Counting in British Columbia

Matt

Active Member
#1
Hi everyone, I havent posted in years but the past few weeks recharged my counting batteries after seeing 21, as awful as it was. I have Casino Verite and can play the hi-lo perfectly using indices from -1 to 6.

Living in the Vancouver British Columbia area limits the possible casinos to just one(all the rest are CSM), and its a six deck only casino that is usually very crowded. Wonging and backcounting is the only option with the weak pen.

So I made the trek(1.5 - 2 hrs) to the US where there are plenty of 2 deck and 6 deck games with better. Thing is they're all low roller joints and I stick out like a sore thumb betting just green chips. The cage had to make a call when I went to cash the 250 I had won.

My problem is that it's just unfortunate there arent any better casinos nearby without the hassle of going across the border. So I got to reading and got to learning about advantage craps and the possibilities, since theres a craps table at every casino in town. Anyone out there have any experience at this? I was thinking of starting with this book..
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Touch-...bs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207808618&sr=8-2

I figured if Stanford Wong backs this stuff up it must have some substance to it.

To sum it up, I love the idea of taking money from greedy casinos but just feel I'd like to do it more regularly. I love blackjack but the oppurtunity to play just isnt there as easily. I used to play a lot of online poker but it didn't quite quenche my thirst. Anyone else relate?

Also, does anyone know of a good betting camo strategy for 2 deck BJ. I was shamelessly playing...with no camo and upping my bets and lowering them exactly per the count. Any help? Nothing TOO drastic though :)

TC
+1 = $5
+2 = 2 x $10
+3 = 2 x $15
+4 = 2 x $25
+5 = 2 x $30
+6 = 2 x $40
+7 = 2 x $50

Thanks guys
 
#3
Also, does anyone know of a good betting camo strategy for 2 deck BJ. I was shamelessly playing...with no camo and upping my bets and lowering them exactly per the count. Any help? Nothing TOO drastic though :)

TC
+1 = $5
+2 = 2 x $10
+3 = 2 x $15
+4 = 2 x $25
+5 = 2 x $30
+6 = 2 x $40
+7 = 2 x $50

Thanks guys
The easiest extra value-added you can add is to sit at 1st base and keycard the Aces, so you'll frequently make max bets even with neg counts. zg
 

Tom007

Well-Known Member
#4
zengrifter said:
The easiest extra value-added you can add is to sit at 1st base and keycard the Aces, so you'll frequently make max bets even with neg counts. zg
How do you key card aces? can you explain? Or can you direct me to a link?
 

Brock Windsor

Well-Known Member
#5
Matt said:
I was thinking of starting with this book..
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Touch-...bs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207808618&sr=8-2
I figured if Stanford Wong backs this stuff up it must have some substance to it.
I have that book and would not recommend it. Scoblete seems much more a gambling writer than a gambler and some of it reads like voodoo to me. The easiest edge to overcome is pass/don't bets with full odds so why would they have you bet anything else? Except maybe for the fact that they want you to have more small winning sessions before the big loss...like any voodoo system. Also their 5count strategy is almost certainly negative expectation unless the comps are excellent. Just find tables that take high odds. I believe in the possibility of Dice Control and I also respect that Stanford Wong acknowledges it. Wong on Dice is probably a better first read though I have yet to read it. I have heard mathematically it is far superior to anything else, and any advantage you have must be quantifiable.
BW
 

Matt

Active Member
#6
zengrifter said:
The easiest extra value-added you can add is to sit at 1st base and keycard the Aces, so you'll frequently make max bets even with neg counts. zg

ZG, would you recommend "Blackjack Ace Prediction: The Art Of Advanced Location Strategies For The Casino Game Of Twenty-one" by David McDowell. The few reviews at http://www.amazon.com/Blackjack-Ace...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207848341&sr=8-1 arent very good though. Is this similar to the techniques described in Breaking Vegas?

Anyone have an opinion on the QFIT CV/Shuffle Ace sequencing software?
 
Last edited:

Diver

Well-Known Member
#7
US options

Matt said:
So I made the trek(1.5 - 2 hrs) to the US where there are plenty of 2 deck and 6 deck games with better. Thing is they're all low roller joints and I stick out like a sore thumb betting just green chips. The cage had to make a call when I went to cash the 250 I had won.
You can play green chip and higher on good DD games at Silver Reef near Bellingham. Dealers there commented about some very high rollers that come by with some regularity, even requesting certain dealers. There isn't a high roller pit per se.
 

Matt

Active Member
#8
Diver said:
You can play green chip and higher on good DD games at Silver Reef near Bellingham. Dealers there commented about some very high rollers that come by with some regularity, even requesting certain dealers. There isn't a high roller pit per se.
Thanks Diver, I'll keep that in mind. Are the rules Dbl 10,11 NDAS?

How about the Slo Pitch Pub & Casino in Bellingham? It looks completely vulnerable the last time I checked it out.
 

Diver

Well-Known Member
#9
better rules

Matt said:
Thanks Diver, I'll keep that in mind. Are the rules Dbl 10,11 NDAS?

How about the Slo Pitch Pub & Casino in Bellingham? It looks completely vulnerable the last time I checked it out.

