Blackjack/AP Articles & An Introduction

[J.G.Araby]

Hi Everyone,

I've just started writing on the blog here at Blackjack info. My articles deal with general AP life, travel, strategy, comportment, and the math of it all. I'm trying to make my articles informative while also keeping them interesting and entertaining—so any feedback, criticisms, questions or corrections are welcome.

A bit about myself: I've been a professional advantage player for a few years now, currently full-time. I tend to travel quite a bit (road warriors are usually the most successful in this business if you want to find games and put the hours in). I play blackjack as well as utilize more advanced techniques. I've been a part of the AP community for some time now, and I enjoy learning and teaching as much as I can. We're all in this together.

I'll link to a couple of articles here. Feel free to leave comments on the blog, message me, give suggestions on articles, or whatever you'd like. My e-mail is [email protected]

https://www.blackjackinfo.com/4000-miles-search-advantage-part-one/

https://www.blackjackinfo.com/play-no-longer-welcome/

Enjoy!

 

[KewlJ]

I enjoyed the articles and look forward to reading further entries. I posted a comment to the 4000 mile article but am not sure "it took" as I don't see it, so I will repost my comments here.

1.) I can appreciate minimizing expenses, but curling up for the night, in the back seat, in a Walmart parking lot, is just a little too thrifty for my tastes. Being that we as blackjack card counter AP types, carry at least some portion of our bankrolls, this seems dangerous. I would re-evaluate the risk vs reward on this one.

2.) It seems you identified that you had just about worn out your welcome as you left the casino for the night, yet then you returned the next morning to presumably "press your luck". This resulted in flyering to nearby casinos, losing the opportunity to play at these nearby casinos, while gaining you very little extra playing time at the casino you already knew was about toasted. This doesn't seem a +EV move to me, resulting unnecessarily in the loss of several nearby casinos.

 

[johndoe]

Thanks for posting these. Keep writing!

 

[J.G.Araby]

Hi KewlJ and JohnDoe, thanks for the input.

KewlJ, it looks like your comments took now, so I'll go ahead and reply on the article. Valid comments for sure.

 

[paymypush]

Why do I get the feeling that this is not your first blackjack forum? No need to answer, How many "no more blackjacks" have you had in your short full time career? Tresspasses?

If the casino wants to know who you are they can easily get that information. Just drive that rented Spark onto their property and that's all they need. Knowing that, why not sleep in the casinos' garages or parking lots? It would be much safer than Cracker Barrel or Wal Mart and not that unusual. Sleeping in a Chevy Spark? Are you a little person? Consumer Report says the rear seat of the Spark is best suited to a backpack.

What makes you think that the casino will send a flyer on you? Phones regularly ring in blackjack pits and it's not always about counters. In fact many backoffs come directly from surveillance, minus the ringing phone and scowling pit boss.

You haven't mentioned losses. Any negative variance yet?

Keep the blogs coming. Great reads!

 

[xengrifter]

It seems you identified that you had just about worn out your welcome as you left the casino for the night, yet then you returned the next morning to presumably "press your luck". This resulted in flyering to nearby casinos, losing the opportunity to play at these nearby casinos, while gaining you very little extra playing time at the casino you already knew was about toasted. This doesn't seem a +EV move to me, resulting unnecessarily in the loss of several nearby casinos.

He DID say he was a beginner, right?

 

[KewlJ]

He DID say he was a beginner, right?

A bit about myself: I've been a professional advantage player for a few years now, currently full-time.

 

[paymypush]

James Joyce fan, Mr Araby? Please tell us more about the computer that you saw in the pit that allows pit bosses to watch videos of a person's play along with displaying their information. That was in Missouri?

 

[Meistro]

I look forward to reading about more of your adventures.

 

[ZeeBabar]

James Joyce fan, Mr Araby? Please tell us more about the computer that you saw in the pit that allows pit bosses to watch videos of a person's play along with displaying their information. That was in Missouri?

This seems to be true at the Hollywood Casino in MO in the high limit area.. Dealers now log in players at the table with a screen inset into the tables. Pit can go to the monitor in the pit podium and watch play unobtrusively at any of the usual 3-4 tables in use. If they have the slightest concern, they quietly come to the table and nudge the dealer who then starts placing the cut card at 50% or less.

 

[LC Larry]

I give it less time than Grosjean's and APStreet.

 

[J.G.Araby]

Why do I get the feeling that this is not your first blackjack forum? No need to answer, How many "no more blackjacks" have you had in your short full time career? Tresspasses?

If the casino wants to know who you are they can easily get that information. Just drive that rented Spark onto their property and that's all they need. Knowing that, why not sleep in the casinos' garages or parking lots? It would be much safer than Cracker Barrel or Wal Mart and not that unusual. Sleeping in a Chevy Spark? Are you a little person? Consumer Report says the rear seat of the Spark is best suited to a backpack.

What makes you think that the casino will send a flyer on you? Phones regularly ring in blackjack pits and it's not always about counters. In fact many backoffs come directly from surveillance, minus the ringing phone and scowling pit boss.

You haven't mentioned losses. Any negative variance yet?

Keep the blogs coming. Great reads!

I do my best to avoid parking in any parking garage. If the parking lots also have cameras, then you're correct. It's likely they can find out who you are if they really want to dig into it. I've taken plenty of lyft/ubers to my hotel or destination when I am backed off playing unrated. That's probably your best bet.

I've had a couple of trespasses and probably between 10-15 'back offs.' Some places it's simply unavoidable if you bet above a certain threshold and put in the hours. Other previously tolerant shops may be on high alert because of being crushed by teams recently or even just having a bad few months financially with the higher-ups breathing down their necks.

Actually I just looked through my receipts and it was a Toyota Yaris, not a Spark. Spark is what the rental had as their economy but I was able to change to a Yaris. I'll update the article. The backseat is pretty cramped, regardless. I usually opt for larger cars if I'm planning on doing any urban-camping on a trip.

If I hadn't encountered negative variance, I wouldn't be playing right, I think. Plenty of it when you put the hours in. Also, yes to Joyce .

He DID say he was a beginner, right?

To be specific, about 5 years as a 'hobby', almost 2 full-time. You've got quite a few years on me.

I look forward to reading about more of your adventures.

Thank you! I'll do my best to keep it interesting.

 

[Rebecca C]

Wow, I'm not so sure I'd want to continue playing if I had to sleep in my rental car. There must be a better way.

 

[paymypush]

Wow, I'm not so sure I'd want to continue playing if I had to sleep in my rental car. There must be a better way.

My thoughts exactly. Of course there's a better way than a 57 year old man sleeping in the cramped back seat of a tiny car in WalMart parking lots. Most of us have slept in a car at one time or another but goodness gracious, this was a 14 day trip!

The blogs don't tell us about wins or losses nor do they provide details of the blackjack played. Nothing about game rules, shoes or hand held, base bet, spread etc. It's mostly about the cloak and dagger aspect that many new counters concentrate on. Perhaps more than they should.