Newbie from the UK with some questions

[Mowgli]

Hi Guys,

Bit of background first. Im based in the UK and stuck in front of a monitor all day and have only rarely been in a Casino.

I Have lots of time to spare so started playing Hoyles Casino and got hooked on Blackjack. After awhile I learned the basic BJ strategy and decided to learn the hi/lo card counting method and learn from the Gamemasters free Blackjack school. Great stuff.

So I am just starting off when I visit a board that says BJ card counting is dead because the Casinos are now using shuffling machines that are used after every deal. Gloom.

So the question is, is card counting really dead or should I continue? I hate giving up on something once I start.

Thanks in advance and good luck.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Definitely not dead

Only a minority of BJ games use continuous shuffle machines (CSM's) and they seem to be going out of style. There are definitely non-CSM games available in London. Although there are stronger systems than High-Low the Gamesmaster course really does contain all you need to beat blackjack.

 

[SammyBoy]

Don't Give Up!!!

There are still lots of beatable games around and will be for years to come. People have been talking about the end of beatable BJ games for more than 40 years.

 

[Mowgli]

Still Learning

Am determined to master card counting even if I never use it.

Am using Hoyles Casino game to practise on. I think it is really excellent.

Got most of the BJ variations and does an HiLo count that you can check yourself against.

After thousands of games and just by using money management, BS (sometimes modified) and the true count display am ahead in my virtual world.

Good luck to all other learners and thanks for all the posts on this board.

 

[Mowgli]

Still learning but what about ...

A brief update. Well I have got my BS cracked but I still have to get my speed up on my count.

I have gone with an unbalanced count using KO. Being miles from anywhere, there is no way I could go with trying to estimate the number of decks to get a true count and it seems much much easier to keep in your mind with distractions going on.

Am looking to buy also Casino Verite as I am very impressed with the demo download and its training aids.

Bit concerned about articles such as (Dead link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1471&ncid=1471&e=1&u=/ibd/20050128/bs_ibd_ibd/2005127tech) which makes me thing I am jumping onboard a train that is about to reach the end of the rails but it is personal now and I intend to become as good as I can possibly get.

With an eye to the future I would like to join a uk based team.

Thanks for the board.