Continue or quit? Please advise

[mantri425]

Hi Friends,

I have been playing BJ from the past one year, for the first 6months I was gambling in BJ.I didnt know how to count cards and other strategies, was following only basicstrategy,I was chasing my losses and I thought to quit once I get my money back.After playing this way I lost 17699$ in 6months of time. Finally I got frustrated and decided to quit but then I started reading about card counting strategies and practiced hi-lo system for 2months and read books "playing BJ as a business", "professional BJ" , this time am hitting casino with skills that I learned to beat the game. I also carried 50times of min bet with me every time I visit casino. Just in one month of time I lost another 9000$. Overall 26699$ Lost in just 10months of time. The casino rules are
6 deck game
70-75%. Pen depends on dealer
No early surrender
And all the other rules same like traditional blackjack.

Today I lost my last 1000$ of my bankroll, I don't have any money left. It will take sometime again to recover and live normally again.

It's not like I always used to loose money, some days are good and some days are better with playing small ball BJ Nd wonging.

So am asking you here
Can this game with these rules is beatable?
Currently am reading modern BJ, shall I continue to invest time and money in this if this game is beatable or quit?

Please advise, I request you to provide me any kind of information that could help me to make my life better. I just wanna earn my hard earned money that I lost in playing BJ and quit this forever..please help

 

[Midwest Player]

What is your bet spread? Are you betting with the running count or true count. You should be playing low limit tables like $10 min. Make sure no 6:5 games and no continuous shufflers.

Also 50 min bets is not enough for a casino trip. It would be better to have 100 min bets. You need $1,000 for $10 min game.

 

[mantri425]

I rely on Tc but I only increase my bet to 2 units when the count is >=+2 because I had experience that when I increase the bet or increase my hands the dealer gets the BJ or other players so I used to loose the bet on that single round. what should I do in these situations?

 

[gronbog]

A 2 to 1 bet spread is not nearly enough to beat a shoe game. If you want to win, then you can't be afraid to make bigger bets when you have the advantage. For a 6 deck game, you should be spreading at least 12 to 1 and wonging out of negative counts.

If you're really serious about playing a winning game, get the CVCX software to help you with your betting and risk management. If you're not willing to get the software and to play accordingly then, yes, you should quit.

 

[Midwest Player]

I rely on Tc but I only increase my bet to 2 units when the count is >=+2 because I had experience that when I increase the bet or increase my hands the dealer gets the BJ or other players so I used to loose the bet on that single round. what should I do in these situations?

Sounds like me when I first started. I had the counting down pretty well, but only increased my bet 2 or 3 units in positive counts. Yes, I lost, but I was never down the kind of money you mentioned. I also read the two books you mentioned. Buy the book 200 Proof Blackjack by Bootlegger. It is a good beginners book presenting the Hi-Lo count and also gives an optimal betting ramp.

Do you have access to $5 min tables. A $5 to $60 spread with a $3,000 bankroll will still be a risk of ruin of around 34% and you will only make around $4 an hour.

 

[ZeeBabar]

A lot of good card counters understand how to count and convert to true count. After that, they assume they will win if they get more money in positive or plus counts. They have no clue about optimal betting, money management, Risk of Ruin etc . So, they either underbet or overbet.

A smart casino executive of pit person, knows you are counting, sees your bet amount and increase and smiles at the thought that you think you are a card counter. He knows you will lose. If you win and leave he k owe you will be back returning the money with interest soon.

 

[stopgambling]

quit and learn enough before you start counting . i would spent 100 -200 hours learning the risk and concept(what makes you a winning counter) involved as you already got a taste of how to count . When you are financially committed then you can try to master the counting aspect . good luck.

 

[stopgambling]

A good read for you is the sticky post by matt21 on his thoughts on counting here at blackjackinfo.com.

 

[Meistro]

You should quit but the game is beatable.

 

[mantri425]

Thank you.

Probably I will take sometime and learn about risk and money management.

