First time out...........

[Zero Cool]

Spent the past 4 months studying (and I do mean studying) card counting. Downloaded Super Blackjack and have played countless hours. I have practiced to perfection.... I don't even have to think about what to do it's just all second nature. I don't always come out on top in the sim but most times I do really well. Finally got the balls up to hit the casino today and play with real money.

The game was a 6 deck shoe with about 80% pen. I was kinda nervous about throwin some of those big bets down (big for me) but I tried to just pretend it was the sim and not worry about it. One hand I had $50 down on S19 against the dealer's 5 with a TC of plus 6. I put my bet up to double and the dealer's like, "no no no honey.... are you really sure you want to do that?". Sure did work out good for me. I know that is against BS but it was the end of the shoe and the TC was pretty high. I was pretty certain I'd get a 10 (and I did) and that she would bust at 25 (and she did). Felt good to win

Anyways, the point is in a little over 4 hours I walked out 475 richer than I walked in. Been lurking here for a while now reading your posts and it's helped a lot along the way...... Thanks!!!

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by Zero Cool

I know that is against BS but it was the end of the shoe and the TC was pretty high. I was pretty certain I'd get a 10 (and I did) and that she would bust at 25 (and she did). Felt good to win !

Do you have an index# for that play? zg

[rukus]

Originally Posted by zengrifter

Do you have an index# for that play? zg

Whetherr he knew one or not, a tc of 6 should be way more than needed to double A8 v 5. But I agree, he should definitely learn them instead of flying by the seat of his pants at the table. More often than not the guess is wrong.

[SleightOfHand]

The index for your play is somewhere in the region of +1 to +2 for HiLo if I remember correctly. But if you didn't know that, STOP. Some plays may not be as obvious as it seems. Check the indexes just to make sure

[Zero Cool]

I don't know all of the indexes and I generally stick to BS so far but I thought with a TC of 6 it was pretty obvious. If I had lost the hand it wouldn't matter much. I have a day job and I do ok.

More than anything I just like learning and then putting what I have learned into action. While making money is nice...... I'm really just doing it to see if I can do it.

[Zero Cool]

Just to be clear. When I say I studied counting I mean I have learned BS perfectly and I can keep the count no matter what. That was pretty hard to learn for me. At first I would constantly lose the count while adding up my cards.

In my head example: "ok TC of 4, hand 6 and 8.... 6 and 6 is 12 + 2 is 13 14 so I hit, got a 6.... 14 and 6 is 15 16 17, 18 19 20. Stand. I got a six so I add one to my count.... hmm. What was my count??". I didn't realize it but I did NOT know small addition.... say, if I added 6+3 in my head I did not know the answer, but I would arrive at it by going "6.... 7 8 9". Maybe seems silly, but I had to go memorize all that crap before I could really keep the count. Now...... the count is a peice of cake. I can cook dinner, talk on the phone, feed the dog, and pay attention to my girlfriend all at the same time while still keeping the count in my head.

While I have played what seems like thousands of hands on my laptop this being my first time EVER stepping into a casino I really expected to lose a little so, I'm pretty stoked with the results.

[jaredmt]

cool, sounds like you hit a good positive variance. just wondering, how much did you go into the casino with and how much was your max and min bet?

[creeping panther]

keep up the good work and Zen may sign you up for his team.

Seriously, learn the indices and be ready for the times when nothing works and............................................... ............................................
your A-Hole begins to pucker

CP

[Zero Cool]

I went in with $1500 with a 1-15 spread ($75 max)..... but I cashed in for a hundred dollars and never pulled another dime from my pocket . I've been back twice now with similar results ($360 one session, $285 the other). I also was pretty aggressive in wonging. There is one table that just seems to always keep a pos count though..... and I ONLY played tables that were full of people. I don't know why, I'm fast enough to keep up with a good dealer 1 on 1 or with a full table, but I just feel more comfortable on a full table. Like there is less attention on what I'm doing and more on the drunk idiots next to me.

I DO understand variance and I know that on a $1500 bank roll with a 1-15 spread I should NOT be making 75 - 100 dollars per hour...... but I am, and that's nice for now. Also, I understand my ROR with that BR and spread. But I don't mind betting aggressive. I'm sure I might have crumbled had I came in on a neg swing and probly just walked out to go sim some more..... but it just didn't happen that way.

P.S. My last time in I got a players card and only used it once..... insisting that because I was new to gambling and this was the first play on my card they should comp me a meal or something........ AND IT WORKED!!! LMFAO I love this ****. I'm sure though, give me a few more times and I'll be on with my sob story about how I lost all my money. It's okay though, I get a pay check every week.

And last but not least, the indices are the next step in my Black Jack Evolution. I am starting on them now. I18 that is, yeah.

[Zero Cool]

One more thing...... I don't think that I'm really getting any heat. But I am sure that I will if I continue to do this. I can tell that it is obvious what I'm doing. I haven't been just casually looking out of the corner of my eye to get the count. When everyone gets their first card I pay no attention, but when the second cards start coming I turn my head and strait up eyeball every one as it hits the felt. I didn't realize I was doing it for a while..... then I just caught myself. Had to be obvious to everyone there. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

And on top of that..... I get the shakes cause I'm nervous. As far as the cards go that's good, because I LIKE to work under pressure. But the floor and the "ploppies" must think I'm a crack head or something (which actually kind of fits in where I'm playing come to think of it..... hmmmmm, natural cover ). Seriously, I do get really nervous, and I don't know why. Even if I busted my whole BR it wouldn't ruin me or anything...... and I'm not so worried about getting caught counting, I don't want to get caught but if I did oh well. Nervous just because I guess.