White Guy said:
Yes BJ attack is good. I guess my problem is I know what you're saying I know I will get caught eventually. I am always close to the biggest better it is a little casino and wonging doesn't help with the attention or maybe I am paranoid about that. The main problem I have is this, wait for shuffle, back count, buy in, sit down, bet, play five hands win/loose half and half than leave and color up because the count dumped like crazy. They look at me like I am crazy everytime. I think for heat the best thing would be to go when it is busy play all and wong out at -1. Spread huge like 10-200 ea. on two hands to overcome the not wonging. Do you think that the wonging or the big spread would draw more attention? Does the big spread make up for playing at even counts? The game does have surrender and LLadies good pen but is H17. Would putting in some time on the poker table help with the degenerate gambler persona? Also, I always try too make my bets look like less by leaving a red or green on top or even a one if possible. Does that even help fool them??
Well, actually, I was saying that if you "wong-out" at -1 or play all (which is a valid strategy for DD or SD), you'll probably get caught up in a severe counter-measure eventually. I meant, by implication, that you could probably "back-count" forever if you are good enough. I, however, never liked that strategy.
I could imagine that it is difficult to be a back-counter in your small, local casino--whatever the rules are. I feel for you man! I'll dump some thoughts upon you in the lines that follow BUT MY INSTINCT IS TO SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS OFF FROM BLACKJACK TO RE-CONFIGURE ALL OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS HOBBY/CAREER. Every piece of success that I've ever had with this "thing of ours" has correlated with WHEN I HAVE CHOSEN TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!
Again, I see your problem but "looking at you like you're crazy" MAY OR MAY NOT just be paranoia. Meaning, if they really think you're just a crazy gambler, not only does it not count as "heat", IT'S A GOOD THING. (Unless you really are crazy? You don't hear voices telling you to double-down on a hard-20, do you?) Now, let's say they now you're a "buzzard". If you are only spreading from like one to a few quarters, they probably aren't "viewing you as a threat." If they aren't viewing you as a threat, they probably won't impose "severe countermeasures." Again, not neccessarily a bad thing. So, I'm guessing you may not only be a little paranoid, my fear is that you may "actually appear paranoid as well." THIS IS A BAD THING IF IT'S TRUE. You have to work on that because it could damage almost ANY advantage play.
"The best thing you could do for heat" would actually be "to leave." IN THIS RESPECT, IT MATTERS HOW GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSE THIS CASINO IS AND HOW MUCH TIME YOU WANT TO DEVOTE TO LOCAL PLAY. Can you just back-count for an hour per shift; per day; per week; per month?(!) BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF because switching to wonging out at -1 shouldn't change your scheduling of time in this casino.
I'd only suggest 10 - 200 if there is no surrender or you have a really good act which I'm not sure if you do. If there's LS, 1:20 is a bit of over-kill. Also, I believe that 1:20 worked so well for me for so long because "I thought outside the box" by never-ever spreading to two boxes when I utilized that style. If I was playing two boxes, I don't think I would have lasted as long.
LOL--the big spread will only draw attention when you spread big! Yes, the thermometer will rise as you approach $200 at your red chip table. This is where your act is crucial. OBSERVE "PLOPPIES" WHO SPREAD THAT HIGH. You may not like the personalities of these people but that doesn't mean that you can't "steal" their personalities when it comes time to put chips in your pockets. EVEN A CRAPPY GRADE-B ACTOR IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE "DOPPLE-GANGER." Look it up! Observation is key.
Yes, the big spread has to make up for playing at even counts AND still earn money on top of that so that you are making as much as a back-counter.
No, wonging out is easy to do without acting ability. You don't even need to be a good liar. All you have to do is time your bathroom breaks or smoke breaks correctly and drink a lot of liquid. THERE'S GOT TO BE A DOZEN OTHER EXCUSES. Also, YOU COULD SIMPLY GET UP AND LEAVE!!!!! Again, observe the ploppy.
LS is an AWESOME RULE. Sorry, just read that now. Now, I'm recommending 1:16. H17 is not that bad when LS is present. BE CAREFUL TO LEARN ALL OF YOUR INDICIES CORRECTLY. I'm still trying to learn from -5 to +10 for that game and I'm having a hard time so don't get upset if it looks like it might take you a while to learn -1 to +6 or +7--IT WILL TAKE A WHILE.
LL is trivial. You'll only be able to bet it correctly at Hi-Lo of like +7. I think I'm +8 for most payouts. I say it's trivial because it will come along seldom via conventional card counting.
IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO CONVEY DEGENERATE GAMBLER PERSONAS BY ACTUALLY BEING A DEGENERATE GAMBLER. If you're not a pro. poker player and you spend much time at the poker tables--you're doing exactly that. I despise "arrogance" so I'm sorry to suggest this but... YOU HAVE TO START THINKING OF YOURSELF AS "ABOVE THE PLOPPY." Look, they say stupid things like "Wow, I just won three in a row" or "Damb, this dealer is cold." I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO SAY THINGS LIKE THIS AS LONG AS YOU DON'T BELIEVE ALL OF THE THOUSANDS OF STUPID STATEMENTS THAT THESE PLOPPIES MAKE. I do not suggest you go into the poker room for camou. purposes. You could play a slot machine until you lose 25 cents and bring the ticket or bucket to the table. You could wait until the TC is -1 before playing a matchplay at roulette or Caribbean Stud Poker. etc.
Yes, betting odd amounts of chips helps in the long-run results but not in software simulations for a multitude of reasons. (1) Payout mistakes are more likely. (THIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING IF YOU HAVE TRAINED YOURSELF WITH REALISTIC CHIPS WHILE CARD COUNTING AT HOME.)
(2) It looks more like a ploppy. (3) It may cause them to not realize the size of your bet until after the hand has already been dealt. (4) It allows you to bet two different amounts in two different circles which will not penalize EV--only your variation. (Again, this looks like ploppy BS--not basic strategy.) (5) I don't know--Betting $20 and $30 when everyone else just bets two quarters is always a good idea and no one's going to convince me otherwise. IT ONLY "FOOLS THEM" IF YOU KNOW THE "SAVANNAH MOVE" BY RICHARD MARCUS. I've described it in other posts and James Grosjean calls it "Steal This Move." I'm not gonna get into it now. Gotta go to sleep.
--Halves
