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I have played blackjack for about 50 years, I thought I knew how to play. Problem is , I did not know the rules of play. So more often than not I would lose. I memorized “Basic Strategy” 6 decks, dealer stays on soft 17 DAS allowed. I decided to test my knowledge at a casino. $5.00 table. Two hours later I had won back my $200 start money and a two hundred dollar profit. Next week I took on the $10.00 table, won $300 inside two hours. I did this every week for nine weeks. Then it happened, I lost the entire $300.00 inside three hours. I played PERFECT strategy and still lost. I am going to assume it was due to all the small cards coming out. I changed tables and still was on a losing streak. So I have determined that counting cards would have prevented me from doubling or splitting when I should have hit or stood. I would hit on a 12 and get a ten, I would hit on 16 and get a ten. If I knew the count I would have been able to act accordingly. I am 76 years of age and I have tried on my own to count cards, But eventually, I lose count while trying to determine the true count. I count 2,3,4,5,6 and the 10, J Q, K, A. and determine the number of cards in the discard tray. (decks). Should I forget about counting? and LEARN to walk away after losing xxx hands in a row?
I just played for over an hour, and not once, not ONCE, did I ever bet more than 10 dollars, the min bet of the nearby casino, because every…. single….. shoe….. the count got negative, and then VERY negative, and despite high cards being dealt out disproportionately often throughout every shoe but especially at the beginning, it would always be the dealer and not me that would get 2 of them, the dealer just won and won and won. I quit with 325 dollars left of the 1000, lost 10 dollars at a time with no big bets, having won 156 hands and having lost 235.
…… say, is there a version of this game that DOESN’T stack the deck and actually generates the cards RANDOMLY? That would be more useful than THIS version which puts all the high cards at the beginning of the shoe and stacks it to insure the dealer gets 2 face cards 25% of the time and blackjack another 10% of the time…… As a simulation, this is completely useless if you’re not going to generate the numbers randomly. What is so DIFFICULT about doing it that way, it seems to me that you had to go out of your way to program it to stack the deck instead of just having it be random. Were you just trying to show users “worst case scenario” conditions?
20 out of 20, On another practice quiz, I have 100 out of 100. My problem is I have worked at card counting, but I ALWAYS get distracted then lose the count. I am a newbie at this. I need to know when NOT to utilize Basic Strategie and go with the count, That is if I don’t lose my way. Maybe a different method? I am 76 years of age and card counting is difficult for me. I have lost once out of 10 sessions at the casino, I was not card counting at those sessions.
Thank you so much for having this site and maintaining it. Some of the rounds are really tough and that’s really good. From that I’ve learned money management, watching for clusters and my basic strategy is 100%. I’ve learned that this can be a grind but it gave me the confidence to hit a few casinos in my area…
I know my seat position, time of day, tells and sometimes I’ll play two hands to move the rotation if someone else is getting all the cards. I don’t know if moving the rotation works but I have gotten a few Black Jack’s ..lol
I’m definitely up at the casinos and will see if the love keeps me going back…On a side note not all casinos are created equal, one place 90 mins north of Toronto pulls out preshuffed decks… very, very sketchy. Others have the shuffling machine just below the table surface and transfer the cards manually into a shoe. I asked if they could wash the cards and hand shuffle but they wouldn’t do it. Saying it was a time thing and against their policy. So I told them my policy was to play somewhere else and I do. If a casino is literally not above board, cards not in sight 100% of the time… avoid!
Thanks again for all the information.. for me this is place really helps.
Listen i been study bj awhile and basic strategy just seem to conservative so i design combined positive and neg progression system on the computer playing 200 dollar bank roll and a modified playing strategy where i used the marginegale and 1-2-3 unit betting count on a win and on 7of10 100 hand 5 doller betting system i profit over 500 dollars before ive played a tota of 40 hands
Hey William, I’d love to connect with you and talk about your strategy. I myself have been trying different strategies and would love to share them with you. Send me an email to [email protected] or request me on IG: gaintheadvantage21
Hi Ken,
I like to play a game that is single deck – NDAS – H17 game. By all the calculators that I have found online, this game house edge hovers around .2%. However, it does not allow the player to take insurance. This is not an option in any of the online calculators that I have found. Your table states that with this condition I would need to adjust the house edge by -.4%. If this is the case, my bet spread has been very wrong as the player does not get the edge until a true 1.5. Can you shed some light on this? Thanks!!!
I believe the only game in the United States that fits this description is the tiny-stakes game at Barton’s in Jackpot. The house edge is 0.18. House edge is generally expressed as “off the top of the deck vs. basic strategy.” The lack of insurance does not affect it, as a basic strategist never takes insurance. As for Ken’s calculation for a card counter, it’s reasonable, making the Barton’s game only marginally playable for those who play tiny stakes, and very frustrating.
Thanks LV Bear, your response is super appreciated. I have a follow up question for you if you don’t mind. Since you should only be taking insurance at a +3 anyways and at a +3 in this game your edge is around 1.3%, would that take .4% off of your edge if and only if the dealer shows up with an Ace, bringing your edge in that scenario down to .8%? Just wondering how to calculate the game. I don’t want to make any assumptions. Thanks!
How often (%) does a player win doubling down on 11?
