork on your ability to see cards fast enough. If you are straining to see the count then you can't play perfect strategy. You need to strengthen your skills. I would stay with KO or HI-LO. RAPC is very difficult.

"recently i became disenchanted and got curious about the dark arts of progressive betting (i know, they dont work). anyway i have started experimenting with a negative system similar to the dreaded martingale. the difference is you only raise your bet by a single dollar, rather than an entire unit. i.e. 5 dollar unit, loss, 6dollar, loss 7 dollars... sometimes when u go on long losing streaks or after a double u must continue to raise your bets after u win a bet. if u lost a five dollar and a six dollar, winning a seven still wouldnt recoup your losses, so u bet 8, 9, 10 until u are up again."

If you are using progressions then you have a gambling problem. You are sweating your losses and reverting to anything to help you get them back. It is long term steaming. Quit playing! If you want to continue then you need to train more and read more.

"i understand why this should not work. however, i have never wagered over 90 dollars using this system without being up again. i was wagering more than that in my 1-15 spread using K-O. the long and short of it, im averaging about 100 an hour now using this stupid betting progression. and when i do why is it working? and can u give some advice on how to do better with K-O on the type of game i mentioned. i have considered working with a partner and having him keep a side count... will that help? or should i just give up and resign myself to a life of practicing law."

Hey about practicing law in Nevada and representing poor advantage players who get attacked by the as#holes in casino security!

 

[Sonny]

Re: Progressions are voodoo nonsense

> I play a 6 deck das 75% pen, double any 2 cards, dealt face up at a nearby
> riverboat. they also have a handheld game with 2 decks that i have played,
> but i have trouble keeping track of the cards.

You didn't mention if the game offers late-surrender, or if the dealer hits his soft 17s. This game doesn't sound too good, and I'm guessing that if it's on a riverboat it probably isn't.

The best advice anyone will give you is to Wong in and out. This way you can use a smaller spread and have smaller fluctuations. This will also give you the chance to watch the game for a while to see if you can keep up with counting the cards. If you can't, you shouldn't be playing for money.

Actually, the BEST advice I can give you is to stay out of the casinos right now. Get some blackjack software and PRACTICE, PARACTICE, PRACTICE! You will be able to see how well you can play for free. Most programs will also let you run simulations to see how your system will work after several million (billion if you ask Norm W.) hands.

Your first job should be to read everything you can about counting (and ask questions). The next step is to practice until you can do it in your sleep. THEN think about the best way to beat the games that you are playing. You will find that different games will require different techniques, and even different basic strategies, to beat them. You will also find that many games offered (especially on riverboats and cruises) are not worthwhile.

You've got a long road ahead of you, but you're starting in the right place! Hopefully we'll hear from you quite a bit in the future.

-Sonny-