Buy in camouflage and other.

[AnIrishmannot2brite]

I've noticed that green chips in fairly large stacks go almost unnoticed by dealers and pit crew compared to the black chips laid in singles. The dealer always calls in a black.

That so I decided recently to buy in at several tables prior to "going to work". At these preliminary tables I collect green and some red chips, play a while and then switch tables where I buy in again for a couple hundred with the old chips ratholed. By the time I'm really ready to go I may have six hundred or more in chips with no blacks.

When I attack a table I may spend the first shuffle chit chatting w/ the dealer. Especially if it is one I know. I may not even count the deck and just flat bet basic strategy. I usually only play hand held games as the large shoes take forever to get warm. While engaging in idle chat I may ask how the dealers family/job,new baby etc is doing. Might even play a small wager just for them.

When i do get serious I still talk to the dealer but in in short, pre planned rehearsed talk. No long lingering discussion. If I do get caught up with an overly chatty dealer i just give up on the counting and flat bet. In the hand held games this causes little problem as the next shuffle is always around the bend.

I choose single and double deck games either heads up or with one other player. This takes some planning as on Saturday nites all the tables may be full. So weekdays are a good time to pull this off. Especially at Indian casinos. I don't shy away from a 6:5 game so long as there are few other players and it is a single deck. Again: Maximum two players including Irish. So long as the table is sparse I do not find 6:5 single deck unprofitable.

By talking my fool head off, toking a bit after a good round I can get away with a 1 - 20 unit bet swing. Sometimes I play two spots right off the top of the shuffle just to make the REAL two spot plays less noticeable. When playing a camouflage bet off the top I stack a bunch of reds fairly high. It looks large but may only be thirty bucks on two spots.

Later I like to bury my greens under the reds to show the same large stack but with much more money in play.

So long as I don't try and force anything to happen I usually win a decent total at the end of the evening. In fact the only times I lose or break even seem to be those times when I play with too many players at the table. This can happen when I'm stressing or playing too long.

The table ultimately never beats me but I can beat myself.

[1357111317]

You are going to get crucified for trying to count a 6:5 blackjack game on here unless you are holecarding and rightly so. Even with a 1-20 spread you are going to experience HUGE varience. Maybe if they are dealing 75% pen then you might be able to squeak out a small advantage but other than that you shouldn't be playing 6:5 let alone worrying about cover.

[EasyRhino]

Originally Posted by AnIrishmannot2brite

The table ultimately never beats me but I can beat myself.

Yes, yes you can.

a) If you're a "regular" at the place, then there's no need to secretly assemble a stack of chips before you play. They already know who you are.

b) You want to be at the point where you can talk - naturally - during any portion of the game. Not just low counts. Shutting down like a broken audio animatronic robot isn't usually good camo.

c) 6:5? Really? Do you honestly think you can get an advantage on that by straight counting?

[takinfromindians97]

You sound kind of like you are still a rookie if you are not able to count when a dealer talks to you and what not. I recomend fixing this problem before you play much more the fact that your not counting all the time is lowering your +EV, especially the games your playing you need all the advantage you can get!!! Before you hit the casino you should be flawless at your count and be able to do it on the 50 yard line during the halftime show and not bat an eye. You also sound a bit like you have superstitions and go by a bit of voodoo, maybe im wrong but if im right this is another area that should be tended to, as it is not good for you in the end. It may seem to work for you sometimes but its just you rationalizing it after the fact and picking out the times you win and pushing the losses out of your head with some reason that you deem ok. I think you should read a few good books on blackjack, maybe ones specific to the count you use and a few others. "blackjack attack", "the theory of blackjack", "Blackbelt in blackjack", "the card counters guide to casino serveillence" are all great books that any card counter should read and a ton more come to mind that are great reads to check out also( PM me if youd like a more exstensive list. I hope you dont take this as rude or making fun just trying to steer you a little bit in the right direction..

ALSO I agree with everyone else in saying to stay away from the 6:5 games the way a card counter makes most of his money is on doubles, splits, and blackjacks. The dealer is always going to win way more hands then us we depend on those blackjacks, they are vital to us coming out on top in the end. Take her easy buddy

[kewljason]

Advantage play means you want to play at an advantage as much as possible. Between the 6-5 blackjack and the flat betting no counting sessions (aka gambling) you are playing way too much in negative situations. Even with a large spread you are going to have a hard time getting into positive expected value territory.

I am also wondering why you would want to post the specifics of your plan of attack on a public board. I dont see any advantage in that either. Seems like giving your opponent your game plan.

[SleightOfHand]

Originally Posted by kewljason

I am also wondering why you would want to post the specifics of your plan of attack on a public board. I dont see any advantage in that either. Seems like giving your opponent your game plan.

What does one expect from an Irish man not too bright?

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by EasyRhino

a) If you're a "regular" at the place, then there's no need to secretly assemble a stack of chips before you play. They already know who you are.

And you probably already have a stockpile of chips from your previous sessions.

-Sonny-

[takinfromindians97]

kinda off subject but kinda not. A reason why i try to make friends with all of the pitbosses and pit personal are as follows. They are less likely to approach you if they suspect something, and they certainly will not give you any heat, they will need strait up proof. So i dunno where i was going with this i just saw someone writing about being well know in the casinos, so i addd my little piece here.

[johndoe]

Originally Posted by takinfromindians97

kinda off subject but kinda not. A reason why i try to make friends with all of the pitbosses and pit personal are as follows. They are less likely to approach you if they suspect something, and they certainly will not give you any heat, they will need strait up proof. So i dunno where i was going with this i just saw someone writing about being well know in the casinos, so i addd my little piece here.

I agree with you completely. It's not going to be foolproof, but having the pit folks and dealers like you helps tremendously. They're the ones that call upstairs for any suspicious playing, make notes in your file, determine your comps, etc. Plus, it costs nothing, and makes the whole time more enjoyable.

I always go out of my way to be nice, crack jokes with them, and laugh at their bad jokes (as well as my good and bad fortunes..)

[kewljason]

Originally Posted by takinfromindians97

A reason why i try to make friends with all of the pitbosses and pit personal are as follows. They are less likely to approach you if they suspect something, and they certainly will not give you any heat, they will need strait up proof.

Really?? you are friends with the pit bosses? You go out drinking with them after their shifts? Do they have you over to their house for sunday dinner? Maybe you vacation together. They are not your friend! Its their job! Just because you are friendly or share a laugh with them, I dont think they will put their career in jeopardy by going easy on you or not giving you heat.