What do you consider profitable card counting

[BJStanko]

Profit per hour

$5 / hour
$10/h
$15/h
$20/h
$25/h
$30/h
$40/h
$50/h
more than $100

[rookie789]

BJ Come on, what color chips are you playing and what is your spread, your question has no answer as presented.

[BJStanko]

I know you won't make exactly $10/per hour or $30/per hour.

But on AVERAGE, what would you consider profitable card counting including all your losses and wins and time you played.
If you played 100 hours in three months and you're up $ 7 000, that means that you made $70/h

Does this make more sense?

[lagavulin62]

hope I'm not splitting hairs bj but the answer is all are profitable. 100+/hour is the ideal but not always achievable. it comes down to whether or not you believe the effort is worth your return per hour, whatever that may be. I know thats what you meant, just wanted to help with the wording.

[Mikeaber]

I would answer that question with another question...sneeky method isn't it?

If you played 100 hours and broke even....would you continue to play BJ or would you give it up for tidley-winks or some other game?

I think the answer has to be an analysis of the purpose for which you play the game. If it is to make a living at it, then obviously you are going to have to have some profit goal to continue with your pursuit...either that, or you'll have to have deep pockets.

For someone who works minimum wage in their "day job" and considering gambling as a career change, a profit average of $10 or $15 an hour might seem attractive. For someone who is making $100 an hour, a $70 margin might seem a cut in pay.

For someone who only plays part time (as in 100 hours every three months), then any avoidence of loss might be acceptable.

On the other hand, if you are playing for the entertainment value, then a break even scenario or even a slight loss might be perfectly adequate to motivate you to keep playing.

As for me, whether I count or not, breaking even is not a goal I'd spurn. I play for the entertainment value of the activity but even so, I'm playing to win and not to loose.

[lagavulin62]

your answer is exactly what I am saying, except in more detail. thanks, I didn't want to be the one doing all the typing. but I would add another point that you sometimes see on these boards. it goes something like this, for all the effort you put into card counting the likelyhood is that you will end up with a dollar/hour profit that is far less than what you could make working retail someplace, unless you have at least a 6 figure bankroll. true, but here is another point to consider, I don't need an extra income and am not considering a career change. I have a feeling most of us who enjoy blackjack are in the same predicament. (lets hope anyway) and then if someone were to offer me $20/hour to man the counter at 7/11 I would politely turn them down. if on the other hand they were to guarantee me 5/hour in profits playing blackjack I would accept. you just can't compare the two. we all have that fantasy of hitting the lottery, blackjack is similar except that it's a lot closer to reality and at least we get some enjoyment out of it even if we only break even or have a small profit. thats much better in my opinion than a guaranteed min wage rate and the chance of catching a bullet.

[BJStanko]

Yeah, I know that it is profitable if we make 1 cent per hour on average. It is profitable in the books and on paper. In real life it is a little bit different. I want profit, I don't play for fun.

I do not understand people playing for fun Instead I would recommend "fun" players to booze up with pineapple vodka, or orange juice vodka, or any other drink and hit the night clubs in Vegas. IT IS LOT MORE FUN!
I never had desire to play any casino game before I found out that Blackjack can be beaten.
Forget that enthusiastic nonsense

[Mikeaber]

Originally Posted by BJStanko

Yeah, I know that it is profitable if we make 1 cent per hour on average. It is profitable in the books and on paper. In real life it is a little bit different. I want profit, I don't play for fun.

I do not understand people playing for fun Instead I would recommend "fun" players to booze up with pineapple vodka, or orange juice vodka, or any other drink and hit the night clubs in Vegas. IT IS LOT MORE FUN!
I never had desire to play any casino game before I found out that Blackjack can be beaten.
Forget that enthusiastic nonsense

Some people like camping. Some like riding motorcycles. Some like to cook.

If the only way you get mileage out of BJ is to attack the casino and ignore the entertainment, more power to you and I do wish you all the well deserved profits that might come your way.

Our objectives are basically the same except that I see profit in being entertained. If I were not entertained by it, then I'd as soon not risk my money but would do as you suggest and invest it in something more tangible....like orange juice vodka....or maybe the stock market.

What ever floats your boat man.

[BJStanko]

It is true that people have different hobbies.

Point of Blackjack and Card counting is to profit. Mathematically is proven that it can be done (these days very very hard), but profit is what we are seeking for in our hobby.
Card Counting would be pointless if we count just to count.
The healthiest outcome of our hobby (Blackjack) is profit, which means that we are good at what we are doing, and that hobby makes us happy. I haven't met a person that is happy when lose.

I do not have fun playing exclusively Basic Strategy and playing my hands according to it. There is nothing fun about it, absolutely nothing. Of course I stick to it , but it would be horrible without using card counting and of course winning. Losses of course make winning nights even sweeter but that is why I play this game.
We won't probably agree on this but we all have different opinions.
100 people 100 opinions!

P.S. I know guys I was exaggerating a little bit.
Do whatever makes you happy! Blackjack definitely makes me happy, but only when I win

[BJStanko]

...... and still being down happens(very rarely), but also remember that winning strikes will occur too, and all of that will average out at the end you will be over all winner.
BE DISCIPLINED
BE PATIENT
BE SELECTIVE