Hi ..noticed a glitch.. had A3 to dealer 4 and it told me to double.. basic strategy tells you to only hit.. thanks
I have played blackjack for about 50 years, I thought I knew how to play. Problem is , I did not know the rules of play. So more often than not I would lose. I memorized “Basic Strategy” 6 decks, dealer stays on soft 17 DAS allowed. I decided to test my knowledge at a casino. $5.00 table. Two hours later I had won back my $200 start money and a two hundred dollar profit. Next week I took on the $10.00 table, won $300 inside two hours. I did this every week for nine weeks. Then it happened, I lost the entire $300.00 inside three hours. I played PERFECT strategy and still lost. I am going to assume it was due to all the small cards coming out. I changed tables and still was on a losing streak. So I have determined that counting cards would have prevented me from doubling or splitting when I should have hit or stood. I would hit on a 12 and get a ten, I would hit on 16 and get a ten. If I knew the count I would have been able to act accordingly. I am 76 years of age and I have tried on my own to count cards, But eventually, I lose count while trying to determine the true count. I count 2,3,4,5,6 and the 10, J Q, K, A. and determine the number of cards in the discard tray. (decks). Should I forget about counting? and LEARN to walk away after losing xxx hands in a row?
I just played for over an hour, and not once, not ONCE, did I ever bet more than 10 dollars, the min bet of the nearby casino, because every…. single….. shoe….. the count got negative, and then VERY negative, and despite high cards being dealt out disproportionately often throughout every shoe but especially at the beginning, it would always be the dealer and not me that would get 2 of them, the dealer just won and won and won. I quit with 325 dollars left of the 1000, lost 10 dollars at a time with no big bets, having won 156 hands and having lost 235.
…… say, is there a version of this game that DOESN’T stack the deck and actually generates the cards RANDOMLY? That would be more useful than THIS version which puts all the high cards at the beginning of the shoe and stacks it to insure the dealer gets 2 face cards 25% of the time and blackjack another 10% of the time…… As a simulation, this is completely useless if you’re not going to generate the numbers randomly. What is so DIFFICULT about doing it that way, it seems to me that you had to go out of your way to program it to stack the deck instead of just having it be random. Were you just trying to show users “worst case scenario” conditions?
20 out of 20, On another practice quiz, I have 100 out of 100. My problem is I have worked at card counting, but I ALWAYS get distracted then lose the count. I am a newbie at this. I need to know when NOT to utilize Basic Strategie and go with the count, That is if I don’t lose my way. Maybe a different method? I am 76 years of age and card counting is difficult for me. I have lost once out of 10 sessions at the casino, I was not card counting at those sessions.
Thank you so much for having this site and maintaining it. Some of the rounds are really tough and that’s really good. From that I’ve learned money management, watching for clusters and my basic strategy is 100%. I’ve learned that this can be a grind but it gave me the confidence to hit a few casinos in my area…
I know my seat position, time of day, tells and sometimes I’ll play two hands to move the rotation if someone else is getting all the cards. I don’t know if moving the rotation works but I have gotten a few Black Jack’s ..lol
I’m definitely up at the casinos and will see if the love keeps me going back…On a side note not all casinos are created equal, one place 90 mins north of Toronto pulls out preshuffed decks… very, very sketchy. Others have the shuffling machine just below the table surface and transfer the cards manually into a shoe. I asked if they could wash the cards and hand shuffle but they wouldn’t do it. Saying it was a time thing and against their policy. So I told them my policy was to play somewhere else and I do. If a casino is literally not above board, cards not in sight 100% of the time… avoid!
Thanks again for all the information.. for me this is place really helps.
pct.percentage win standing with17
got 20 out of 20
Listen i been study bj awhile and basic strategy just seem to conservative so i design combined positive and neg progression system on the computer playing 200 dollar bank roll and a modified playing strategy where i used the marginegale and 1-2-3 unit betting count on a win and on 7of10 100 hand 5 doller betting system i profit over 500 dollars before ive played a tota of 40 hands
Hey William, I’d love to connect with you and talk about your strategy. I myself have been trying different strategies and would love to share them with you. Send me an email to [email protected] or request me on IG: gaintheadvantage21
Hi Ken,
I like to play a game that is single deck – NDAS – H17 game. By all the calculators that I have found online, this game house edge hovers around .2%. However, it does not allow the player to take insurance. This is not an option in any of the online calculators that I have found. Your table states that with this condition I would need to adjust the house edge by -.4%. If this is the case, my bet spread has been very wrong as the player does not get the edge until a true 1.5. Can you shed some light on this? Thanks!!!
I believe the only game in the United States that fits this description is the tiny-stakes game at Barton’s in Jackpot. The house edge is 0.18. House edge is generally expressed as “off the top of the deck vs. basic strategy.” The lack of insurance does not affect it, as a basic strategist never takes insurance. As for Ken’s calculation for a card counter, it’s reasonable, making the Barton’s game only marginally playable for those who play tiny stakes, and very frustrating.
Thanks LV Bear, your response is super appreciated. I have a follow up question for you if you don’t mind. Since you should only be taking insurance at a +3 anyways and at a +3 in this game your edge is around 1.3%, would that take .4% off of your edge if and only if the dealer shows up with an Ace, bringing your edge in that scenario down to .8%? Just wondering how to calculate the game. I don’t want to make any assumptions. Thanks!
Please post the question in the “Card Counting, Advanced Strategies” section of the forums.
Is it better to play at a table with other players or be the only person
Other people slow the game down and waste good cards in positive counts. Most serious players prefer to play alone if possible.
Same here it’s bs
I agree. Somehow they find a way to win 30 hands in a row. Its bs
Join the discussion…your wrong split
Join the discussion…