H17, Double any first two cards, DAS, decent pen. It's actually a nice place to play. Minimums are low $5 at DD until late in the afternoon, so it can sometime be more crowed than you'd wish. But penetration is good. I haven't checked out anything else in the area other than the Skagitt Valley Casino which is D9 and has bad pen.
 

la_dee_daa

Well-Known Member
#10
hey if you know of a casino that is 18 or 19+ could you give me a heads up. im in the same boat.

If you get the right dealer's at that casino you can get good pen though around a deck cut off or so. also if you play in the morning you can get heads up games at $10 tables and $15 talbes.

:cow:
 

Matt

Active Member
#11
la_dee_daa said:
hey if you know of a casino that is 18 or 19+ could you give me a heads up. im in the same boat.

If you get the right dealer's at that casino you can get good pen though around a deck cut off or so. also if you play in the morning you can get heads up games at $10 tables and $15 talbes.

:cow:
I don't believe any of the Washington casinos are 18 or 19+. The only hand shuffled casino is in Burnaby, BC that is 19+ but it has bad pen and is only playable by backcounting and wonging.
 

Matt

Active Member
#12
Diver said:
You can play green chip and higher on good DD games at Silver Reef near Bellingham. Dealers there commented about some very high rollers that come by with some regularity, even requesting certain dealers. There isn't a high roller pit per se.
The pen is barely 60% and the "one" table is typically busy, this table is a long run loser.
 

la_dee_daa

Well-Known Member
#13
Matt said:
I don't believe any of the Washington casinos are 18 or 19+. The only hand shuffled casino is in Burnaby, BC that is 19+ but it has bad pen and is only playable by backcounting and wonging.
i have had some dealers in the morning cut off only 1 deck and had the option to play heads up. But thats all before 1:00 once that time comes around almost unplayable like you said.
 

Diver

Well-Known Member
#14
talking the same place?

Matt said:
The pen is barely 60% and the "one" table is typically busy, this table is a long run loser.
When I've been at Silver Reef, there have been from one to three tables of DD open, the later the more the number open. Some dealers may cut to 60% which would yield a SCORE of 30, but I've had other consistenty be better, some cutting at 70+ cards which would produce a more acceptable SCORE of43. But I guess you have a point about it being marginal even so. Sadly, there's not a whole lot better in the region.
 

Matt

Active Member
#15
Diver said:
When I've been at Silver Reef, there have been from one to three tables of DD open, the later the more the number open. Some dealers may cut to 60% which would yield a SCORE of 30, but I've had other consistenty be better, some cutting at 70+ cards which would produce a more acceptable SCORE of43. But I guess you have a point about it being marginal even so. Sadly, there's not a whole lot better in the region.
What is the basis of the SCORE? Snyders profit index?
 
#17
Matt said:
Living in the Vancouver British Columbia area limits the possible casinos to just one(all the rest are CSM), and its a six deck only casino that is usually very crowded. Wonging and backcounting is the only option with the weak pen.
The House Edge in Vancouver is 0.03% with Early Surrender allowed vs 10 and Ace. I have been there. They leave out about a full deck before putting those cards back in the shuffler. I am not super with card counting, but I would think that with such a low edge that even that penetration should be adequate. Am I wrong?

Licentia
 

Matt

Active Member
#18
Licentia said:
The House Edge in Vancouver is 0.03% with Early Surrender allowed vs 10 and Ace. I have been there. They leave out about a full deck before putting those cards back in the shuffler. I am not super with card counting, but I would think that with such a low edge that even that penetration should be adequate. Am I wrong?

Licentia
What Vancouver casino? Sounds like you're talking about one of the many casinos using a CSM in the area, yeah you're wrong, a CSM offering 1 deck of pen is unbeatable. BTW it is NO HOLE card blackjack, if you surrender versus a 10 or A they wait for their hand to be completed before paying you 50%, if they have BJ they take all. So it is more or less late surrender I think.
 

la_dee_daa

Well-Known Member
#19
Licentia said:
The House Edge in Vancouver is 0.03% with Early Surrender allowed vs 10 and Ace. I have been there. They leave out about a full deck before putting those cards back in the shuffler. I am not super with card counting, but I would think that with such a low edge that even that penetration should be adequate. Am I wrong?

Licentia
i highly doubt the bclc would ever give this low of an edge i dont think there is anything below a .5% edge all 6 deck or 5 deck csms.. to get to that edge like that i of .03% you would need to have a double deck game with really good rules.. with 5 decks i don't think its possible unless they start offering 2-1 blackjack.

this is the bclc here.. remember they don't even want you to have a chance to get lucky here.

iv never seen a dealer almost pay a losing or push hand but almost every time I go at least one dealer will try to take my winning or push bet... a little to convenient for me.

:cow:
 
#20
Matt said:
What Vancouver casino? Sounds like you're talking about one of the many casinos using a CSM in the area, yeah you're wrong, a CSM offering 1 deck of pen is unbeatable. BTW it is NO HOLE card blackjack, if you surrender versus a 10 or A they wait for their hand to be completed before paying you 50%, if they have BJ they take all. So it is more or less late surrender I think.
Do they take all? Or just the original bet? I recall that they only took the original bet when they got BlackJack, so you kept anything from Double Downs and Splits. That is how they make up for not having a hole card. So it is Peek rules. I am quite sure...

Licentia.
 
Top