bankroll dilemma

[blackstack]

Heres my problem. I got a $5000 bankroll and 2 casinos to choose from in my area. Both casinos have all CSM'S except for 2-4 tables with shoes. The shoes have a $25 min $500 max. One casino has 75% penetration but no mid-shoe entry and the other has 60% penetration but you can enter mid-shoe. I learned the Hi-Lo count and have gone 8 times to play with $500 each time. 4 times I doubled my money and 4 times I lost it all. Im guessing the wins were basically luck. Is this a correct assumption? My bet spread was 1-4. The game is 6 decks, S17, DAS, no surrender. Am I basically just screwed due to my low bankroll compared to the high minimum limit I have to play? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or comments on how to make this work, if even possible. Thanks

[21forme]

You need a larger BR with you than $500 at a $25 table. I'd say $2500 minimum. Second, with a 1:4 spread using 6 decks, your EV is close to zero, unless you're just wonging in (however with a 60% pen, you're not going to see many + counts.) You need at least a 1:8 spread if you're playing full shoes to have any winning expectation.

[EasyRhino]

$100 max bets with $500 in your pocket? yep, it's basically luck at that point. Over many many trips you may recognize a profit.

It's kind of rough, but it sounds like wonging in to the table with crap penetration is still your only option, just because betting $25 in negative shoes would basically clobber your bankroll as well.

Maybe wong the table hard, but reduce the max bet to $50 ish?

Oh, and a larger bankroll would help too.

[ortango]

If you will be playing with basically no edge with that spread, I would rather play with an edge with two $2500 bankrolls. If you get a lucky streak early you may build up enough to play at those stakes for good. Either way you are depending on luck but at least my suggestion would get you broke or rich faster. But then you are not really playing professinally as luck has more to do with it than skill. The best would be to not play at all, but you have to, I would try the larger spreads.