captheathmalc
Active Member
I think that the title of the thread says it all: First-time BlackJackInfo.com poster, with advice. What could a first-time poster advise you on? Not sure...But read-on anyway if you have a few minutes.
I am not a new BlackJack player...hardly....I have been playing the game of black jack since a weekend in Vegas in 1991; when I won approximately $54,000.00 (Went with $6,000 exact). That was my first time ever in a casino, and I was only 20 years old.....the neat thing back then, was that if you didn't have an I.D. (I did...just couldnt show it)....you couldn't buy chips...but you could lay "cash" on the felt. So anyway....Between Bally's; the Flamingo; and the Mirage....I raked-in approx $54K....(I lived in the Bay-area at the time)....I immediately heard of an all-night "tent" car-sale going on...so I proceeded to go buy my first corvette...a 1986 model for about 16K (The guy was a little surprised I paid in cash). Anyway...I was obviously living high on the hog....I couldn't be beat.
So off I drove...back to Ballys this time, as they were shooting a movie-scene at that time (Leaving Las Vegas)...and the 'Vette looked really good under those lights as I handed the keys to the valet.
The first problem I had with the game of black-jack (in Vegas) was that none of the Casinos (that I knew of at the time) would allow me to bet more than $10,000 a hand...unless I bought my own table....for $1,000,000 minimum (no kidding).
So, I ended-up going back to the Mirage a few hours later (still day one....or, at least at least it was for me, since I hadn't slept yet), and still about 30K in my fanny-pack (remember...I just bought a 'Vette, and I spent other money on something as well....so I was in the low 30's), and as I walked into the doors, I told my friend Rich: "I'm not leaving until I have at least 40,000!".....................I ended-up winning about $22,000 in 3 hours. I was back in the 50K -range...and the Mirage had issued me a gold VIP card, and had offered me the nicest hotel-room I'd ever seen....it had it's own bar, and a kitchen, and a living room! This place was nicer than my apartment.
I Slept.
After I woke-up, had something to eat, and generously gave Rich a couple grand to "play" with, I went back to the tables. But I quickly got frustrated...because after a couple hours of play, I couldn't make any head-room. I wasn't losing; but I wasn't winning either....and obviously, I was "meant" to play this game....surely I'd have a million dollars within a couple days......
That is when I learned the most devestating thing in my life: Black Jack will catch-up to you if you aren't careful.
Someone told me of a place called "Binions"...where they allowed max-bets of $25,000. This was obviously the place for me...so I was off: Looking for some HUGE casino called "Binions". What I found was a 'small' place, called Jack Binions. They had a million dollars on the wall, as you walked in, and sold really nice, expensive....very expensive, gifts. I was home......for 15 minutes.
I promptly found an empty table...and proceeded to play all 3 places, at 10K a hand. I lost all 3. I played three hands again, undeterred, at 5k a hand...winning 2 and losing one. Within 15 minutes, I had lost every single hand....and every dollar I had! If not for Rich...who had 120.00 left, I would never have got my corvette home.....which,BTW...I sold for 5K to Mr.Corvette in Pleasant Hill,CA...and went back to Vegas...and lost that too.
There was a four-year stretch where I didn't play anything....until I went up to Canada one weekend, and won 15K there, after starting with $600....I was hooked again.
Now I stay away from the larger casinos, and stick to the smaller ones....super-stition? I dunno...probably/maybe. Here's the thing..... I learned how to count cards in 1998...although I wasn't aware that I was doing it...lemme explain: I read a book that told me how to keep track of the cards by assigning values to them.... This is called the simple-count today....Jim Thorn wrote it I believe. It is relatively simple to remember, but as hard as anything "new" you are trying to teach yourself. Anyway...at the time, I wasn't aware that what I was doing was counting cards....so...basically, I was counting w/o knowing it...see, I haven't lied to you.
I tried this system in the casinos, and like most of you who have "jumped" into things too quick...I found it hard to keep track....eventually ignoring the count altogether, and just playing...I ended-up winning.
Now here's the thing..... I still goto casinos (a LOT) I play mostly BJ, and to take a break will waste a few bucks at 3-card or possibly Carribean-stud, if the JP is rich....but 99% of my time is at the BJ tables...the other stuff is just a distraction. I don't do the count...ANY count...yet I win...very regularly. So I wondered to myself: am I counting subconsiously.....I mean... I do look at the way the cards are going, and when I'm hot...I press...(Up to 20X my starting bet...sometimes even more); when the dealer is hot..or a lot of high cards have been played, I drop to the minimum...or at-least to my minimum. So maybe I count without knowing it.
Last year I bought a new Explorer with my winnings (part of them).....and took a long trip......even won 5K in Northern Calif. (I dont live in Cali anymore...but I have family there).
Anyway...you have read ALL of this, to hear one thing..maybe two
When I am looking for a table, I am looking for VERY specific things: #1 (this is a must) - Make sure the people at the table are having a good time, laughing, talking....not down-in-the-dumps. In my experience...you do better at good tables, and if people are happy, having a good time, then chances are they are winning, or at least not losing too much. The next thing I look for is a 2-deck shoe. I do my best when playing a 2-deck shoe, but I have won a ton of money playing the 6-8 decks shoes also..... but 2 deck is best. I don't play single deck, because you can never get the table by yourself, and with others sitting there, you can get no rythm. Finally, one last piece of advice: IF you are going to learn to count....or try ANY system...then make sure you know it PERFECT!!!! Otherwise, you are not only cheating yourself, but you are fooling yourself too. It may take you six months, but the nice thing....the money will wait for you!
