What would you do differently?
- Thread starter Meistro
- Start date
Midwest Player
Well-Known Member
Bet with a larger spread
KewlJ
Well-Known Member
I don't think I would change much. There might be a couple really specific things like, I would never have set foot in valley Forge casino (Pa). They are one of the sweatiest places I have encountered and what makes them really dangerous is how active they are in the databases. The heat at valley forge, followed me immediately not only to other nearby Pa casinos, but 2500 miles away back home to vegas, as I was immediately backed off 3 of my regular stores after returning home and received heat at a couple other, until a little time passed and things died down.
But I don't think something this specific is what Meistro had in mind. The one thing I was considering was the first few years of my career. I started my career with a very tiny bankroll and this meant I played the lowest stakes possible. I did this for 3 years, which means I played my ass off, over-exposing myself. My low level play was tolerated for years, but almost as soon as my bankroll grew to the point that I could play a little higher stakes, spreading green to black, I was almost immediately, no longer tolerated. I was done in that area.
So, I was considering if I would have been better off waiting a couple years to get started, building a bigger bankroll and wouldn't have over-exposed myself at that low level for peanuts. I might just have lasted a little longer, but with a small rotation of stores, it probably wouldn't have made that much difference.
I am one of those people that believes that all past experiences, good and bad is what makes you what you are today. And those early years that I struggled so much playing red chip, and everything I learned during that time, is what made me the player I am today. And I am pretty happy with where I am today career-wise, so short answer (way too late for that
)...I wouldn't change a thing.
But I don't think something this specific is what Meistro had in mind. The one thing I was considering was the first few years of my career. I started my career with a very tiny bankroll and this meant I played the lowest stakes possible. I did this for 3 years, which means I played my ass off, over-exposing myself. My low level play was tolerated for years, but almost as soon as my bankroll grew to the point that I could play a little higher stakes, spreading green to black, I was almost immediately, no longer tolerated. I was done in that area.
So, I was considering if I would have been better off waiting a couple years to get started, building a bigger bankroll and wouldn't have over-exposed myself at that low level for peanuts. I might just have lasted a little longer, but with a small rotation of stores, it probably wouldn't have made that much difference.
I am one of those people that believes that all past experiences, good and bad is what makes you what you are today. And those early years that I struggled so much playing red chip, and everything I learned during that time, is what made me the player I am today. And I am pretty happy with where I am today career-wise, so short answer (way too late for that
)...I wouldn't change a thing.Did anyone attend a boot camp or seminar to get started or to improve their game? Did anyone but software to get started? I sometimes wonder if I should have done it. Now, I wonder if doing it is worth it to improve my game, not software but a seminar or boot camp.
I think I am in the middle stage where my results are disappointing and a part of me says it's not the knowledge but the implementation. It's my character and personality that is my biggest weakness (BJ is not for risk averse, frugal, cheap, insecure personalities) and I have to work it myself.
In any case, to get back to the OP, maybe I regret not seeing how unsuitable I was for BJ. However, now, I enjoy the activity, it's just how do I get more successful?
I think I am in the middle stage where my results are disappointing and a part of me says it's not the knowledge but the implementation. It's my character and personality that is my biggest weakness (BJ is not for risk averse, frugal, cheap, insecure personalities) and I have to work it myself.
In any case, to get back to the OP, maybe I regret not seeing how unsuitable I was for BJ. However, now, I enjoy the activity, it's just how do I get more successful?
KewlJ
Well-Known Member
IMO, you don't need boot camp Zee. I don't think "boot camp" is going to teach you much you don't already know. No offense to the boot camp guys.
Your issues are implementation. Sometime you don't even do the things you know you should do. I remember when you were hesitant to throw out your max bet, even thought it was max bet territory (count). Hopefully you have overcome that.
Possibly if anything you might benefit from working with another experienced counter. Maybe have them evaluate your play to help identify weaknesses, but even that, I think you are doing pretty well at identifying your weaknesses. So now it's just about working on those weaknesses. And that is an ongoing exercise. I am in my 14th year of working on my weaknesses.
Your issues are implementation. Sometime you don't even do the things you know you should do. I remember when you were hesitant to throw out your max bet, even thought it was max bet territory (count). Hopefully you have overcome that.
Possibly if anything you might benefit from working with another experienced counter. Maybe have them evaluate your play to help identify weaknesses, but even that, I think you are doing pretty well at identifying your weaknesses. So now it's just about working on those weaknesses. And that is an ongoing exercise. I am in my 14th year of working on my weaknesses.
