Newbie (but basic) question

[Royam]

Winning Blackjack for the serious player

By Edwin Silberstang: covers basic strategy, simple principles of card-counting, but also basic blackjack, the dealer, the casino, how to manage them, tipping, etc.

A little bit limited (I already have questions I cannot find answers to in this book), but very clear and entertaining. Most importantly, it covers all the basics I knew nothing about. Now I'm reading Professional Blackjack, by Stanford Wong, and can understand it (so far ). I guess I would've been lost without the first introductory book. Hope it wasn't full of ... voodoo though

Royam

 

[john]

good books and insight into card counter life

Just got back today from a recent trip, and I think it was my toughest one to date. I knew it would happen eventually. I set a new personal record for most money lost in a day. I know most of you still have me beat but I lost 2800 in a few hours. I made it all back and then some but it wasn't fun. I think I handled it well. I know I handled it better than some of those ploppies. Have you seen some of those guys? The worst I have seen was from a middle aged woman if you can believe it. She pounded the table so hard I thought she was going to break it in half.

I finished the trip up 68 units.

Man, those phone calls (you know the phones that light up and are loud as hell) have me worried to death these days, especially after that last barring. I'm getting lots of eyeing, too. I'm not staying there too long but still happening. I know that this particular casino doesn't kick out card counters so I'm alright. (I have inside information)

My favorite moment from the trip was doubling an 8 v 4 for a 600 dollar win.

Hey, Abraham, I completely believe you. I am on pace to make almost 100K this year if all goes well. I got family members wanting to invest in me like I'm a thoroughbred or something.

Rayhem, most casinos will figure out that you are a card counter, eventually. You'll find, in my opinion, that if you aren't betting thousands on each hand, that a lot of casinos will tolerate you. I used to be an advocate for playing Mon-Thurs but I'm starting to think that you should play at the busiest times like fri and sat. It gives the casino more to lose if they decide to throw you out. I've been shuffled up on once and banned once and both times were during slow hours.

Abraham, I think you are right about the palming, but I am getting better. This trip, I didn't get caught once. The dealer did a double take on my chip stack but I was tipping him way too well for him to say anything. I am going to keep on tipping because I think I am getting something out of it. I had the dealer cutting off nearly 3/4 deck on a 6 deck game.

 

[john]

forgot the books

World Greatest Blackjack Book by Lance Humble

This was my first blackjack book, and I think it is a good introduction.

Knock-out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs

This was my 2nd book and good if you don't like converting to true counts

Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin

Helps to foster a deeper understanding of the game. Doesn't really help you make more money at the tables but helps you maintain the faith when times get hard.

Blackjack Attack, 3rd edition by Don Schlesinger $40

or

get the 2nd edition of Blackjack Attack for 10 dollars (probably a good buy)

I haven't read Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong so can't speak from opinion but it should be in the list, too. I use his count, though (Hi-Lo).

 

[Abraham de Moivre]

You need the book

"Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong"

If you are getting 5 1/4 decks in a 6 deck shoe, you need this book. It has the complete HiLo indexes in it, which are really helpful when you are deep in a shoe.

And re-read Blackjack Attack, maximize your bankroll for such a good game.

 

[Witling]

"Bringing Down The House" is a joke.

I've read it. I also read "The Big Player" by Ken Uston back in 1978.

"Bringing Down The House" might have been based on some real circumstances but there are so many inaccuracies that I feel it's more fiction than non-fiction.
For anyone who has every played even semi-serious blackjack or spent anytime in a Las Vegas casino will be constantly calling "bullshit" when reading it.

Basic Strategy is based on millions of computer simulations of what to do based on the rules of the table, what card the dealer has up and what you are holding.

That is not the same as counting. Counting changes everything. You should know Basic Strategy to count but they are two different animals.

As for where to go for information you have almost all you need at your fingertips, that being the internet. I wish I had the internet when I started playing BJ 25 years ago. It would have been a much less expensive lesson.

Get the basics down first. Play as much as you can in a live game. You can play online to practice but DO NOT PLAY ONLINE FOR REAL MONEY. Keep the stakes low until you can add as fast as the dealer and know what to do in every situation (especially double-downs and splitting).

Good Luck.

 

[john]

You can bet

I took some lengthy notes after this experience.......

I almost never write comments down in my journal.

 

[Sonny]

Basic Strategy deviations

> The basic strategy tables are based on probabilities, right? If it is so, and
> given the fact that the players also card-count, how is it that the count is
> not taken into consideration to adjust the tables? I mean, if the count is
> high, the odds are high that the player/dealer get a 10 and this should
> change the tables, no?

You are exactly right. That is where the basic strategy deviation come into play (some people call them Indeces or Martix plays). Every card counting system comes with a list of these plays. They will tell you at what true count to deviate from what Basic Strategy tells you do do. Here are a few examples from the system I use (Hi-Opt II):

+4 or above - Take insurarce
+1 or above - Stand on 16 vs 10
-1 or below - Hit on 12 vs 4
+2 or above - Double on 9 vs 2
+7 or above - Double on 9 vs 7
-4 or above - Double on 9 vs 4
-5 or below - Hit 12 vs 6

The most important of these plays will be the "Illustrious 18" from Don Schlesinger. They are listed on this website for several systems in the "System Indeces" section.

Keep in mind that these are advances plays. You should not worry about them (except insurance, which is a HUGE help) until you have your counting and basic strategy down cold.

-Sonny-

 

[Royam]

What counting system should I use?

Ok, thanks for this information, Sonny.

I also found such variations in "winning blackjack for serious player" (my beginner's book) but found them unsatisfying as they were covering very few combinations.

Now, I'm reading "Professional Blackjack" (my advanced book) and this book is very complete, listing all variations from -10 to + 10. It feels "safer" to know exactly how to adjust each move.

I hear about different counting systems and don't know which one to pick. My beginner's book had one with 3 to 6 as + 1, T/J/Q/K as - 1 (others neutral), as counted separately: the author says it helps a lot in certain circumstances to know how many as are left. And my advanced book has one that seems simpler: 2-6 as + 1, T/J/Q/K/As as - 1 (others neutral).

I must admit that now I have some trouble keeping track of the count, the as, convert to the true count, and keep playing quickly without mistakes (and still, I don't use variations yet, I just use the count to adjust my bet).

So before spending too much time working on it, I'd like you guys to advise me on which counting system to use. I am in no hurry, I'll practise as long as it takes to be ready before stepping in a casino.

Royam

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Ever hear of proxy servers?

 

[Abraham de Moivre]

What was that whisper?

Ever hear of the client software running on your computer?
It sends the complete routing (including thru a proxy server) back to the host.

Some sites won't allow connection thru known anon proxies (I wonder why?). Some innocent people can't get thru from certain ISP routers because of abuses from others using that router in the past.

But forget all that. You think you have solved the duplicate IP address type problem. Now work on the seperate address, phone numbers, bank accounts, and credit cards.

Then you can start trying to get people to play with the same group of players over and over again.