Vegas for a month

[checkmugged]

I'm going to Vegas for about a month in June for the WSOP. I am staying at the Rio and used to play a fair bit of blackjack. I went through Thorpe, Revere, and settled on the Advanced Omega II system when I played. ("Bryce Carleson" Blackjack for Blood)

Since I'm going to be there so long I know I'll pass some time at the bj tables. I haven't played in quite some time and am really looking for any newcomings you may think I need to know about. I've already called the casino and their main game is DD, $25 min, NDAS, H17. I've recapped the BS for this game on this site, http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php?numdecks=2+decks&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=no&surr=ns&peek=yes , and assume it's correct as it's more or less what I remembered. I've also played the last 3 days using the "Strategy Trainer" logging almost 1,000 hands (I know, not much to draw any sort of conclusions) and flat betting I'm up $725. This is meaningless, I know, I'm doing only to make sure I have BS down cold before I move on. Can I assume the Strategy Trainer is truly random though?

My next question for anyone out there who may be able to answer it is if they have any thoughts on the Adv. Omega II. It's a level 2 count and very powerful, or at least it was at the time I played. I'm not worried about being able to slip back into counting, but I will have to relearn the tables. As I said, I have 2+ months before I go so plenty of time to get my act together, any information whatsoever you think might help would be appreciated. I'm not looking to bring down the house but possibly make a little money on the side while I'm passing my time away from the poker table. If all else fails I'll kill time with perfect BS, enjoy some cocktails, and hope short term luck overcomes the minute edge the house holds.

Thanks.

Checkmugged

 

[aslan]

I'm going to Vegas for about a month in June for the WSOP. I am staying at the Rio and used to play a fair bit of blackjack. I went through Thorpe, Revere, and settled on the Advanced Omega II system when I played. ("Bryce Carleson" Blackjack for Blood)

Since I'm going to be there so long I know I'll pass some time at the bj tables. I haven't played in quite some time and am really looking for any newcomings you may think I need to know about. I've already called the casino and their main game is DD, $25 min, NDAS, H17. I've recapped the BS for this game on this site, http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php?numdecks=2+decks&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=no&surr=ns&peek=yes , and assume it's correct as it's more or less what I remembered. I've also played the last 3 days using the "Strategy Trainer" logging almost 1,000 hands (I know, not much to draw any sort of conclusions) and flat betting I'm up $725. This is meaningless, I know, I'm doing only to make sure I have BS down cold before I move on. Can I assume the Strategy Trainer is truly random though?

My next question for anyone out there who may be able to answer it is if they have any thoughts on the Adv. Omega II. It's a level 2 count and very powerful, or at least it was at the time I played. I'm not worried about being able to slip back into counting, but I will have to relearn the tables. As I said, I have 2+ months before I go so plenty of time to get my act together, any information whatsoever you think might help would be appreciated. I'm not looking to bring down the house but possibly make a little money on the side while I'm passing my time away from the poker table. If all else fails I'll kill time with perfect BS, enjoy some cocktails, and hope short term luck overcomes the minute edge the house holds.

Thanks.

Checkmugged

I'll tell you what others in this forum have told me. Keep away from the DD NDAS games. There are places on or near the strip that have DD DAS games. Off-hand, I believe most the MGM Mirage-owned casinos, the Venetian and the Riviera have such games. The Harrah's-owned casinos, of which Rio is one I believe, all have the DD NDAS rules. Same goes for the Hilton.

 

[checkmugged]

Appreciate the advice the problem is I plan on playing at the Rio a bit because I am staying at the Rio and will be playing so much poker there I won't have the energy to go somewhere else and play. What is most likely is that I'll be killing time inbetween tournaments. How much does NDAS give up? I can't imagine it being much...

Checkmugged

 

[zengrifter]

I'll tell you what others in this forum have told me. Keep away from the DD NDAS games.

Its NOT that (NDAS) IF he's counting - its the Rio's poor pene.

BTW, Check, if you were going to reimprint the AO2 you'll want to simplify it by swapping the Ace and 9 card-tag values. zg

 

[EasyRhino]

I won't have the energy to go somewhere else and play.

Normally I'd recommend an easier count if you're trying to conserve brainpower. Heck, I use a stupid-easy unbalanced level 1 count.

Now, if you already knew AOII, then it might not be a big deal to re-learn.

