Something unusual happened...

J

JLP

Member
Something unusual happened to me while playing at around 3am in Montego Bay casino in Wendover, Nevada.

I'm a novice player that is just starting out. I mostly go to Wendover, NV 3 times per month. I use A -1, 4 +1 and 5 +1 method of counting. I start at +4 and at table minimum of $3. at +6 I go to $6. and at +7> I go to $10.

I hope most of you professionals don't laugh at me, but I enjoy BJ and am unusually successful at this very basic counting system; I follow BS religiously while playing. While using this very basic counting system, I notice while playing that when my count goes above +8, that others counters in the table bets go up also. Now, I don't know what system they use. In the Sims I run, when the count A45 gets to +7> , K-O also triggers a high positive count.

Anyway, back to my story. This morning I was at the only $3. table at Montigo Bay at around 3am. The place is under construction and there were very few people in the casino. At the table there was only myself and my girlfriend.

We were there for about 3 hours. In those 3 hours each time the count was at +6 or above I was betting according to my betting schedule and I was winning 80% to 90% of all the hands. I even split 3 3s at +9 count with $30 dollars out against the dealers 6 up card and the dealer busted. At this time the dealer ( older female) says to me, "...you knew exactly when to put out the extra money...". My response was that I was just lucky. Shortly after that, she was relieved and I watched her walk past the PB in the other side of the room and leaned over to say something to him and just continued walking. He then came right up to my table and just stood there watching the table. I became very nervous and just cashed up my winnings and left.

The reason this was strange is because I posed no danger to the casinos vaults betting a spread from $3 to $10. Is this the norm behavior of some greedy casinos?
 
T

The Mayor

Well-Known Member
Greetings,

You said:
I use A -1, 4 +1 and 5 +1 method of counting. I start at +4 and at table minimum of $3. at +6 I go to $6. and at +7> I go to $10.

Your system is not a winning one, so I doubt that after they examine your play under the cameras, you will get any heat. Certainly they will be curious -- casinos dislike ALL winners implicitly, and will try and find out if you are really playing a winning game. Once they have determined the extent of your system, I strongly doubt anything will come of it.

The question of just how cheap casinos can be is still an open one.

But, congrats on the run of good cards!

--Mayor
 
L

learning to count

Well-Known Member
I agree with the Mayor your action was harmless and your run of luck was just that luck. WHen you play all in todays conditions you have to pound down big bets when the time is right to overcome the hazards of the game's VIG. Play all can be a pain in the arse. You should wong if your betting so small. Heck I would play 25 cent VID POKER for the comps with this type of action. You have to have some dinero to play all! Like I said wong its better.
 
T

T-Hopper

Well-Known Member
It IS a winning system in that game

It doesn't take much to overcome the house edge of 0.2% or so in a single deck DOA game. This very count is discussed in T-H Basic Blackjack, complete with stats for a 1-3 spread.

Still the fact that a casino would sweat silver action from someone whose bets aren't even correlated with the 10s coming out show just how much of a bluff the supposedly "sharp" employees are more often than not.
 
J

JLP

Member
Thank you everyone for the responses.

Learning to count:
You mentioned "...run of luck..." in your response. One thing I can never understand is why some dealers, (Asian woman dealers in particular) can be so incredibly lucky, at least in Wendover.

Another thing that I don't understand is why some players at a table can never do anything wrong, even when they are drinking heavily, winning hand after hand.

What is "luck" anyway, and can it be bottled and bought??!!

The Mayor:
Thanks for the congrats! Last weekend was the first time I even attempted to count cards in a live casino environment, granted a very basic counting system. I was so nervous at first, that maybe the dealer could read my mind I ordered a tequila just to keep my knees from making noises. As for counting, I'm going to look at the K-O and T-H systems.

T-Hopper:
I agree, anything to lessen the edge can make a difference. I'm going to give your system a try.

Everyone, thanks again for your responses!
 
T

The Mayor

Well-Known Member
Re: It IS a winning system in that game

It is like an A-5 count, but it is an unbalanced A,4,5 count. If it is winning, with a 3-1 spread, I would think the extent of the winning % only betting variation and no strategy deviation is microscopic, but I would love to know the numbers if you have them easily at hand.
 
T

T-Hopper

Well-Known Member
See T-H Basic Blackjack, page 23

A 1-3 spread gives a tiny .04% ROI using the T-H Instant strategy for playing in a H17 4 rounds to 2 game. The "1-3" column in the charts at (Dead link: http://thbj.com/samplespng.htm) gives the same figure for several "real" systems.
 
R

Rob McGarvey

Well-Known Member
Re: That bug was in Microsoft's program, not mine!

The program you wrote was in an up do date version, so it was just a case of people with old versions of exel that couldn't read the info. And what about your sales and distribution bugs?
 
J

JLP

Member
A45 and K-O

T-Hooper:
First I have to say that I'm in awe to be in the midst of real professionals.

I have read a few books and have read a lot of posts. Prior to actually going to a casino and keeping track of 3 cards I had this fear of not only being caught, but of being so distracted that even 3 cards would be an overwhelming task, but, last weekend I did it.

I had read about A45 before in different posts. Since I did not want to get confused with negative numbers, I start my count at 4.

One thing, the dealer needs 4s and 5s and we need As. With an unbalanced system such as the one I used more emphasis is placed on the 4s and 5s, that means more weight is based on the dealer busting as opposed to me getting a blackjack. Of course I only used this very basic system in betting, not playing; for playing I used strict BS.

As I stated before, when using a sim, and when my count goes to 8+, K-O count is triggered. This is probably just random coincidence, but, it appears that just keeping track of 3 cards, and when the count reaches 8+ it duplicates K-Os system.

"The Mayer" is right when he says it was just a lucky streak. I just used this system one weekend, and I'm sure it was just pure luck.
 
C

CC-Management

Well-Known Member
Re: A45 and K-O

JLP your right you are amongst some of the elite in card counting! So why dont you create a legitimate profile and become part of the club. It's free, informative and FUN! Join us!
 
R

Rob McGarvey

Well-Known Member
Re: A45 and K-O

You get a FREE mug with a picture of the Mayor on it, and a TShirt that says "I Count Cards for Fun and Profit" smile
 
L

learning to count

Well-Known Member
Re: A45 and K-O

Robert now calm down now remmeber Aces and faces and the fifty dollar gambling bonus. Now that does skirt grifting. Just kidding. :)
 
R

Rob McGarvey

Well-Known Member
Short Skirts, Tight Aces, and Sweet Faces

"Robert now calm down now remmeber Aces and faces and the fifty dollar gambling bonus. Now that does skirt grifting. Just kidding. :)"

Grifter wears a skirt? So you have been in to see him!! grin Now don't fudge the deal up now by comparing it to free coffee cups and tshirts.

Aces and Faces Blackjack is available for FREE to BS BJ players that are willing to play online. They will make $250, and $120 in bonuses per month, plus a kick back from me for $275 for hitting their first 8 casinos. Otherwise they can buy it for $15 and when and if they are ready can get their $15 back by launching their online career, they can do so. Plus they will have a signed copy from the Canadian Master of Blackjack. High Low count, Hi Opt II, Hi Opt III, Zen III, and Z3Max, shuffle tracking, ace sequencing, bankroll 101 201 301, etc.

Maybe for Billion Dollar Blackjack I will go with the free tshirts.

Hey have you seen Iraqi's Most Wanted Playing Cards? There is your major Grift! Look for the PDF file with white background for that one.
 
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