Singol counter

[gus]

Hi.
Anyone use to work alone at tables? How can a singol counter change is way to betting without saying "hello! I m counting!" ?

I know how a work team should be (because I m training with a team in these months) but I would like to hear from who work alone how it is.

I think that the spread btwn minimn and maximun bet are small, is it?
And so you need more time to win what you will have won with a team, is it right?

I'v began to study BJ 2 years ago, but magic and poker.. they' ve taken all my time.
So now in fact I' m a begginer and I will really appricieted any kind of suggestion and who will share his own experience (or a bit of..) with me.

Thank you.

 

[blackchipjim]

Heads up!

Heads up one on one with the dealer is the only way to go. It maximizes your playing. It can be quick and furious but it sure beats having to wait for a bunch of dummies with dummy logic and dummy sayings. You make the most of the game and you don't have to use a big spread to win a decent amount of money. I love heads up with the dealer and most casinos don't mind you opening a table because the idiots show up after you won your shoe. Just be sure to leave and go to another open table with a dealer standing there looking bored. blackchipjim

 

[gus]

This is a good thing, never though or read (as I remember) that is better to play heads up with the dealer, so thank you.

For team work I do not mean that the whole team play together at the same table, off course. I mean, as usually have a big bettor that goes to table signed by the small palyer. 2 players at one table.

So, if I work alone, one o one I don't need a big spread? Can You make an example?

Tnx

 

[Sonny]

I think that the spread btwn minimn and maximun bet are small, is it?

You should use the biggest spread that you can get away with. The bigger your spread, the bigger your advantage. Leaving during negative counts is the best way to get a very large spread.

And so you need more time to win what you will have won with a team, is it right?

It depends on how the team works. If the players are playing individually at separate tables then they can play lots of hands per hour. If only one player is making the bets (like a Big Player team) then it will depend on how many hands he can play per hour. If you only have one spotter, it's the same as having one player backcouting by himself. If they play individually they can reach the long run sooner.

-Sonny-

 

[gus]

Thank you very much.

 

[White Guy]

I like heads up because it goes faster but I also really like one other experience non AP at the table. It is nice because you can wong in at +2 or better and than get a phone call or bathroom break when it drops, wait for a shuffle and hopefully wong back in. There is a guy I see a lot at my local casino who must have $$ to burn besause he plays two hands of $200 straight up on a $25-200 table. I like seeing him there because of the crappy spread 25 min he is always by himself and I watch "the flow of the cards" and step in when the time is right and than step out when its wrong. It is funny because he thinks I am "lucky" for him because he always does better when I am in but its only because the count is good at that point.

 

[gus]

I like heads up because it goes faster but I also really like one other experience non AP at the table. It is nice because you can wong in at +2 or better and than get a phone call or bathroom break when it drops, wait for a shuffle and hopefully wong back in. There is a guy I see a lot at my local casino who must have $$ to burn besause he plays two hands of $200 straight up on a $25-200 table. I like seeing him there because of the crappy spread 25 min he is always by himself and I watch "the flow of the cards" and step in when the time is right and than step out when its wrong. It is funny because he thinks I am "lucky" for him because he always does better when I am in but its only because the count is good at that point.

Nice!
I don't know... But from the first time I v read the "wong in" I always thougt it may be a lil' suspicious... It isnt so?

 

[EyeHeartHalves]

Hi.
Anyone use to work alone at tables? How can a singol counter change is way to betting without saying "hello! I m counting!" ?

I know how a work team should be (because I m training with a team in these months) but I would like to hear from who work alone how it is.

I think that the spread btwn minimn and maximun bet are small, is it?
And so you need more time to win what you will have won with a team, is it right?

I'v began to study BJ 2 years ago, but magic and poker.. they' ve taken all my time.
So now in fact I' m a begginer and I will really appricieted any kind of suggestion and who will share his own experience (or a bit of..) with me.

Thank you.

