How much practice?

[godeem23]

For those experienced APs out there, I've got a quick question for you.

How much time did it take from the first time you tried to count/play simultaneously (at home) to the time you were in the casino certain you were playing positive EV? I ask this for a couple of reasons.
1. I'm simply curious.
2. I'm in that stage right now where I feel I know so much, but this practice stage seems like it's dragging out a while. I'm not satisfied with my abilities yet, and all this reading and practicing is somewhat tiring knowing I'm not even playing for real money yet. Don't worry, I'm not going to do something crazy like step into a casino before I'm ready. I know it's all about practice, and that's what I've been doing.

 

[runningaces]

I'm not exactly sure but I would guess I practiced 8-10 hours at home. I suggest this to you:

1) Have a friend deal the cards out for you, play 1-2 spots yourself and have them deal out anywhere between 2-5 hands so your use to counting multiple hands.
2) Deal face up and pitch, (I'm taking for granted you know what pich is) this gives you experience in counting cards that get turned face up by the dealer in pitch game as well as cc that are face up.
3) As you get real comfortable counting, work on CC without eyeing the whole table, glance and memorize a lil more. You don't want to look like a CC.

Good luck.

 

[vonQuux]

I'm taking for granted you know what pich is

I hate to announce my n00bishness but ...what's pitch? Is this some kind of ninja training technique where I try to count the cards while someone hurls them at me or...? =)

vQ

 

[BJinNJ]

I'm at about the same stage of practice as you...

What I'm thinking of doing is:

When I go on vacation next month is to stop at a casino and play
low limit BS for about an hour. This should give me some experience
at buying in, checking out the layout of tables, interacting with
dealers and pcs, picking good games, and trying to count(both at
the table & backcount). If I can keep count, then I'll try a modest
bet ramp, too.

This should indicate just how ready I really am, and not take too much
from my BR. And it is possible to win in the short term, playing just BS.

Hopefully this experience will be incentive to keep practicing, and be
valuable information for the next casino trip.

It might turn out to be very overwhelming and not really my cup of tea.
Who knows, until one tries it out?

Anyway, that's my plan for the next month or so. Practice more, then
try BS live.

Comments on this plan, from the 'pros', are appreciated.

BJinNJ

 

[bj bob]

I hate to announce my n00bishness but ...what's pitch? Is this some kind of ninja training technique where I try to count the cards while someone hurls them at me or...? =)

vQ

Pitch simply means the traditional way blackjack was played until the advent of that diabolical contraption known as the shoe whip: )In other words, the dealer simply throws the first two cards face down to each player resulting in a pocket such as in Hold'em.

 

[runningaces]

I hate to announce my n00bishness but ...what's pitch? Is this some kind of ninja training technique where I try to count the cards while someone hurls them at me or...? =)

vQ

Some casino's at double deck only play pitch. Pitch means the dealer throws your cards to you face down one at a time ( like poker). You can grab your cards with only one hand, if u hit you motion with the cards, if u stay you lay the cards by your chips you bet with/ After all action is done the dealer turns over every hand starting with the anchor and either pays u or takes it. It's different from counting face up but no harder, just different. Okay?

 

[la_dee_daa]

im not expereinced but after like 2-3 months of practice i was finally able to go to the casino( after first understanding there was much thing as BS!! i knew the general idea of counting before bs) i could do the APing fairly easily. But i wasn't legal gambling age before that and this time was plenty of time to learn.

 

[vonQuux]

Got it. I'd seen it mentioned a few times but never quite knew. I thought it was some kind of low-deck rule or something...

Thanks for the replies.

vQ

 

[Kasi]

If I can keep count, then I'll try a modest
bet ramp, too.

Let's flash forward and assume you can count.

What is your idea of a modest bet ramp in what game(s)? Playing-all, back-counting, start and then wong-out at some point?

Will you know if that modest ramp yields a +EV game?

How much you taking and how long will you be playing?

Spend some time on stuff like that.

 

[SD Padres]

I still remember years ago when I first started counting and going to the Stardust in Vegas. I had probably practiced for a couple of months and thought I was ready. I sat down at a table and everything was a blur. It seemed the dealer was on hyper-speed and the cards were flying out of her hands. I could barely keep count half the time and then my mind went numb trying to remember my indice numbers. It was an awful experience but I went home and kept practicing and now I can talk to the dealer, cocktail waitress and others at the table and not miss a beat. Just takes time.