Heading to Vegas

countmein

countmein

Active Member
#1
#1
I am heading back to Vegas this week. I do not plan on playing BJ at all, rather I want to practice counting while watching in the background. I've been going to Vegas for many years and "gambling" (now I'd like to think that I am smarter), but since learning about advantage play I've pretty much stopped playing and have started studying and practicing. I just cannot bring myself to gamble with the info that I know.

I have BS down 99 44/100% now (which is not perfect yet I know... Need to brush up on the S17 - H17 is 100%). A couple of months ago, I tried keeping the running count from watching behind a table, and as expected, it was much harder than I expected. It is much more difficult in the environment as opposed to a PC or dealing to yourself at home.

Do you think it would be worth the experience playing BJ at a $5 or $10 table and just counting (for practice) and playing 100% BS? I'm thinking the answer is NO. In my mind, I need to be at "my" 100% before I should even THINK of using my money again, and save the practice for home or the PC where there is no cost, other than time long hours.

Your tips and feedback is appreciated.

Thanks
 
S

shadroch

Well-Known Member
#2
#2
Playing $5 BJ at a casino with near perfect BS is almost a break-even game. Factor in two free drinks an hour and it's a much better game than playing at your kitchen table.
 
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kewljason

kewljason

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
shadroch said:
Playing $5 BJ at a casino with near perfect BS is almost a break-even game. Factor in two free drinks an hour and it's a much better game than playing at your kitchen table.
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Better yet, play this almost break even game but walk away during negative counts and your now better than break even. Or if you don't want to walk away, bet $10 at plus counts and $5 at 0 and minus counts. You will be playing at least a break even game and will be good practice, if you are going to vegas anyway.
 
H

Homeschool

Well-Known Member
#5
#5
shadroch said:
Playing $5 BJ at a casino with near perfect BS is almost a break-even game. Factor in two free drinks an hour and it's a much better game than playing at your kitchen table.
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Or find a $3 or even $1 game for practice.

Homeschool
 
b jay cobbson

b jay cobbson

Active Member
#8
#8
Plenty of $1, $2 and $3 games in Vegas...

...Lousy rules perhaps, but for a couple of hours live casino experience, with more discractions than you would normally encounter, I feel it's worth the price for a few hours of break-in. And then, there is the possibility you may even win a few bucks. Ploppies do it all the time, and they don't possess 10% of your knowledge of the game.

Good luck,
Cobbson
 
countmein

countmein

Active Member
#10
#10
Yeah, the best way is to learn while doing. The truth is that I've been playing BJ for over 15 years. And my last "good" year was in 2007. Ironically, as the economy went sour, so did my "luck". So, I became too cautious to play. I used to gamble, but over the past few years, I really have not played much. Part of me became extra cautious due to the economy. But most of me knew about advantage play, and I felt that just gambling with some knowledge of what "could be" was just plain stupid.

I was a "cowboy" in my hayday. Starting with $2500 cash on the table, as I would build up my bankroll, I would bet $500 per hand, up to $2500 with splits... On a "feeling". And I lost it all, but many times, won it right back. Made "Platinum" status in one night at the Rio. Free suites and perks... But in hindsight, it was stupid. I wasn't even playing perfect BS.

I could care less about free anything anymore. Especially now that I own 2 properties in Las Vegas. I just want to play smart and make some money. I'm looking forward to getting better and using my brain to make money. I know I have a lot to learn, but this isn't rocket science. As a (former) computer programmer, I think I can "hack" it.

:eyepatch:
 
countmein

countmein

Active Member
#11
#11
shadroch said:
There are some very good $3 games to be found in Vegas, and Sahara has a $1 game that can be pretty entertaining.
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The Sahara smells like piss... :joker:

But I guess I can go for some $1 practice. :grin:
 
O

OhioTR

Member
#12
#12
kewljason said:
Better yet, play this almost break even game but walk away during negative counts and your now better than break even. Or if you don't want to walk away, bet $10 at plus counts and $5 at 0 and minus counts. You will be playing at least a break even game and will be good practice, if you are going to vegas anyway.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm doing at my local Racasino - and at about break even with lots of live casino experience.
 
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