I've been solo for a few years which is the entire time I've been CC. I always liked it but I now find myself looking for teammates in Northern NJ because you can't perform most "advanced techniques" without at least a small network of friendly professionals. Also, it gets lonely:sad: :laugh:

Personally, I chose a system that's more difficult than Hi-Lo with the hopes of making more money; I wong-out at all TC's of -1; I have an enormous bet spread of 20:1 or there abouts, depending on all the particulars; as a form of camouflauge, I never bet two circles no matter how high the count is; and finally, I comp whore my ass off for every nickel they'll throw towards me.

--Halves

 

[White Guy]

Nice!
I don't know... But from the first time I v read the "wong in" I always thougt it may be a lil' suspicious... It isnt so?

Yeah I feel a little suspect whenever I do it but I always try to act pre occupied with something else and not stand there the whole shoe. Once the count gets too neg where it is unlikely to recover I wonder off like I am looking for someone or something. I mainly play in small casinos near me so I sometimes just get in after a shuffle- if every count I try to wong on is dropping -and than wong out when it drops. Sometimes I have been there for an hour before even playing a hand, sometimes after no good wong ops I sit down new shuffle and the count goes South quick and I leave the table even though I am up a few bets. That to me feels more suspect than wonging because the dealer always looks at me like huh?? Get hundreds in chips bet about 10-12 hands small win more than you lose than leave?? Next time in Vegas I plan on aggressively wonging like I have never wonged before. It will be the weekend so I am sure I will be fine as long as I can find a spot.

 

[zengrifter]

I'v began to study BJ 2 years ago, but magic and poker.. they' ve taken all my time.

Paisan, How is your magic? Here is my good friend Simon -
http://www.simonwinthrop.com/

I might introduce you to him if you come to Vegas. zg

 

[gus]

As always thanx to everybody for the answers. I dunno y but American guys are the kindest. I have some friends made in USA and they are great!

Paisan, How is your magic? Here is my good friend Simon -
http://www.simonwinthrop.com/

I might introduce you to him if you come to Vegas. zg

This is the typical American hospitality, I love it.

Vegas for sure it's a dream, especially for me. You know, here we have the American' s dream... And Vegas is the greatest place for those who love to play (in anyway...).

But, you know, I need a lot of practice and study before crossing the ocean (I mean, CC).
I have a couple friends there (one is a magician, "Losander")..
Anyway I would be glad to know your magical friend. A good friend is always pleasant, especially in a' other city with a different language.
I' v seen the site, I like him! Good magic and great style!

My kind of magic... All about cards.. And mind-blowing.


Sorry for the Off Topic.


Ps: Do you speak Italian? (paisan..)




Returning to the thread....
So what you think is better? As a begginer should I continue alone or to aim at teamwork?

 

[gus]

as a form of camouflauge, I never bet two circles no matter how high the count is
--Halves

Sorry, what it means "I never bet two circles" ?

 

[Canceler]

Sorry, what it means "I never bet two circles" ?

You place your bet in the circle. They might be "boxes" over there.

 

[EyeHeartHalves]

Sorry, what it means "I never bet two circles" ?

No, I apologize. I speak in "blackjack (bj or BJ or 21) language." Even so, the above statement wasn't even correct bj lang. I should have said I never bet two "boxes". A box in bj terms means to make an initial bet before the cards are dealt. If you play "two boxes" it means that you play two bj hands at once. Most cardcounters (CC's or CC) play two hands at once when the count (and their corresponding advantage) is sufficiently juicy.

The trigger point for this play depends on the CC. He may do it when his advantage is neutral [a Hi-Lo "true count" (TC) of +1] or with a slight advantage of +0.5% (a Hi-Lo TC of +2) or a larger advantage such as a Hi-Lo TC of +3 or more. In terms of "variation" (what most people might call "luck" or "fluctuation" or "risk"--it's all pretty much the same concept), it's a good idea. Imagine the count is high and it's you and a "ploppy" (a regular "joe", a "civilian", a non-CC, a loser, etc.) vs. the dealer. The ploppy and the dealer each get a blackjack and you get 16 while you were betting say $300. Wouldn't it have been much better if the ploppy wasn't there and you were playing two boxes of say $150 each? You would have had a 100% chance of getting at least one of those blackjacks and a 50% chance of getting both. Either way, your expectation on the hand was +$50 (work it out yourself if you want to) but the variation from the mean was smaller if you bet two boxes.