 

[mantri425]

Sounds like me when I first started. I had the counting down pretty well, but only increased my bet 2 or 3 units in positive counts. Yes, I lost, but I was never down the kind of money you mentioned. I also read the two books you mentioned. Buy the book 200 Proof Blackjack by Bootlegger. It is a good beginners book presenting the Hi-Lo count and also gives an optimal betting ramp.

Do you have access to $5 min tables. A $5 to $60 spread with a $3,000 bankroll will still be a risk of ruin of around 34% and you will only make around $4 an hour.

I don't have access to 5$ table. I play at 6d table where the minimum bet is 50$. What should be the bankroll for this?

 

[sagefr0g]

quit sir, just quit.

 

[21forme]

First thing to learn is $ goes in front of the number, not after it.

 

[Meistro]

Blackjack is an unforgiving game. You are not the first to rush headlong into's it's embrace only to discover that she is a harsh mistress indeed. In order to win at blackjack you must be perfect. Unfortunately you decided to risk your money before you were ready. Hubris has been the downfall of many an aspiring gambler.

 

[sagefr0g]

perhaps a combination of (informational) intelligence and critical thinking is in order far as situations having to do with this thread:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-smart-people-do-foolish-things/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa-editorial-social&utm_content=&utm_term=mind_news_text_free&sf118400031=1

 

[ZeeBabar]

SagefrOg, are you suggesting, by posting this article, that pursuing aqn Ap career is not a smart decision. I would agree!

 

[Splittingten's]

It's probably time to quit and look for help for problem gamblers. The fact that you lost nearly 18 grand and only stopped because you had no more money to play speaks volumes. You really just got to know when to throw in the towel man.
Card counting should be something you get in to as a fun hobby. Not to chase 18K losses. I don't know your finances but you're in too deep.

 

[sagefr0g]

SagefrOg, are you suggesting, by posting this article, that pursuing aqn Ap career is not a smart decision. I would agree!

Hmm, no ZeeBabar, i wasn’t, but i couldn’t really refute your assessment.

that said, i have no regrets having pursued advantage play (not so much card counting, i dunno how you guys do it) activities during my post work a day retirement days. it’s been for the most part fun and lucrative, but has had it s dull and frustrating moments as well. kind of like the typical work a day world was for me, pre-retirement, lol. but AP as a career, i couldn’t speak to that.

i was more getting at two points:

point one, that of the OP’s unfortunate attempt at advantage play (which can be an intelligent endeavor), for which it’s apparent the OP didn’t make a critical assessment of his venture. like Meistro alluded, to much hubris, not enough certainty and genuine understanding.

the second point, being that even the most critically aware AP wielding intellectually proper tools and methods struggles under some degree of risk of ruin while stoically charging forward after some average positive payoff through the ravages of fluctuation in the random wilderness of large numbers. just me, maybe, the very fact that ruin is even possible should cry out to any critical thinking AP to take with a grain of salt, the numbers that CE, ROR, EV and ADV represent and at least constantly critically assess ones progress and ‘positions’ with respect to the decision to carry on or not.

after all that mumbo jumbo, would just say, i treasure the concept of critical thinking that a number of my school teachers imbued upon what was one really dumb but happy kid.

 

[xengrifter]

it’s been for the most part fun and lucrative, but has had it s dull and frustrating moments as well. kind of like the typical work a day world was for me...

...or even like going fishing, right?

 

[xengrifter]

point one, that of the OP’s unfortunate attempt at advantage play (which can be an intelligent endeavor), for which it’s apparent the OP didn’t make a critical assessment of his venture. like Meistro alluded, to much hubris, not enough certainty and genuine understanding.

the second point, being that even the most critically aware AP wielding intellectually proper tools and methods struggles under some degree of risk of ruin while stoically charging forward after some average positive payoff through the ravages of fluctuation in the random wilderness of large numbers. just me, maybe, the very fact that ruin is even possible should cry out to any critical thinking AP to take with a grain of salt, the numbers that CE, ROR, EV and ADV represent and at least constantly critically assess ones progress and ‘positions’ with respect to the decision to carry on or not.

Forsooth!