ways to bet other than card counting

Greetings,
I am strong in basic strategy but cannot count cards. I know that counting is the way to go and I intend on learning/practicing, but I am curious to know if there is any type of betting strategy that I can utilize other than flat betting when I am at the tables?
Thanks for any advice.

Yes flat betting at minimum or not playing at all would be better.

Seriously though nothing is better than basic strategy. I think you think counting is much carder than it actually is. Start with the Ace/5 count. you just do -1 for each ace and +1 for each five.

flat betting - book suggestions

Thanks for the tip. I'll stick to flat betting. I have Fred Renzey's Blackjack Bluebook II and am reading about the Ace/10 front count now. The KISS counts are coming up. You mentioned the Ace/5 count. What other books, if any, are considered to be the best on this subject?

Alright Tango,
I can recommend some good books to start off. First off Arnold Snyder's 'Blackbelt In Blackjack'. This book will take you through 3 counting systems ranging from very basic to fairly advanced. The info will give you everything you need to know to count and take you a good bit beyond that.
Other books that i think make good starting points
'Knock Out Blackjack' by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura
'Professional Blackjack' by Stanford Wong (personally i found this one a bit of a dry read - the information is excellent, just dry)

I'd also highly recommend the Blackjack Institute's Home Training Course. Doesn't go into as much detail as some of the books out there and a lot more expensive, but i think that the step by step guide (with the DVD demonstrations) is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to learn to count.

RJT.

Books...

RJT - Thanks for the recommendations. I'll stock up on those books and start studying.

The books I lend friends who express interest in the game are The Blackjack Zone by Elliot Jacobsen and Angie Marshall's The Womans Guide to Blackjack.
If they want another,I lend them Renzi's Blackjack Bluebook II,then recommend they buy their own books.Once they've played a bit,I lend them Comp City,by Max Rubin,so they can see another side of the game.

Well, from my understanding, there is no betting system in the world that will actually make you money. No matter how good they seem at first, in the long run, they will lose you money. If you would like to make money in blackjack, then you must learn to count cards, thats the only way because face it, if there was a betting system that worked, no one would count cards, everyone would use the system, and casinos would eventually catch on and do something about it. Therefore, you must learn to count cards to come out on top.

If there was a system that beat the game,you can be certain the ones playing it would want everyone to think it didn't exist.

regression and counting

Currently all I play is basic strategy. I am using a regression type of play. If I am playing at a $10 table my first bet is $20 and I buy in for $200. If my first bet wins, I regress to $10 and regardless of the outcome of the next hand I am still ahead $10. That way I can win one and lose one and still have a profit. I can win one and lose two in a row and be even. If I win that second hand then I pull back $5 and increase the next bet to $15. Basically, after the first win above your buy in you are guaranteed a profit. If I am below my buy-in amount, I keep playing at the $20 level until I hit my loss limit or until I rise above my buy-in amount

I am trying to adjust my thinking - I have always played more craps and roulette than blackjack and I am learning that this game is much different when it comes to wagering - getting the serious money out there when there is an excess of big cards and a deficient amount of little cards. Also, the betting spread is bigger than I am used to and I am trying to understand all of this and counting at one time.

I have visited alot of these threads and am taking in as much as I can as quickly as I can. I read one thread that advised to not mess around with front count and other similar strategies because those types of play would all be passed off for more advanced play. Renzey's book has an exercise in it where you try to count down a deck of 52 cards in 30 seconds with the right count. I'm enjoying that right now.

It takes so much effort to count and be accurate that I can't imagine how I will be able to do this in a casino without drawing attention because of my intense focus. It is hard enough sitting here at a table by myself. I can't see doing this in a crowded setting with people talking / other distractions. I expect it becomes easier.

Thanks for all of your responses. I guess I'll abandon the regression and stick to flat betting until I can get this counting under control.

Regressions and other such progression is just non-sense. If you are playing a deep shoe game (6 or 8 decks) then nothing less than a good count such as high/low count with proper spreading 1 to 8 units at least, will be enough to see a profit. this is quite difficult to realistically achieve for most people.

Another good idea is to back count and only play minimum bets when the count is good, then leave the table when it goes bad. Possilby goto 2x bet if the count is really good. Just absolutely avoid playing at all when 0 or negetive counts.

I'll bet you were pretty worried the first time you drove a car by yourself ,too.Like most things,it gets easier with practice.Don't limit yourself to counting cards. Count license plates,count the channels as you flip thru them,count every dollar bill in your pocket. Practice counting every chance you can,everywhere you go.Soon enough,you'll be counting without even noticing it.

Yes once you learn to count you can just see the count without thinking. Like when you see a hand of 6T you know its zero. You know A8 is +1 for example, eventually you can just glance across the table and count everyone hand.

hey dacium we all know you meant A8 is -1 .......

In the land of Oz,everything is upside down,topsy turvy.

lol thats what happens when I count everything positive like i go: zero, high 1, high 2, high 3, high 2, high 1 ,even, low 1, low 2, low 1, even instead of plus minus so yeah thats my excuse