Is this unusual?

[Revolver]

I've recently have taken up Blackjack -- after being put off by Poker -- and I know the basic plays and I'll hopefully get into card counting soon. So, I've only actually played Blackjack about 5 times at the Casino so far. Every single time I've played, no matter with how much I start off with, I seem to win lots of hands early on in the session. Three out of the 5 times I've left early 'cause I was up and happy with what I had. The other two times I decided to stick it out and lost it all eventually. It's probably a ridiculous question -- but is it normal to win like that at the beginning? Eventually if you stay, it can catch up to you and you can lose it all...from what I've seen so far in my experiences.

I hope you guys can understand what I mean by this. If not, I'm open for questions.

Revolver

[Blue Efficacy]

Not unusual at all. In the long run you'll lose about half a percentage point of everything you bet, but some crazy **** can happen along the way. Such as winning many hands in a row when you first sit down. Lots of variance.

[J10]

I had one strange shoe Today where I didn't lose a single hand or have a push, this was mainly because the low cards came out early on and everyone was getting a stiff hand and being able to make >17 after one or two hits, then the dealer would draw loads of cards and go bust, then after that every hand was a number I had to stick on and the dealer would either go bust or fall short of my total, but thats super rare thing to happen. Then again, I did lose 22 hands in a row once.

[shadroch]

Originally Posted by Revolver

I've recently have taken up Blackjack -- after being put off by Poker -- and I know the basic plays and I'll hopefully get into card counting soon. So, I've only actually played Blackjack about 5 times at the Casino so far. Every single time I've played, no matter with how much I start off with, I seem to win lots of hands early on in the session. Three out of the 5 times I've left early 'cause I was up and happy with what I had. The other two times I decided to stick it out and lost it all eventually. It's probably a ridiculous question -- but is it normal to win like that at the beginning? Eventually if you stay, it can catch up to you and you can lose it all...from what I've seen so far in my experiences.

I hope you guys can understand what I mean by this. If not, I'm open for questions.

Revolver

I'd guess that at least 30% of the time,I'm farther ahead after ten minutes than I am after two hours.The longer you play,the more your winnings will revert to the house edge.If you are playing with an advantage,thats a good thing. If not......

[zengrifter]

But he's saying that since he wins more in the beginning of session he should ONL play the beginning part. zg

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by zengrifter

But he's saying that since he wins more in the beginning of session he should ONL play the beginning part. zg

Yes.

[The Seer]

In 2006, Bodog.com had a BJ game that was set up to defeat Martingale style up betting. (lose bet, double), It was a $1 to $500 game. I was playing once lnowing this. I left when it was in a house winning streak. When I returned it was to be a losing streak. This does not happen in paper card games. Since I was up > $5000 in NFL, I started at $500 and won, I won 12 units with splits and doubles and then lost one. I dropped to $250, lost, and $100, lost.

I quit up > $5000 in 3 minutes. They have changed the game since then.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by The Seer

In 2006, Bodog.com had a BJ game that was set up to defeat Martingale style up betting.

Any game with a house edge is set up to defeat the Martingale system. No special circumstances required. As long as the house has the edge, the players will lose money.

-Sonny-

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Any game with a house edge is set up to defeat the Martingale system. No special circumstances required. As long as the house has the edge, the players will lose money.

Actually, even if the house doesn't have the edge, players can still lose money because of betting limits and bankroll issues. Even a scenario as outrageous as Martingaling a coin flip with no betting limits favors the side with the largest bankroll, which in this case is the house by several orders of magnitude.