Heading to the casino soon.

[Shwam]

Hey all, first time poster, long time lurker.

I came upon these forums about two months ago, and have been practicing pretty hard ever since. I learned basic strategy in about an hour and took about three days to make it a reflex.

Over the next month or so started to learn counting.

It started with counting down a single deck (40 seconds at first, and it is now at 17 seconds at best, usually 17-20). I then got 39 decks and set them out into landmark piles (6 decks, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5) so I could learn how to quickly look at the discard tray and figure out how many decks were left.

I have memorized a pretty good 1-12 bet spread (which can draw heat, so i have a few different sets of spreads, trying to figure out my best spread for a local indian casino) and i'm working on indices. I have the I18 down and i'm just working on the other ones.

I turn 18 in a few weeks, but I have been to the casino 4 times, using my brothers id (couldn't wait :/). The first 3 times I was just using basic strategy, getting to know the environment, pretty much mastering what goes around at a casino and potential distractions. These 3 times (suprisingly) brought +$525, a nice little +standard deviation. The fourth time I was counting with high/lo, base betting with $5 and using my spreads. After three hours I was +$55, so it wasn't all bad for betting small.

When i turn 18 soon, i am going to go back with $500 (just a small start) and see how that goes, the ROR is pretty high, but i'm going to see how well I can keep count, use indices etc.

Anything else you guys can recommend? I'll keep you all updated.

 

[zengrifter]

Remember (6-8D) - a 1-12 (2x6) spread will only be sufficient IF you are exiting neg-counts. It is not a heat problem at small stakes.

A 1-8 (2x4) is sufficient if you only enter on +counts.

For play-all counts, you need at least 1-25+ (I would use 1-40 and thats not as strong as the 1-12 above). zg

 

[Shwam]

Remember (6-8D) - a 1-12 (2x6) spread will only be sufficient IF you are exiting neg-counts. It is not a heat problem at small stakes.

A 1-8 (2x4) is sufficient if you only enter on +counts.

For play-all counts, you need at least 1-25+ (I would use 1-40 and thats not as strong as the 1-12 above). zg

When you are using a 1-40 spread what kind of base bet do you start with? It seems like you would need a pretty awesome act to pull off a 1-40 spread with anything larger than a $10 base.

And for a 1-40 spread, say for example you do hit a very large +TC and you are at the 40 point, would you distribute that among a few hands?

 

[Harman]

I then got 39 decks and set them out into landmark piles (6 decks, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5) so I could learn how to quickly look at the discard tray and figure out how many decks were left.

.

I don't understand, is this a typo or did you actually get 39 decks?

 

[callipygian]

I don't understand, is this a typo or did you actually get 39 decks?

I'm pretty sure he got 39 decks. 6+5.5+5+4.5+4+3.5+3+2.5+2+1.5+1+0.5 = 39.

It'd be a pretty coincidental typo.

 

[Harman]

Ohhhhhh!!

This is a bit extreme.. 39 decks!! Why don't you just make markers on a discard tray?

 

[Shwam]

Ohhhhhh!!

This is a bit extreme.. 39 decks!! Why don't you just make markers on a discard tray?

Probably could have done that... in fact.. AHH, why didn't I just do that <_<. Didn't really come to me at the time, but I got the decks free from local casinos, so its all good.

 

[deathrisingup]

Yeah but you're all set for practice now if the casinos ever go to a 39 deck shoe :laugh: :laugh: