Got burned hard using Hi-Lo count

#1
Placed a 50 dollar bet based on TC and got dealt a 10 (yay) and a 2 (****).
Dealer shows a 9 so I hit and get an Ace (13) and i hit again and get another Ace (14) and I hit again and get a 10 (bust). Very pissed off.

That damn Ace!

Any suggestions? Should I side count Aces so I don't get burned when the count is high. I realized that it shouldn't suprise me that I got aces based on the count but it really pissed me off.
 

callipygian

Well-Known Member
#2
solidus4008 said:
Any suggestions?
Stop thinking you're going to win every single hand when the count is high. That only happens in the movies.

At a true count of +16 (!!!) you will still lose more hands than you win. Only a true counts of +18 (!!!) or higher will you actually win more hands than you lose.

At a true count of +5, you'll be winning about 44% of your hands and losing about 48%. However, you'll win more of your doubled and split bets, which will make up the difference.
 

cardcounter0

Well-Known Member
#3
wait, you played a single hand of bj with a high TC and lost? what?

According to the movie "21", you are supposed to win everytime.

maybe you mis-counted.
:laugh:
 
#4
I have been quite fortunate. Like the movie (I haven't even seen it), when I put max bet, 50 units, or sometimes 2 hands of 50 units, I win. It was ridiculous. I had 9, on true count 5, doubled and got a 3, vs a 3. Dealer pulls out a 7, then 2, 2, T :D
 

Canceler

Well-Known Member
#5
For me, the original post raised all kinds of possible questions and comments. But, rather than get into that, I’m going to assume he was just looking for a way to vent a little frustration. Which is, I think, a valid use of these forums. I mean, who else is going to understand when we talk about blackjack?
 
#6
A Drop in the Ocean

If you play enough you will have many, many hands similar and worse.

I was playing multiple action. The dealer had a 5 showing so I am doubling and splitting and the dealer pulls 21, 3 hands in a row to take about 10 large bets, every hand lost.

I was playing 2 hands of regular BJ. I lost all bets for 6 rounds in a row. The dealer was horrified as was I:whip:

Another? I was playing one hand and when I won I would spread to 2 hands which I would lose. I repeated till end of shoe and was crushed, all the bets were medium large.

Endless stories of losing multiple splits and doubles.:whip:

I have actually won some hands also:devil:
 

Doofus

Well-Known Member
#8
When you lose, you are going to lose in high counts. It's really simple when you think about it. In negative counts you are either not playing or are playing only one unit. But when the count goes high, you push out 6, 8, 10, 20 units. And as has been pointed out, the ratio of wins to losses is still slightly against you except in the most absurdly high counts.

Slowly I am learning this lesson - but damn, it still stings when I lost big bets in high counts. "IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT WAY!" But it does. Heh heh heh.

Bottom line for me - you have to have the bankroll to continue to push out big bets in big counts, even though you're getting killed. If you can't do this, you are not an Advantage Player.
 

Mimosine

Well-Known Member
#10
Doofus said:
When you lose, you are going to lose in high counts.
plain and simple. it happens all the times, be thankful if you go into a high count and lose hand over fist, only to reach in your wallet and buy in multiple times as you lose $100 after $100, yet somehow manage in the last two hands to break even.

you're going to lose and lose bad in high counts, if you can stomach it, and not react to it, then you'll get through it. if you can't you'll either quit when you should stay, or overbet when you should tone it down.
 

callipygian

Well-Known Member
#11
unknown_aussie said:
These stories are nice, let it out people. (I only started recently, got nothing to share)
A lot of the stories just ending up sounding the same, much like "bad beat" stories in poker. Once you've played enough, you grow a very thick skin to losing big bets at astronomical counts.

As a matter of fact, I often have to remind myself to show some emotion when I win or lose. When I get a blackjack against a dealer 20 with 8 units on the line, my first thought is always, "-4!" Or when dealer has 16 and busts by drawing a 10, I think, "Dammit, wasted ten!" Then I need to actively remind myself "Hey, you won, pretend you're happy!"
 
#12
solidus4008 said:
Placed a 50 dollar bet based on TC and got dealt a 10 (yay) and a 2 (****).
Dealer shows a 9 so I hit and get an Ace (13) and i hit again and get another Ace (14) and I hit again and get a 10 (bust). Very pissed off.

That damn Ace!

Any suggestions? Should I side count Aces so I don't get burned when the count is high. I realized that it shouldn't suprise me that I got aces based on the count but it really pissed me off.

Just another day at the casino. Get used to it.
 
