Friday the 13th Disaster

[KillSwitch]

I am pretty new to the board, and I just started counting cards three weeks ago. I just had my first horrible night counting cards. I live in Las Vegas, and so far I have only tapped the local casinos because they offer more nickel tables than the higher end casinos. I had an amazing three weeks winning fifteen hundred, which may not sound like much to you pros out there, but it was a huge boost for me.

When Friday the 13th came, I questioned my decision to go hit the tables. I'm not a supersticious man by any means, but I thought that of all nights to run out of luck, this would probably be the one.

I sat down at a $5 DD game at Boulder Station and let the fun begin. After three weeks of counting, I had grown proficient at it, as I have always been very good with numbers. I use the reKO method with indexes all starting at a +2 count. I don't know how many multiple card 21s the deal pulled that night, but it was downright gutwrenching. My counting was flawless and dead on, but it always seemed like the dealer could pull that magical 5 or 6 out of his/her ass to bail themselves out. It also seemed like I was beat almost EVERY time I maxed my bet (40 using a 1-8 unit spread). I lost 600 last night, which again, may not sound like much to you pros, but its more than I've ever lost gambling in my entire life.

I've never been the type to bitch and whine or to give up easily. I'm gonna man up and get right back in the ring. The positive thing that happened last night is that I learned that the index deviations WORK. I purchased insurance 4 times at +2 and higher counts and it paid off 3 out of four times. I also stood on 16v 10 twice and 15v 10 once and won all three times.

My question to you all is, how do you motivate yourselves after taking such a beating?

 

[geneticfreak]

The positive thing that happened last night is that I learned that the index deviations WORK. I purchased insurance 4 times at +2 and higher counts and it paid off 3 out of four times. I also stood on 16v 10 twice and 15v 10 once and won all three times.

That right there is what keeps me going. Those times when you listen to the numbers and it works out exactly right. Today sitting at third base, I was playing 2 hands ($200 each), both were 15's and I stood because the count was rediculously high. The others at the table were screaming at me to hit, but sure enough the card the dealer pulled was a 10 and it busted his 15.

 

[RikaKazak]

as more and more time goes on, you slowly just don't care...you know you're playing in a +EV way and it'll even out.

 

[KillSwitch]

as more and more time goes on, you slowly just don't care...you know you're playing in a +EV way and it'll even out.

Right on. I'm sure casinos don't really give a damn if THEY have a losing night here and there from BJ, knowing that they are for sure winners in the long run.

 

[EasyRhino]

First time I lost about $500 over the course of a day (max bet was about $50), it was really convenient that I was bouncing around to the casinos with a friend who was also a newbie counter at the time. I had someone to commisserate with about the loss. It helped.

With max bets, you gradually get used to losing vs. dealer 21's and 20s. You gradually get used to getting stiffs. For me, the worst is when the count gets high, and it just never drops (the high cards all remain undealt). If I could shuffle-track, this would be great, but since I can't, it's just a missed opportunity.

The second worst thing is when you're at the table with other people, and they're getting the high cards, and you're not. But since your low cards are keeping the count fairly stable, you're still putting out big bets and getting creamed.

I enjoy the option of having insurance bets available at a high count. However, it's a bet that I take no inherent please in winning.

... speaking of boulder hwy, you go to Nevada Palace much? They might be even a little bit sweaty with $40 bets, but they seemed to have good penetration when I went there.

 

[zengrifter]

I sat down at a $5 DD game at Boulder Station and let the fun begin. After three weeks of counting, I had grown proficient at it, as I have always been very good with numbers. I use the reKO method with indexes all starting at a +2 count.

At Boulder you should also know what count to bet $25 on the LuckyLadies sidebet. zg

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Unfortunately, it's part of the game. Losing 120 units in a session is easy to do. I've lost 140 units on one hand. You just have to keep playing and not even think about it. Once you master that, you're all set. Dealing with losses is probably the toughest part of the game for novice and intermediate players. The masters are used to it.

 

[weavin42]

Thanks AM, that exactly what I needed to hear. I've had some huge negative variance so far this year and it really sucks. This board makes it seem like everyone wins all the time and that no one ever has loosing sessions. I've learned a lot from this site and I hope things will even out for the rest of this year. I've done a lot to improve my game because of the people here, thanks for the 'sad' words of encouragement.

Josh

 

[Preston]

Thanks AM, that exactly what I needed to hear. I've had some huge negative variance so far this year and it really sucks. This board makes it seem like everyone wins all the time and that no one ever has loosing sessions. I've learned a lot from this site and I hope things will even out for the rest of this year. I've done a lot to improve my game because of the people here, thanks for the 'sad' words of encouragement.

Josh

We have all taken huge dumps at the table.

My recent trip was going ok. Was up about 50 units and then just had two shoes that killed me. I killed my trip BR off on a 10 unit bet -- 7 7 vs a 5. Split, drew a 3 - Double, drew an 8 and then got 17 for the other hand. Dealer flips over an A to go with the 5. Then draws a King. Then draws a 4. 30 units in one hand.