Good-luck, and hopefully you will win the next time you play! BTW, nice site.
I am not a new BlackJack player...hardly....I have been playing the game of black jack since a weekend in Vegas in 1991; when I won approximately $54,000.00 (Went with $6,000 exact). That was my first time ever in a casino, and I was only 20 years old.....the neat thing back then, was that if you didn't have an I.D. (I did...just couldnt show it)....you couldn't buy chips...but you could lay "cash" on the felt. So anyway....Between Bally's; the Flamingo; and the Mirage....I raked-in approx $54K....(I lived in the Bay-area at the time)....I immediately heard of an all-night "tent" car-sale going on...so I proceeded to go buy my first corvette...a 1986 model for about 16K (The guy was a little surprised I paid in cash). Anyway...I was obviously living high on the hog....I couldn't be beat.
So off I drove...back to Ballys this time, as they were shooting a movie-scene at that time (Leaving Las Vegas)...and the 'Vette looked really good under those lights as I handed the keys to the valet.
The first problem I had with the game of black-jack (in Vegas) was that none of the Casinos (that I knew of at the time) would allow me to bet more than $10,000 a hand...unless I bought my own table....for $1,000,000 minimum (no kidding).
So, I ended-up going back to the Mirage a few hours later (still day one....or, at least at least it was for me, since I hadn't slept yet), and still about 30K in my fanny-pack (remember...I just bought a 'Vette, and I spent other money on something as well....so I was in the low 30's), and as I walked into the doors, I told my friend Rich: "I'm not leaving until I have at least 40,000!".....................I ended-up winning about $22,000 in 3 hours. I was back in the 50K -range...and the Mirage had issued me a gold VIP card, and had offered me the nicest hotel-room I'd ever seen....it had it's own bar, and a kitchen, and a living room! This place was nicer than my apartment.
I Slept.
After I woke-up, had something to eat, and generously gave Rich a couple grand to "play" with, I went back to the tables. But I quickly got frustrated...because after a couple hours of play, I couldn't make any head-room. I wasn't losing; but I wasn't winning either....and obviously, I was "meant" to play this game....surely I'd have a million dollars within a couple days......
That is when I learned the most devestating thing in my life: Black Jack will catch-up to you if you aren't careful.
Someone told me of a place called "Binions"...where they allowed max-bets of $25,000. This was obviously the place for me...so I was off: Looking for some HUGE casino called "Binions". What I found was a 'small' place, called Jack Binions. They had a million dollars on the wall, as you walked in, and sold really nice, expensive....very expensive, gifts. I was home......for 15 minutes.
I promptly found an empty table...and proceeded to play all 3 places, at 10K a hand. I lost all 3. I played three hands again, undeterred, at 5k a hand...winning 2 and losing one. Within 15 minutes, I had lost every single hand....and every dollar I had! If not for Rich...who had 120.00 left, I would never have got my corvette home.....which,BTW...I sold for 5K to Mr.Corvette in Pleasant Hill,CA...and went back to Vegas...and lost that too.
There was a four-year stretch where I didn't play anything....until I went up to Canada one weekend, and won 15K there, after starting with $600....I was hooked again.
Now I stay away from the larger casinos, and stick to the smaller ones....super-stition? I dunno...probably/maybe. Here's the thing..... I learned how to count cards in 1998...although I wasn't aware that I was doing it...lemme explain: I read a book that told me how to keep track of the cards by assigning values to them.... This is called the simple-count today....Jim Thorn wrote it I believe. It is relatively simple to remember, but as hard as anything "new" you are trying to teach yourself. Anyway...at the time, I wasn't aware that what I was doing was counting cards....so...basically, I was counting w/o knowing it...see, I haven't lied to you.
I tried this system in the casinos, and like most of you who have "jumped" into things too quick...I found it hard to keep track....eventually ignoring the count altogether, and just playing...I ended-up winning.
Now here's the thing..... I still goto casinos (a LOT) I play mostly BJ, and to take a break will waste a few bucks at 3-card or possibly Carribean-stud, if the JP is rich....but 99% of my time is at the BJ tables...the other stuff is just a distraction. I don't do the count...ANY count...yet I win...very regularly. So I wondered to myself: am I counting subconsiously.....I mean... I do look at the way the cards are going, and when I'm hot...I press...(Up to 20X my starting bet...sometimes even more); when the dealer is hot..or a lot of high cards have been played, I drop to the minimum...or at-least to my minimum. So maybe I count without knowing it.
Last year I bought a new Explorer with my winnings (part of them).....and took a long trip......even won 5K in Northern Calif. (I dont live in Cali anymore...but I have family there).
Anyway...you have read ALL of this, to hear one thing..maybe two
When I am looking for a table, I am looking for VERY specific things: #1 (this is a must) - Make sure the people at the table are having a good time, laughing, talking....not down-in-the-dumps. In my experience...you do better at good tables, and if people are happy, having a good time, then chances are they are winning, or at least not losing too much. The next thing I look for is a 2-deck shoe. I do my best when playing a 2-deck shoe, but I have won a ton of money playing the 6-8 decks shoes also..... but 2 deck is best. I don't play single deck, because you can never get the table by yourself, and with others sitting there, you can get no rythm. Finally, one last piece of advice: IF you are going to learn to count....or try ANY system...then make sure you know it PERFECT!!!! Otherwise, you are not only cheating yourself, but you are fooling yourself too. It may take you six months, but the nice thing....the money will wait for you!
Good-luck, and hopefully you will win the next time you play! BTW, nice site.
