Testing positive for EV

All this violence?

Why can't he just go up and just hug the dealer. I'm sure Zg does.

You gonna teach him that? Better use Trend-Analysis pattern recognition! zg

What else should I do?

If he can't recognize trends/patterns then he may have to resort to math. God forgive us all! Then I'll have to send him to you Kinder Kamp and become a "meanie" and win money. That sounds very materialistic to me.

Exactly what do you think you will get out of recognizing trends/patterns? See the "Cipher" controversy for more details.

He will find the truth!

Tell him, Zg what the trend/pattern of this thread is.(I can already predict it.)

The trend lately is for posts to go off topic and start discussing trends/patterns!

Back on point

Just got off on responding to Zg's reply (Bad Zg!) I think the underlying point was that he wants me to go "all out" on this first trip and I'm saying that I want to start at square one and procede from there. Don't get lost in the off-beat humor. So far I've gotten a lot of quality feedback from this thread despite the barbs.

Either of my "kids" is fully capable of picking up counting. My son has a degree in Mathematics and my Son-in-law is a teckie with a degree in Computer Science who reads nothing but technical manuals. Neither has the least interest in devoting the time to become an AP but both like to take occasional trips to Vegas and while there, do like to Plop. If either showed any real interest in taking up gambling seriously, I'd teach them the ropes but they are strictly once a year players. I just try to make sure they do not make any Basic Strategy mistakes and hope their small BRs last for the trip.

So the gorilla is betting more than a one man counter would in those situations? I think I got it.

Considerably more while appearing to be a drunk idot not looking at the cards. zg

Sorry guys, I’m a little late coming into this thread.

You will still have a positive EV but your son (only using a 1-2 spread) will not. If you are the only two players at the table then he may actually increase your EV a bit (having 2 players at a SD table is more valuable than playing heads up, assuming you’re at spot #2), although he will be reducing your EV all other times (as ZG mentioned).

Another approach would be to use him as a lookout. He could stand behind you and keep an eye on the pit critters. That way he would get a chance to see a card counter in action, get used to casino conditions, backcount until he gets the hang of it, and you would have the benefit of being able to spread wildly for a while.

Also, check my post on an earlier thread for some other team methods:

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=89

Man, I need more friends like yours!

Right. If the counter is flat betting $5 and the gorilla jumps in and flat bets $200 then they are using over a 1-40 spread! And the gorilla can act completely drunk and obnoxious without even looking at the cards while he plays. Ken Uston wrote several fine books on the subject.

That’s a good plan. When he’s ready for the big time you guys can give the casinos hell!:devil:

-Sonny-

So does the gorilla player not play a lot of hands as well? If I ever had someone interested in playing with me I'd give this idea a shot but alas no sexy ladies want to play blackjack with me.

They both play-all, though the gorilla, when signaled, can find endless excuses to skip hands. zg

Ps - called gorilla because unlike the traditional BP, he/she has little or no understanding of the game, only the signals.

READ: Uston on BJ