countmein
Active Member
So the other night I went out and decided to practice at a $5 table. This was really an experiment - a litmus test to see where I truly am in a real casino, as opposed to the kitchen table with a felt and a shoe, or a computer sim. Basically, this was the first time using 100% perfect basic strategy... Or so I thought.
I went to the Tuscany and played for a while. Although I have played BJ for over 15 yrs, I never played pure 100% basic strategy. So I did. But as they say, it's all different in a casino. In 1.5 hours of play, I noted 2 mistakes that I made, and I was so mad at myself. On the computer, I practice hundreds and hundreds of hands flawlessly. Then I am at a casino and I make a stupid mistake. Twice. And I will say that these are the mistakes that I noticed. Perhaps there were more.
I also decided to practice keeping the count in a casino setting. Certainly a lot different than on a computer. But I already knew that. I've practiced by standing behind a table observing before. My intentions were not to base my plays by counting - since I know I still need a lot of practice.
My main goal was to practice flawless basic strategy in a casino setting. So, I left Tuscany, and went home (and even).
Then hours later, I went to the M to continue my quest. My BS was right on and sharp. I already mentally punished myself from my afternoon quest, and I was ready to redeem myself. I was pleased with my play.
The thing that irritated me was the guy sitting next to me was playing with no basic strategy, was standing on 16s (when the dealer had 17-20) sometimes, other times hitting it. He wasn't hitting his 2 against the dealer's 2 or 3, and he told me after splitting 8s that this was a stupid move and now I had 2 losing hands. (I tried to explain that, but decided to forget it and just play). The dealer was telling this guy that I was right, but he still argued. Ughhh...
That's not what irritated me though. What really got me is that I was losing and he was winning. I was doing everything that I was supposed to do according to basic strategy. The shoes were really bad, but this guy kept winning playing like a cowboy - no strategy, no consistent play... But I stuck to the plan. 100% pure basic strategy plus keeping the count.
Now back to the counting... I got confused at times. My biggest pain point is when the dealer draws his cards. I will need to practice practice practice. And of course, the guy talking next to me was a distraction, even at times with basic strategy. I never expected to make any money with BS. I intended to write it off as a training cost. Which I did. Lost about $300 in 3.5 hours. Not a big deal since I expected to lose this.
The hardest part of my drive home from the casino was that I knew I would have to tell the wife that I just pissed away $300. But my wife rocks, and she knows what I am doing. I told her, and it was fine. It was within her "tolerance". Plus it was allocated money. I did not "raid the ATM". Those days are gone. I have my budget and that's it. Although this budget is far far less than what I used to have, it is a smarter budget allocated only to testing myself. Does this make sense?
I used to bet like a crazy man with a $2500 nightly bankroll and "no strategy". And sometimes I got really lucky. Sometimes, not so much. It was about the rush. Man, there is no longer a rush for me playing a game where the odds are stacked against me. I love blackjack, but I don't want to lose over the long term. That's why I became determined to become an advantage player. I've known about it for a long time (yes, way before the 21 movie) but never really decided to learn until last year.
What's the moral of the story? Here is what I have learned:
I went to the Tuscany and played for a while. Although I have played BJ for over 15 yrs, I never played pure 100% basic strategy. So I did. But as they say, it's all different in a casino. In 1.5 hours of play, I noted 2 mistakes that I made, and I was so mad at myself. On the computer, I practice hundreds and hundreds of hands flawlessly. Then I am at a casino and I make a stupid mistake. Twice. And I will say that these are the mistakes that I noticed. Perhaps there were more.
I also decided to practice keeping the count in a casino setting. Certainly a lot different than on a computer. But I already knew that. I've practiced by standing behind a table observing before. My intentions were not to base my plays by counting - since I know I still need a lot of practice.
My main goal was to practice flawless basic strategy in a casino setting. So, I left Tuscany, and went home (and even).
Then hours later, I went to the M to continue my quest. My BS was right on and sharp. I already mentally punished myself from my afternoon quest, and I was ready to redeem myself. I was pleased with my play.
The thing that irritated me was the guy sitting next to me was playing with no basic strategy, was standing on 16s (when the dealer had 17-20) sometimes, other times hitting it. He wasn't hitting his 2 against the dealer's 2 or 3, and he told me after splitting 8s that this was a stupid move and now I had 2 losing hands. (I tried to explain that, but decided to forget it and just play). The dealer was telling this guy that I was right, but he still argued. Ughhh...
That's not what irritated me though. What really got me is that I was losing and he was winning. I was doing everything that I was supposed to do according to basic strategy. The shoes were really bad, but this guy kept winning playing like a cowboy - no strategy, no consistent play... But I stuck to the plan. 100% pure basic strategy plus keeping the count.
Now back to the counting... I got confused at times. My biggest pain point is when the dealer draws his cards. I will need to practice practice practice. And of course, the guy talking next to me was a distraction, even at times with basic strategy. I never expected to make any money with BS. I intended to write it off as a training cost. Which I did. Lost about $300 in 3.5 hours. Not a big deal since I expected to lose this.
The hardest part of my drive home from the casino was that I knew I would have to tell the wife that I just pissed away $300. But my wife rocks, and she knows what I am doing. I told her, and it was fine. It was within her "tolerance". Plus it was allocated money. I did not "raid the ATM". Those days are gone. I have my budget and that's it. Although this budget is far far less than what I used to have, it is a smarter budget allocated only to testing myself. Does this make sense?
I used to bet like a crazy man with a $2500 nightly bankroll and "no strategy". And sometimes I got really lucky. Sometimes, not so much. It was about the rush. Man, there is no longer a rush for me playing a game where the odds are stacked against me. I love blackjack, but I don't want to lose over the long term. That's why I became determined to become an advantage player. I've known about it for a long time (yes, way before the 21 movie) but never really decided to learn until last year.
What's the moral of the story? Here is what I have learned:
- It makes no difference in the short term who wins and who loses. There's no way someone who is playing with a "failing strategy" can win over time
- Even idiots can sometimes win when they shouldn't. Actually, this guy was not really an idiot - I just now have a skewed image of people who play with not a single plan and then want to tell me why doubling down on an 11 when a dealer has an Ace on an H17 game is a bad idea. Like them standing on A7 when the dealer has a 9 showing is smart.
- Don't bother trying to explain anything to anyone. You are not there for them. (Especially when YOU are losing and they are winning)
- There is no substitute for a real casino when "testing" your strengths and weaknesses.
- Smile, be cordial, but don't listen to anything another player says.
- Keep on practicing...
