That got your attention! Might be one of the few times in recent weeks I've caught your eye here on the main card playing forums.
Why?
Well because I'm winning in the long run now and seem to have enough of a handle on the situation to predictably pull a half decent profit. 4 out of every 5 trips or so anyway. Most my concerns these days are related to maintaining an interesting conversation with the dealers, other players and being nice but not overly chatty with the pit crew.
Sure there are elements of my game that need improvement. Mostly things like when to hit or double soft hands according variations in the count. But what I figure is that these shortcomings aren't costing me much either way. the tables I'm playing have good rules, excellent penetration. This will excuse some slight slight errors in double vs. hit.
Think the main trick that has helped has been playing two spots on a table in high counts with fewer players. Shoe games mostly.
And doing the same thing one on one ("mano a mano") at the double deck hand held games.
So while I might possibly grind out another .08% by plunging myself into week ends of flashcard practice adjusted for T/C deviations the matter isn't as relevant as choosing the good games. Figure I'm hitting somewhere around a 1.5% advantage (we got a couple places here with great rules. Especially for my limited bankroll).
Any new business enterprise demands that the owner or entrepreneur focus on important matters first and put less emphasis on the really small things. Like if you are selling cars you might not want put a man on hold who wants to buy a whole fleet of cars for his company while selling a used Volkswagen to a college kid. Surely everyone should matter, even the little guy. However a deal like that could make or break your future.
I see this in business all the time: People who can not differentiate between important and non important matters. Secretaries and accountants tend to be the worst offenders. They will bust your balls for a $3.95 charge account that didn't get the customers signature. She'll walk right into your meeting with Yellow Cab just as you're about to close the deal and make an idiot out of both you and your company.
Blackjack is like that too. Certain facts are far more important than others. Knowing when to split nines is more important than the count deviation of when to double or hit Ace/3. At least i think it is.
Knowing when to play two spots instead of one seems to be a biggie too. Jeez has that ever helped my game.
So clearly I'm missing some things, but they will come along in time. I could use a lesson or two in when to take insurance. The basic stuff is solid though. Think I'm better off working on my camouflage bets and casino act than other matters.
One thing I've decided to do is put a cap on the amount of winning I'll take in at my favorite gaming joint. When i reach it? I just go home!
No sense in wearing out my welcome. I polished my act at this place and have made some good friends with the house and staff. No sense blowing my cover and filling all my pockets with black chips. Better to do that at some casino four hundred miles from AWAY from here. Rent a car and hit several on a long weekend.
Meanwhile everyone is happy "back home".
So am posting less here on the main forum. Sure Aslan, Grifter and yours truly will still kick each other around down in the "Zen Zone", but I'm losing interest in posting here. This isn't cockiness speaking. And is no fauylt of the other members either. It's a form of personal growth.
What i figure is when this stuff starts to get boring then you've got to be making some money.
And I know TWO pit bosses with marvelous jugs. Major distraction and they know it...
Why?
Well because I'm winning in the long run now and seem to have enough of a handle on the situation to predictably pull a half decent profit. 4 out of every 5 trips or so anyway. Most my concerns these days are related to maintaining an interesting conversation with the dealers, other players and being nice but not overly chatty with the pit crew.
Sure there are elements of my game that need improvement. Mostly things like when to hit or double soft hands according variations in the count. But what I figure is that these shortcomings aren't costing me much either way. the tables I'm playing have good rules, excellent penetration. This will excuse some slight slight errors in double vs. hit.
Think the main trick that has helped has been playing two spots on a table in high counts with fewer players. Shoe games mostly.
And doing the same thing one on one ("mano a mano") at the double deck hand held games.
So while I might possibly grind out another .08% by plunging myself into week ends of flashcard practice adjusted for T/C deviations the matter isn't as relevant as choosing the good games. Figure I'm hitting somewhere around a 1.5% advantage (we got a couple places here with great rules. Especially for my limited bankroll).
Any new business enterprise demands that the owner or entrepreneur focus on important matters first and put less emphasis on the really small things. Like if you are selling cars you might not want put a man on hold who wants to buy a whole fleet of cars for his company while selling a used Volkswagen to a college kid. Surely everyone should matter, even the little guy. However a deal like that could make or break your future.
I see this in business all the time: People who can not differentiate between important and non important matters. Secretaries and accountants tend to be the worst offenders. They will bust your balls for a $3.95 charge account that didn't get the customers signature. She'll walk right into your meeting with Yellow Cab just as you're about to close the deal and make an idiot out of both you and your company.
Blackjack is like that too. Certain facts are far more important than others. Knowing when to split nines is more important than the count deviation of when to double or hit Ace/3. At least i think it is.
Knowing when to play two spots instead of one seems to be a biggie too. Jeez has that ever helped my game.
So clearly I'm missing some things, but they will come along in time. I could use a lesson or two in when to take insurance. The basic stuff is solid though. Think I'm better off working on my camouflage bets and casino act than other matters.
One thing I've decided to do is put a cap on the amount of winning I'll take in at my favorite gaming joint. When i reach it? I just go home!
No sense in wearing out my welcome. I polished my act at this place and have made some good friends with the house and staff. No sense blowing my cover and filling all my pockets with black chips. Better to do that at some casino four hundred miles from AWAY from here. Rent a car and hit several on a long weekend.
Meanwhile everyone is happy "back home".
So am posting less here on the main forum. Sure Aslan, Grifter and yours truly will still kick each other around down in the "Zen Zone", but I'm losing interest in posting here. This isn't cockiness speaking. And is no fauylt of the other members either. It's a form of personal growth.
What i figure is when this stuff starts to get boring then you've got to be making some money.
And I know TWO pit bosses with marvelous jugs. Major distraction and they know it...
