FInally GOing OUt!!

[knatty_d]

Well ah i saw the movie the last casino, got me ready for card counting, i turn 19, in 3 days, and i plan on heading to the casino to try out card counting, well im still very new, still a virgin to card counting, i started about 2 -3 days ago, i can get the whole deck in about 26 seconds, +1/-1 count........but obivioulsy im starting at 5$ table, but this is wat im looking for i read around forum helpin me, but yeah im lookin for TIPS, Can be anything, so tips are appreciated, tips for begginer, so let me know??? plse and thank you, im going with about 3 buddies of mine, and im pretty sure im the only who knows how to count.

 

[ScottH]

Well ah i saw the movie the last casino, got me ready for card counting, i turn 19, in 3 days, and i plan on heading to the casino to try out card counting, well im still very new, still a virgin to card counting, i started about 2 -3 days ago, i can get the whole deck in about 26 seconds, +1/-1 count........but obivioulsy im starting at 5$ table, but this is wat im looking for i read around forum helpin me, but yeah im lookin for TIPS, Can be anything, so tips are appreciated, tips for begginer, so let me know??? plse and thank you

My tip is to stay home for a few more weeks. Your 2-3 days of experience will make you feel stupid when you hit the tables. You will lose the count, make mistakes, etc. All of these things cost you money. You have plenty of time to play in the future, you dont have to go out the second you turn 19...

 

[EasyRhino]

Naw, go ahead and go. But first, just stand by a table, watch, pick a player as "you", and see how well you can mentally make the basic strategy decisions.

If you suceed, then see if you can backcount it through a couple shoes successfully. This part might break you.

If you suceed, then sit down at the table, and play through a shoe using basic strategy, flat-betting small, and no counting, again just to make sure you don't crack.

Finally, if all that works, start counting and spreading your bets.

As soon as you reach a failure point, step away from the table, and be ready to do more homework.

(it would still be okay to flat bet small and play just BS, as long as you can afford the losses).

 

[knatty_d]

"My tip is to stay home for a few more weeks. Your 2-3 days of experience will make you feel stupid when you hit the tables. You will lose the count, make mistakes, etc. All of these things cost you money. You have plenty of time to play in the future, you dont have to go out the second you turn 19..."



hmmm, wasnt really the response i was lookin for,,,,,,,,,,,,,but u make a good point, but ima pretty fast learning, and basically i just wanna go out and see how the actual casino is soooo i can get an idea of speeds they deal with, and how it works, kind of like a walkthrough of a race, so when the next time i go i can be prepared and all,

 

[mdlbj]

Sit at the table and take ownership of it. Throw down as much money as you have in your pocket. Play BS until your TC hits +5 then bet half your bankroll for the night. Feel it, live the moment.

 

[ScottH]

That's perfectly fine if you just go and scope it out. But dont play if you're not ready. If you insinst on playing flat-bet the lowest table minimum and play BS, that will give you a chance to practice counting for as cheap as possible.

I'd say first time out that you flat-bet even if you are counting. Just go through the motions of counting, but dont ramp your bets, because you really aren't sure if you're good enough to get an advantage yet.

You can practice by watching or playing, but right now watching is best. 2-3 days is just too soon, keep practicing!

 

[rounder21]

I would say go...

just bet minimum at a minimum table (no more than $5 per hand). Your average cost by doing this is 2.50 per hour. A cheap way to practice. Dont raise your bet yet even though youre tempted, youre probably still making mistakes. Dont be surprised if you lose track of the count going from round to round on your first night the dealer seems fast. Just practice counting and maybe deviating from the playing strategy when you know the count calls for it, but dont raise bets yet. You should be comfortable enough to keep track hand to hand in the casino and breeze through it at home.

Good Luck,
Rounder21

 

[blackchipjim]

practice for free

I have to go with the others on this one either practice more or min. tables is the way to go. If you want mail me half of the money you were going with and after you go I'll mail half of it back and you'll be money ahead. blackchipjim

 

[jetace]

How many decks does the blackjack game have at the casino you're going to?

 

[knatty_d]

dunno, never been to a casino before, im going to casino niagara.........but it doesnt say on thier website, didnt think it would either, but yeah.............so cant tell yah how many decks it plays with,

 

[jetace]

Have you practiced dividing by the number of decks remaining to get your true count?

 

[knatty_d]

dunno, never been to a casino before, im going to casino niagara.........but it doesnt say on thier website, didnt think it would either, but yeah.............so cant tell yah how many decks it plays with,

well i use one deck to prractise, so yeah i dont really need to practise that :laugh:
but for real, not really like i said i only have 1 deck, but it cant be much more difficult, or is it?

