Hello, and a few questions right out of the gate.

[DoctorJames]

I have been furtively studying basic strategy, and the Hi-Lo count now for about 3 months. I had basic strategy charts for about 2 years now but only now are they starting to make sense, and only now am I confident in their truth. I play basic strategy 98% accurate for 2 hours playing 150 hph on (Dead link: http://www.blackinfo.com) _www.blackinfo.com_ 's training software (I am wondering what is a realistic accuracy with basic strategy, what should I expect out of myself as a young player?). Anyway... lets get to brass tax =)

I have looked in many casino directories and indeed have found very complete lists of casinos in my area. However I am finding it difficult to find the rules for the games offered before I go ( I am probably asking too much ). Going to the Casino's web-site is pointless. I am curious if I have overlooked some publication or web-site that has these places scoped out. I have already accepted the fact I will be dealing with a -0.6 or so expectation.I like to play about 8-10 hours a week and over 2 years (for some reason I have kept a running total of money in and out) I am about even. Also I am interested in playing tournaments, I believed that Bjinsider.com had tournament listings but they are the big ones. I was wondering where I could find local Bj tournament listings if they exist.

Thank you very much for the information on this web-site and board, I am finding it very usefull. Next time I will write up a profile, but since I am at work my time is limited, but yes... I am technically getting paid to learn to play blackjack. God Bless the Internet !

 

[The Mayor]

>I have been furtively studying basic strategy, and the Hi-Lo count now for about 3 months. I had basic strategy charts for about 2 years now but only now are they starting to make sense, and only now am I confident in their truth. I >play basic strategy 98% accurate for 2 hours playing 150 hph on (Dead link: http://www.blackinfo.com) _www.blackinfo.com_ 's training software (I am wondering what is a realistic accuracy with basic strategy, what should I expect out of myself as a young player?).

If you are less than 100% accurate on SOME basic strategy (choose the game, then learn that strategy), then you are not near good enough. You should make no mistakes, ever, at basic strategy. My guess is that you miss a few splits, a few of the soft-double downs, A-7 in general, and maybe 12 vs. 2 and 3.

>I have looked in many casino directories and indeed have found very complete lists of casinos in my area. However I am finding it difficult to find the rules for the games offered before I go ( I am probably asking too much ).

I call up the casinos -- ask to speak to the blackjack pit. I do this all the time.

>Going to the Casino's web-site is pointless. I am curious if I have overlooked some publication or web-site that has these places scoped out. I have already accepted the fact I will be dealing with a -0.6 or so expectation.

Go to bj21.com and download a copy of cbjn (casino blackjack news). It costs less than $15, and it will tell you the rules just about everywhere in the U.S. and many places abroad.

> I like to play about 8-10 hours a week and over 2 years (for some reason I have kept a running total of money in and out) I am about even.

This means you have lost

Glad to have you on board, best wishes for your success!

--Mayor

 

[DoctorJames]

Thanks for the response Mayor !

I do have trouble remembering which soft totals to double on, and which are just hits... against dealer cards 3-6 and so on. Sometimes I don't miss but now and again thats what gets me.

And yes for 2 years I have been playing a loosing game, and have finally made up my mind to learn to win. Thanks to web-sites like yours and www.bj21.com I feel I actually have a chance to take a loosing game (basic strategy) into a winning game ! =)

My current routine is to go through my flash cards for about 30 minutes each day, and then during lulls in my work day I go through them. I also have my roomate deal hands at the kitchen table and double check my decisions, and I do the same for him. In addition to that I use the strategy trainer on www.blackjackinfo.com for about an hour or two a day depending on free time. I recognize that most people struggle with soft totals and splits, and i just have to keep at it to nail it, however, I was curious if anyone has a cool trick that they use to remember the tuff ones or should I just petition God for a photographic memory ? =)

Thanks Again !

 

[The Mayor]

If you practice your indices in a game setting, then you don't see the difficult hands enough to make a difference in your learning.

Use flash cards. Go through them about 3 times very fast. Any you miss, put in a separate pile. Then, take that pile in a group of 3 cards and do that till you have no problem. Every day add 3 cards to the pile that you know, and learn those. Do NOT add more than 3 cards a day to your pile. After you have mastered all the indices you did not know, put everything back in the big pile, go through them 3 times very fast pulling out the ones you don't know. Repeat...

I use the above scheme all the time when learning indices.

--Mayor