 

[KillSwitch]

At Boulder you should also know what count to bet $25 on the LuckyLadies sidebet. zg

Is there a count at which it's advantageous to take that bet? I wouldn't have thought so.

I just got backed off of my first table last night. Funny that you mention that, because while I was there, though, I ended up getting dealt QQ hearts which would have won me $1000 had I taken the side bet.

I went on a tear last night, hitting three different casinos raking in about a 700 dollars. That means I'm actually up $100 on the weekend but I feel beaten down like a used Kleenex. I think I'm gonna take a week off of card counting while I regroup and recuperate. I love my life, blackjack rules.

 

[KillSwitch]

... speaking of boulder hwy, you go to Nevada Palace much? They might be even a little bit sweaty with $40 bets, but they seemed to have good penetration when I went there.

I used to live by Nevada Palace, one of the few casinos left that still has dollar blackjack. I'll have to keep them in mind in case I'm short on funds in the future. I'm sure that using a 1-10 spread on a unit = $1 won't even raise a single eyebrow from the pit, but who knows.

 

[EasyRhino]

2x12.5 with a $10 unit is infinitely more fun there, at least as long as you're getting away with it.

 

[sagefr0g]

.......but I feel beaten down like a used Kleenex. I think I'm gonna take a week off of card counting while I regroup and recuperate. I love my life, blackjack rules.

thats how it was with me after the worst bad beat i ever took.
so i'm on what i call a blackjack sabbatical.
if your not a pro that is dependent upon playing for an income it wont hurt to take some time off, lick your wounds and regroup.

 

[shadroch]

Is Nevada Palace better than The Longhorn? Horn has double on any three cards and late surrender. I've spread 2-25 there with zero heat.Longhorn is only Vegas casino I've found that gives cashback on BJ.

 

[EasyRhino]

I've only been to either place once, but while Longhorn had cooler rules, between their iffy penetration, and goofy burn card process at the beginning of a shoe, they probably left twice as many cards unseen as NP. Had a lot of trouble finding a positive count.

Of course, the two joints are basically across the street, so might as well go to both.

 

[Mimosine]

2x12.5 with a $10 unit is infinitely more fun there, at least as long as you're getting away with it.

Do you mean 2 X $12.50 or 2X $125.00 ?

 

[EasyRhino]

Do you mean 2 X $12.50 or 2X $125.00 ?

The latter, that's why it was so much fun!

 

[Mimosine]

The latter, that's why it was so much fun!

maybe with your bankroll!, not mine

 

[Tom007]

Looking at CBN for April it says Long Horn is a 6d with pen down to 2d.

 

[CarlB]

I am pretty new to the board, and I just started counting cards three weeks ago. I just had my first horrible night counting cards. I live in Las Vegas, and so far I have only tapped the local casinos because they offer more nickel tables than the higher end casinos. I had an amazing three weeks winning fifteen hundred, which may not sound like much to you pros out there, but it was a huge boost for me.

When Friday the 13th came, I questioned my decision to go hit the tables. I'm not a supersticious man by any means, but I thought that of all nights to run out of luck, this would probably be the one.

I sat down at a $5 DD game at Boulder Station and let the fun begin. After three weeks of counting, I had grown proficient at it, as I have always been very good with numbers. I use the reKO method with indexes all starting at a +2 count. I don't know how many multiple card 21s the deal pulled that night, but it was downright gutwrenching. My counting was flawless and dead on, but it always seemed like the dealer could pull that magical 5 or 6 out of his/her ass to bail themselves out. It also seemed like I was beat almost EVERY time I maxed my bet (40 using a 1-8 unit spread). I lost 600 last night, which again, may not sound like much to you pros, but its more than I've ever lost gambling in my entire life.

I've never been the type to bitch and whine or to give up easily. I'm gonna man up and get right back in the ring. The positive thing that happened last night is that I learned that the index deviations WORK. I purchased insurance 4 times at +2 and higher counts and it paid off 3 out of four times. I also stood on 16v 10 twice and 15v 10 once and won all three times.

My question to you all is, how do you motivate yourselves after taking such a beating?

If you played the dealer one on one and played 400 hands and average bet of$15.00 ,near max loss, about one chance in 50, would be about $345.00 (if you were very unlucky). That math is based on no edge on the house, but you are a card counter and have an edge. Max loss should be somewhat less. I am assuming you made no counting mistakes. Did you lose to just one dealer? How many different dealers did you play against?

You said the dealer hit 20 and 21 frequently. I do not have enough details to come to a conclusion, but the overall story sounds like you were playing against a card mechanic. One who peeks and if the top card will bust him will deal himself the second card. Not that the second card will not bust him but he has a better chance. A counter cannot win against that kind of card mechanic.