 

[jetace]

You'd be surprised. It can be very difficult (especially without practice) to estimate how many decks have been used. In order for your count to be accurate, you must divide by the number of remaining decks in order to convert your running count to what is called the true count. If you are playing a 1 deck game (hard to find outside of vegas) then you don't need to worry about it as much. But lets say the casino you go to has a 6 deck game. Then the first few rounds you'll need to divide your count by 6 in order to calculate your true count. After 1 deck has been dealt, you'll divide by 5 and so on.

So to even get a decent positive count in the first few rounds, your count must be +12 or preferably +18 or even higher.

The only reason I'm giving you this info is because I was in your shoes not so long ago, and eager to try my counting skills before I really had any. I lost a lot in those first few sessions. Just forewarning ya.

 

[SystemsTrader]

Well ah i saw the movie the last casino, got me ready for card counting, i turn 19, in 3 days, and i plan on heading to the casino to try out card counting, well im still very new, still a virgin to card counting, i started about 2 -3 days ago, i can get the whole deck in about 26 seconds, +1/-1 count........but obivioulsy im starting at 5$ table, but this is wat im looking for i read around forum helpin me, but yeah im lookin for TIPS, Can be anything, so tips are appreciated, tips for begginer, so let me know??? plse and thank you, im going with about 3 buddies of mine, and im pretty sure im the only who knows how to count.

For your first time actually playing in a casino do not even try to count. Just play basic strategy and get used to the flow of the game. Do you even have the mechanics down of how to double, split and where to place your insurance on the table? I don't mean to put you down by saying all this but it's a little overwelming the first time at a full table, just get used to the flow and doing the correct hand signals when called for. The next time out you can give counting a try and just flat bet the minimum for the first time. As for the $5 table minimum will your casino have that amount available? Because if it is busy you will probably have to play at least a $15 minimum and make sure you don't sit down at a CSM if they are in your casino!

 

[knatty_d]

yeah, i know casino has 5$ table, i know split, double, insurance, yeah well i know, but i cant say im good bcuz never been to actual casino yet, ah back to the true count/running count, let say i have a running count of +15, 1 deck is gone, so now the true count +3, now do i continue the running count at + 15, or start the new running count at +3, ................6 deck game

 

[SystemsTrader]

yeah, i know casino has 5$ table, i know split, double, insurance, yeah well i know, but i cant say im good bcuz never been to actual casino yet, ah back to the true count/running count, let say i have a running count of +15, 1 deck is gone, so now the true count +3, now do i continue the running count at + 15, or start the new running count at +3, i would think i start new at +3, is that correct?................6 deck game

If you don't know the answer to this question than you obviously aren't ready to count in a casino yet! You continue the original running count! Don't worry in good time you will figure it all out. My suggestion is start reading some books like KO, or Blackbelt in blackjack!

 

[knatty_d]

hmm thanks, i wonder why i am on this forum,, and i dont think anybody is ever ready thier first time, and how do u know if ur ready, u go and try..........and now im not expecting to win thousands of dollars, or even over 50 dollars, or any at all.................im going thier to learn,....

 

[jetace]

You might get lucky and make some money. But the problem with counting when you are new is that you put more money on the table than you normally would. If the count is not accurate, you can be throwing money away. We're just saying that in order to have a mathematical advantage, a player must have practiced in order to not have error in their play.

Being new to anything, error is always likely. We're just trying to help you lose less money. I'd just suggest going in, betting $5 on every hand, and just enjoy yourself and get used to the game. Then you won't feel a lot of pressure and you'll be less likely to have an experience that will scare you away from counting forever.

 

[CaseyCat]

dunno, never been to a casino before, im going to casino niagara.........but it doesnt say on thier website, didnt think it would either, but yeah.............so cant tell yah how many decks it plays with,

See this post on Niagara Falls Casinos http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=4696

I believe Casino Niagara uses CSM's on regular tables, maybe not in high stakes area. Fallsview may not use CSMs

Seneca Niagara on US side has 8 deck hand shuffled games from $10 ($15 weekend evenings).

 

[ScottH]

hmm thanks, i wonder why i am on this forum,, and i dont think anybody is ever ready thier first time, and how do u know if ur ready, u go and try..........and now im not expecting to win thousands of dollars, or even over 50 dollars, or any at all.................im going thier to learn,....

Do you test to see if you're ready to go pro boxing by fighting the heavyweight champion? No, you spar against some other guy first to see how good you are before you actually fight!