The Rio's games are, seriously, quite weak. There's also some mediocre 6D shoe games, which would be playable if they were the only games in BFE, Iowa, but not in Vegas, when there's all kinds of better joints around.

 

[checkmugged]

Its NOT that (NDAS) IF he's counting - its the Rio's poor pene.

BTW, Check, if you were going to reimprint the AO2 you'll want to simplify it by swapping the Ace and 9 card-tag values. zg

I honestly don't understand what you mean by swapping the Ace & 9 card tag values. I have not revised the AO2 since I used it years ago but the ace was only used in the side count (-1) and the 9 was always -1. Please explain?

Checkmugged

 

[checkmugged]

Normally I'd recommend an easier count if you're trying to conserve brainpower. Heck, I use a stupid-easy unbalanced level 1 count.

Now, if you already knew AOII, then it might not be a big deal to re-learn.

The Rio's games are, seriously, quite weak. There's also some mediocre 6D shoe games, which would be playable if they were the only games in BFE, Iowa, but not in Vegas, when there's all kinds of better joints around.

I already knew the AO2 and I will feel much better brushing up on it than learning a new count. I'm pretty certain most of it is in my head ready to be jostled around so I'm going to stick with it unless someone gives me a reason I shouldn't. (eg it's not as good as I think it is, there's a better/easier/more profitable count out there, etc...)

If I do make it out of the Rio do you have any suggestions where I should go for a decent game?

Checkmugged

 

[zengrifter]

I honestly don't understand what you mean by swapping the Ace & 9 card tag values. I have not revised the AO2 since I used it years ago but the ace was only used in the side count (-1) and the 9 was always -1. Please explain?

No more side-counting Aces. Count the Ace -1 and the 9 as 0:

tags (2-A)

before-
AO2: 112221 0-1-20
after -
ZEN: 112221 00-2-1

For a total crap Rio 2D game you will need a 1-25 spread for play-all. zg

 

[jack.jackson]

Out of Interest!

In case your Interested. You could add A-2 vs 3,5+1 to make wong-halves for betting. Its almost as easy as sidecounting aces Independantly. Start the secondary @ 50 to avoid confusion with the main count.

 

[zengrifter]

In case your Interested. You could add A-2 vs 3,5+1 to make wong-halves for betting. Its almost as easy as sidecounting aces Independantly. Start the secondary @ 50 to avoid confusion with the main count.

Thank you JJackson aka Poindexter. zg

​

 

[rukus]

if you can use AOII VERY well and only very well (ie have no problem ace side counting and estimating decks to quarter deck resolution and adjusting TC for betting), then i highly recommend AOII for pitch games. if you plan to play anything else as well (ie 6D), then use Zen Count as ZG recommends as it is a nice balance and works well on both shoe and pitch games. one thing you pointed out was that you were going to be too lazy and tired to go to casinos other than the rio - in that case, are you going to be too tired/lazy to side count aces accurately enough to make it worth using AOII?? playing poker all day will drain you, so unless you are able to do it accurately after sitting at a poker table all day, i dont recommend using AOII. if you say all the numbers are in your head already (i assume index plays), imprint zen count and use AOII index numbers (i do this on shoe games).

dont get me wrong, i love AOII for pitch games as i use it myself. but as others have pointed out a few times, unless you can use it very accurately at all times, you are better off going with a non side counting system.

just my two pennies,
rukus

 

[ihate17]

try the Gold Coast

Just hop across the street and play double deck at the Gold Coast. Lower limits if that is important to you and also DAS plus pen seems more dealer dependent.

ihate17

 

[Diver]

What am I missing?

Its NOT that (NDAS) IF he's counting - its the Rio's poor pene.
zg

The latest CBJN indicates DD pen of .8 at the Rio. Are you considering that poor (I don't see many venues in LV rated better than that for $25 min.) or is the reporting highly innaccurate? I know there's been some discussion about that point of late. Separately, ihate 17 suggests looking at Gold Coast's $10 min. DD game with pen that is dealer dependent but listed as 1.0 on the newsletter as well as a comment in the intro. about it worsening.

 

[zengrifter]

if you can use AOII VERY well and only very well (ie have no problem ace side counting and estimating decks to quarter deck resolution and adjusting TC for betting), then i highly recommend AOII for pitch games.

Don't start another RUKUS! AO2 cannot be employed accurately on the
Ace-count without a secondary balanced side-count of As-2 vs 2/5 +1. zg