Most CC's know this and do this. That's why I don't do it. I would've just made the $300 bet with a ploppy at the table. I absorb the extra variation for purposes of "camouflauge". (To disguise your blackjack skill from casino personnel--otherwise referred to as "cover"--meaning to make a less than optimum decision for purposes fooling people into thinking that you are not a CC.)

--Halves

PS: Wong's Halves is a counting system with the following tag values: 2=0.5; 3=1; 4=1; 5=1.5; 6=1; 7=0.5; 8=0; 9=-0.5; T=-1; A=-1.

 

[johndoe]

I have an enormous bet spread of 20:1 or there abouts, depending on all the particulars

20:1 ?! How on earth do you get away with that? Sheesh, I've been worried about my 10:1 and not getting to continue playing...

 

[callipygian]

20:1 ?! How on earth do you get away with that? Sheesh, I've been worried about my 10:1 and not getting to continue playing...

I can't speak for Halves precisely, but I assume it has something to do with his Wonging out pretty readily.

You can get away with larger bet spreads if you don't hang around long enough for them to catch you. A play-all 1:10 counter probably generates more heat because the pit/surveillance team can watch you fluxuate up and down and see whether it correlates with the count. But if you Wong in, play 3 hands at table min, 1 hand at table max, and then walk out of the casino, it's really hard to tell whether you're just really good, really lucky, or really stupid.

 

[gus]

No, I apologize. I speak in "blackjack (bj or BJ or 21) language." Even so, the above statement wasn't even correct bj lang. I should have said I never bet two "boxes". A box in bj terms means to make an initial bet before the cards are dealt. If you play "two boxes" it means that you play two bj hands at once. Most cardcounters (CC's or CC) play two hands at once when the count (and their corresponding advantage) is sufficiently juicy.

The trigger point for this play depends on the CC. He may do it when his advantage is neutral [a Hi-Lo "true count" (TC) of +1] or with a slight advantage of +0.5% (a Hi-Lo TC of +2) or a larger advantage such as a Hi-Lo TC of +3 or more. In terms of "variation" (what most people might call "luck" or "fluctuation" or "risk"--it's all pretty much the same concept), it's a good idea. Imagine the count is high and it's you and a "ploppy" (a regular "joe", a "civilian", a non-CC, a loser, etc.) vs. the dealer. The ploppy and the dealer each get a blackjack and you get 16 while you were betting say $300. Wouldn't it have been much better if the ploppy wasn't there and you were playing two boxes of say $150 each? You would have had a 100% chance of getting at least one of those blackjacks and a 50% chance of getting both. Either way, your expectation on the hand was +$50 (work it out yourself if you want to) but the variation from the mean was smaller if you bet two boxes.

Most CC's know this and do this. That's why I don't do it. I would've just made the $300 bet with a ploppy at the table. I absorb the extra variation for purposes of "camouflauge". (To disguise your blackjack skill from casino personnel--otherwise referred to as "cover"--meaning to make a less than optimum decision for purposes fooling people into thinking that you are not a CC.)

--Halves

PS: Wong's Halves is a counting system with the following tag values: 2=0.5; 3=1; 4=1; 5=1.5; 6=1; 7=0.5; 8=0; 9=-0.5; T=-1; A=-1.

Ok, it's more then clear, thank you. And many thanx also for the preciouses digresses.

 

[zengrifter]

I have a couple friends there (one is a magician, "Losander")..

Dirk Losander, I met him through Simon.
He has had some financial and family health problems of late.
He lives in Vegas, too. zg