Thank you Kewlj. I am writing after a disastrous (for me) trip. I was up about $5k for October by the 20th (for me, it looked like my best month) and then I went to las Vegas and had a bad trip. I went there while in a bad mood (spouse got a party invite, was mad at me for leaving), got there in the morning on an absolute gorgeous day but tired as I was, the room was not ready and check-in time was 3:00 p.m. I played my first session and won but then I got a room (the key did not work), went back to front desk, waited for my turn and got a better key card, tried to nap and could not. Went out to play and the losing began.KewlJ said:IMO, you don't need boot camp Zee. I don't think "boot camp" is going to teach you much you don't already know. No offense to the boot camp guys.
Your issues are implementation. Sometime you don't even do the things you know you should do. I remember when you were hesitant to throw out your max bet, even thought it was max bet territory (count). Hopefully you have overcome that.
Possibly if anything you might benefit from working with another experienced counter. Maybe have them evaluate your play to help identify weaknesses, but even that, I think you are doing pretty well at identifying your weaknesses. So now it's just about working on those weaknesses. And that is an ongoing exercise. I am in my 14th year of working on my weaknesses.
I had great max bet opportunities, had out 2 x $150, dealer had a bust card, TC is 4 or higher and the dealer would pull out a 7 under her 4 and hit with a ten or a 9 under her 2 and hit with a ten or just have a BJ. I started losing and with it questioning my count. I was down $2k and started underbetting (even though I had a $10k trip roll with me). I started expecting to lose and lost. I made mistakes. I would get a head up game and then 3-4 ploppies would sit down and instead of leaving, I would try and stick it out rather than walk to car, drive to another casino. I would hit a BJ and then use the 2 red chips on the Lucky Lucky side bet and thus the EV from the BJ.
I did not sleep well, played tired, lost count a few times or may have lost direction (plus or minus).
Where I was up $5k for the month, hoping for the best month ever, I ended up barely $1k up today. If I take away expenses, I am probably up $6k after 10 months and 250 hours this year. Damn disappointing.
However, despite the haters, there were some encouraging words on the other forum and here as well. I will venture out to a local place tomorrow, close the month with a short day trip on Tuesday and hope my confidence returns. Thanks!
KewlJ
Well-Known Member
Dang that vegas! No one can win there. I don't know why people still try.ZeeBabar said:
Perhaps I could give you a tip or two on napping. I do nothing but nap these days. Every little thing wears me out. I had one thing I wanted to do today and that was watch a football game and I napped through 90% of it.
Couldn't keep my eyes open.Tomorrow will be another day, ZEE. (well for you....for me, it will be more resting in the hopes of one day growing strong again). Put vegas behind you and just focus on the long run. Back when the swings were bothering me more than they should have, I came up with a way to stay focused on the long run. Don't track your wins and losses. Just ignore them. Pay them no mind. Keep track of the Ev, you are accumulating instead. Eventually the two will end up pretty close together.
When you can step away from a table that you just lost several grand, feeling good because you played well and accumulated some decent Ev, then you are really beating this game.
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Kewlj, trying to get where you are but still a long way off. I retired this year and started taking longer trips and still learning to deal with it. Before, it was short trips to Tunica, to Biloxi and to St. Louis by car. If I won or lost, say $1-2k, I would just jump in my car and drive home, either ecstatic or disappointed a bit. However, when I take a flight to Las Vegas, I have to learn to see it through. I lost early and quickly but simply could not just jump on a plane and fly home (the ticket change fee is $300 or I buy a new ticket to fly home). I tried to go back to my room but the loss made it difficult to sleep well (kept thinking of near misses and lost big bets, questioning whether I made the right decisions) so I went back out, tired, fatigued and probably erred even more, forgetting the count or worse, remembering a minus count as a positive count.KewlJ said:Dang that vegas! No one can win there. I don't know why people still try.
When you can step away from a table that you just lost several grand, feeling good because you played well and accumulated some decent Ev, then you are really beating this game.
Boot camp seems like a massive waste of money to me. 3k??? and what are they going to teach me, how to count cards? I already know how to do that. I think their target market is people who want to buy into the idea of being an AP, but aren't willing to do the actual work to get good at blackjack.
KewlJ
Well-Known Member
I don't see anything wrong with that. He is aware that certain members may only participate on certain forums.21forme said:
As a matter of fact, I used to do that same thing. If I wanted an opinion on something I would ask on BJ21 (when I was a member) as well as whatever other forum I was a member of, seeking a range of opinions. I can remember starting several threads with an apology to those (like you) that were members of both or multiple sites and had to read my post or question on both or several sites. I mean that must be an agonizing thing to have to go through.