#14
Ha that makes me smile! I hope I got to that level some day. Right now newbie me loses 100 bucks and feels like puking.

callipygian said:
A lot of the stories just ending up sounding the same, much like "bad beat" stories in poker. Once you've played enough, you grow a very thick skin to losing big bets at astronomical counts.

As a matter of fact, I often have to remind myself to show some emotion when I win or lose. When I get a blackjack against a dealer 20 with 8 units on the line, my first thought is always, "-4!" Or when dealer has 16 and busts by drawing a 10, I think, "Dammit, wasted ten!" Then I need to actively remind myself "Hey, you won, pretend you're happy!"
 
#15
Card Counting and Combat

Probably AP play is like combat. It is most shocking to someone green. Betting an hourly wage plus each hand probably can be unerving. As your combat experience grows you become detached unless you get involved in a major engagement like those few super shoes that we face.

If you spread the few big bets should still get a rise out of you. They are big and infrequent events. If you win and your bankroll grows:devil: those bets can become larger and more interesting. If you are losing then those big bets can still raise the pulse.:whip:

If the individual bets or shoes don't get a rise out of you then one can still get a rise over the larger results of a day or trip.

Personally, I play correctly and try to win every stinking bet and am driven to do just that, though I never will.:flame::whip:
 
#16
callipygian said:
A lot of the stories just ending up sounding the same, much like "bad beat" stories in poker. Once you've played enough, you grow a very thick skin to losing big bets at astronomical counts.

As a matter of fact, I often have to remind myself to show some emotion when I win or lose. When I get a blackjack against a dealer 20 with 8 units on the line, my first thought is always, "-4!" Or when dealer has 16 and busts by drawing a 10, I think, "Dammit, wasted ten!" Then I need to actively remind myself "Hey, you won, pretend you're happy!"
Same here, especially at the start of the shoe, when I get 20 or blackjack, I think, DAMNIT
 

sagefr0g

Well-Known Member
#17
blackjack avenger said:
Probably AP play is like combat. .....
yeah ok blackjack avenger combat not gambling lol.
blackjack avenger said:
It is most shocking to someone green. Betting an hourly wage plus each hand probably can be unerving. .....
yup unerving because of the combat of investing.

jus jokin with ya dude :)
 
#18
Don't Lick The Frog!

blackjack avenger said:
Probably AP play is like combat. It is most shocking to someone green. Betting an hourly wage plus each hand probably can be unerving. As your combat experience grows you become detached unless you get involved in a major engagement like those few super shoes that we face.

If you spread the few big bets should still get a rise out of you. They are big and infrequent events. If you win and your bankroll grows:devil: those bets can become larger and more interesting. If you are losing then those big bets can still raise the pulse.:whip:

If the individual bets or shoes don't get a rise out of you then one can still get a rise over the larger results of a day or trip.

Personally, I play correctly and try to win every stinking bet and am driven to do just that, though I never will.:flame::whip:
Ok, don't like the combat analogy, can insert ER medicine for combat. I stand by what I said. New players can be excited when betting quarters. More experienced players can still get a quickening pulse the first time a black action bet turns into a yellow chip wager through splits and doubles.

Some players are just more aggressive then others:whip:, it's a personal choice.:)
 
#19
Still Emotional?

callipygian said:
A lot of the stories just ending up sounding the same, much like "bad beat" stories in poker. Once you've played enough, you grow a very thick skin to losing big bets at astronomical counts.

As a matter of fact, I often have to remind myself to show some emotion when I win or lose. When I get a blackjack against a dealer 20 with 8 units on the line, my first thought is always, "-4!" Or when dealer has 16 and busts by drawing a 10, I think, "Dammit, wasted ten!" Then I need to actively remind myself "Hey, you won, pretend you're happy!"
Quote - "Dammit, wasted ten"
You still have emotions, they are just different then the average players response. One should allow themselves to enjoy their work.:joker: Then they may be willing to work a little more or harder.:whip:

If one gets ill:mad: on every lost hand/session then they may be less willing to play.
 

sagefr0g

Well-Known Member
#20
You still have emotions, they are just different then the average players response.
lol yup part of thats cause we know just how bad it can be. like say we get a blackjack. big deal first thing i'm thinkin has the dealer got on too. or get a 21 on your double down same thing what's the dealer gonna come up with.....

blackjack avenger said:
Ok, don't like the combat analogy, can insert ER medicine for combat. I stand by what I said. New players can be excited when betting quarters. More experienced players can still get a quickening pulse the first time a black action bet turns into a yellow chip wager through splits and doubles.

Some players are just more aggressive then others:whip:, it's a personal choice.:)
lol and i thought i had a problem. glad to know it's ok that i damm near pee my pants every time i put a nickle on the line. :joker:
 
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