Have had a great run since October, and figured I would share my experience. Before October, I had always played since I was 19 (late 20's now), but all I did was mess around counting and I didn't understand the concept of spreading. But it all changed as I taught myself how to count well.
Amazingly, I started with a 0 bankroll. I am student, have a bunch of debt and no money, and didnt go to the casino much until August. I had lost in August at a certain casino in PA, and they sent me $100 in free slot play, and then it all started. I went back there with 0 cash in hand, and hit a jackpot > $1000, and took it to the BJ table. Don't remember, but was probably playing $25/$50 units, and cashed out $3000 total that day. So I kept going back there, and played $50 units in the HL area, and would play all day, 8+ hrs, and often alone in the HL room. I booked win after win after win. Usually 1-3k. One day I booked a $9k win, which was split between 50 and $100 units.
In December, I finally hit a cold streak at a certain indian reservation as I booked two large losses. I was losing my bankroll (didn't lose all my profit, but had used the rest to pay bills). Next I went to Vegas and for 3 straight days, I lost, and was down 6 or 7 for the trip, and down to my last few units. Then it happend...
My last day in Vegas, I tried out the DD game at a major strip casino, $100 units, last $1300. I cashed out well over 10k. Played at two other casinos that day and cashed another 10k. Upon returning home, I returned to my "home" casino in PA, and was rolling, up about 1 or 2, when I hit a 12k shoe playing $100 units, 2X8 spread (the pit bosses were scrambling, because they had my average bet in as $100 since I had flat bet 4 shoes in a row). Upon my return, they took my players card and said no more! I think I had won 12 out of 13 sessions with 2 huge wins, and never had heat. Since then, I have been playing all over (east coast etc) about once a week - $50 units or $100, and I have continued to win big. At one AC casino, I won an astounding 160 units on a 6 deck shoe with max spread 2X7. Amazingly, I didnt get heat with the $16k win, but they were eyeing me closely when I returned to the table that night. My BR is about 500 units now, and a lot of that was gained playing 0.5 units ($50), and I have spent some of the winnings for expenses.
My strategy, particularly since my Vegas trip, has been from a fairly well known, straight forward book. I use a couple of "cover" plays that casinos think are bone headed, but are good plays when the count is positive. I also very rarely take insurance unless it's a casino I am comfortable at. If the TC is +3, I don't bother with insurance because the profit isn't substantial.
Aside from the cummulative win/friendly backoff at my "home" casino, I got backed off at a shady NY casino at the very beginning when I actually had no idea what I was doing and wasn't even spreading high (although I started playing there again a few weeks ago, with a players card). I also had a very shady experience at another casino in the area when I over stayed my welcome after a horrible losing day - kicked out down 5k on first trip there. Right now, I have a favorite place that has unbelievable comps, and I am friends with the pit bosses and hosts, so I will keep playing there.
That's my story for now.
Amazingly, I started with a 0 bankroll. I am student, have a bunch of debt and no money, and didnt go to the casino much until August. I had lost in August at a certain casino in PA, and they sent me $100 in free slot play, and then it all started. I went back there with 0 cash in hand, and hit a jackpot > $1000, and took it to the BJ table. Don't remember, but was probably playing $25/$50 units, and cashed out $3000 total that day. So I kept going back there, and played $50 units in the HL area, and would play all day, 8+ hrs, and often alone in the HL room. I booked win after win after win. Usually 1-3k. One day I booked a $9k win, which was split between 50 and $100 units.
In December, I finally hit a cold streak at a certain indian reservation as I booked two large losses. I was losing my bankroll (didn't lose all my profit, but had used the rest to pay bills). Next I went to Vegas and for 3 straight days, I lost, and was down 6 or 7 for the trip, and down to my last few units. Then it happend...
My last day in Vegas, I tried out the DD game at a major strip casino, $100 units, last $1300. I cashed out well over 10k. Played at two other casinos that day and cashed another 10k. Upon returning home, I returned to my "home" casino in PA, and was rolling, up about 1 or 2, when I hit a 12k shoe playing $100 units, 2X8 spread (the pit bosses were scrambling, because they had my average bet in as $100 since I had flat bet 4 shoes in a row). Upon my return, they took my players card and said no more! I think I had won 12 out of 13 sessions with 2 huge wins, and never had heat. Since then, I have been playing all over (east coast etc) about once a week - $50 units or $100, and I have continued to win big. At one AC casino, I won an astounding 160 units on a 6 deck shoe with max spread 2X7. Amazingly, I didnt get heat with the $16k win, but they were eyeing me closely when I returned to the table that night. My BR is about 500 units now, and a lot of that was gained playing 0.5 units ($50), and I have spent some of the winnings for expenses.
My strategy, particularly since my Vegas trip, has been from a fairly well known, straight forward book. I use a couple of "cover" plays that casinos think are bone headed, but are good plays when the count is positive. I also very rarely take insurance unless it's a casino I am comfortable at. If the TC is +3, I don't bother with insurance because the profit isn't substantial.
Aside from the cummulative win/friendly backoff at my "home" casino, I got backed off at a shady NY casino at the very beginning when I actually had no idea what I was doing and wasn't even spreading high (although I started playing there again a few weeks ago, with a players card). I also had a very shady experience at another casino in the area when I over stayed my welcome after a horrible losing day - kicked out down 5k on first trip there. Right now, I have a favorite place that has unbelievable comps, and I am friends with the pit bosses and hosts, so I will keep playing there.
That's my story for now.
