Good Run

[Mikeaber]

It's rather good to be able to report a series of three trips to the casinos and also be able to claim a profit! That's not always been the case. However, on the last three trips, I've been ahead by 65 units, by 100 units and finally by 31.5 units. I'm playing a 6-deck game all hands (I know, but it can't be helped because of the flock of people trying to get seats) with a 1:10 spread using KO Preferred.

6-Deck is a grind when you play all hands. Last night's ride was horribly up and down until the last shoe. I caught a good count about 2/3 of the way through the shoe that lasted for 7 or 8 hands and was able to reach my target of 30 units. Most of that came with max bets on two hands...one BJ with a +7 count and then Split Aces with a +9 count. There were a couple of lower bet double downs but the rest of the night was just a grind.

 

[shadroch]

Whats the difference between setting targets and having win/stop loss points. I thought you were against them?
BTW-Congrats on the results.

 

[JAXBOY]

That's awesome to hear. Congrats.

I think someone posted that you should stop your table session at won/loss of 40 units.

I'm curious how long were your sessions and how much units you brought for each trip session.

Going on a few casino cruises this weekend (only game in Florida) and perhaps I can follow your results. I also playing shoes 1:10 spread 8 deck and each playing session is 3 hours (length of gambling time on cruise). Have to play all hands since seats will be a premium this weekend.

Thanks for sharin.

 

[zengrifter]

It's rather good to be able to report a series of three trips to the casinos and also be able to claim a profit! That's not always been the case. However, on the last three trips, I've been ahead by 65 units, by 100 units and finally by 31.5 units. I'm playing a 6-deck game all hands (I know, but it can't be helped because of the flock of people trying to get seats) with a 1:10 spread using KO Preferred.

This is BULLSH*T Mike!

You can step away from the table anytime you like without losing your spot. A 1-10 spread play-all is NOT sufficent! AND you already know this! zg

 

[JAXBOY]

You can step away from the table anytime you like without losing your spot. A 1-10 spread play-all is NOT sufficent! AND you already know this! zg

Forgive my naivete, but what is the proper spread to play all? I have the KO book but it doesn't really say. Thanks.

J

 

[Mikeaber]

This is BULLSH*T Mike!

You can step away from the table anytime you like without losing your spot. A 1-10 spread play-all is NOT sufficent! AND you already know this! zg

Yes, I know ZG. And, I did in the session I was up 100 units at. I smoke and intentionally played at a non-smoking table. I'd end a shoe or come to a bad count and step away far enough not to get yelled at by the non-smokers yet close enough to keep an eye on the cards. There were 3 and 4 people waiting for spots at these tables.

And yes, I should be playing 1:20 for max gain....but 1:10 suits my BR better with the all-hands play. Forgive the pun, but If I could count on only playing high counts, I'd drop my spread to 1:5 and just come in at -4. The 1:10 or 1:20, the way I see it, is to let you lose less with undependable counts when you are playing all hands. I'm learning. Learning a lot by taking advice obtained here and also from flying by the seat of my pants at the tables.

Someone else asked about my trip BR I think. I try to take 200 units minimum for a trip-roll. I working on getting it higher.

Someone else asked about "stop-limits". My "limits" are more for not drawing too much attention than for limiting loss. I don't let that stop me though in the local casinos where I play...just in Vegas. I mentioned the 30 unit exit only because I exceeded it in each of the three sessions. Once, almost embarrassingly so! I kept stuffing greenies in my pockets and still my stack on the table was getting noticable. Oh, and Jaxboy, I don't worry too much about the length of time at the local casinos. In Vegas, Downtown, I usually limit it to around an hour.

 

[zengrifter]

Yes, I know ZG. And, I did in the session I was up 100 units at. I smoke and intentionally played at a non-smoking table. I'd end a shoe or come to a bad count and step away far enough not to get yelled at by the non-smokers yet close enough to keep an eye on the cards. There were 3 and 4 people waiting for spots at these tables.

And yes, I should be playing 1:20 for max gain....

NO. If you are sufficiently exiting a 1-10 is more than ample. zg

 

[Jeff25]

Its good to hear that you have made some profits Mike, I cant wait till im in that position.
Yesterday I backcounted for like 3-4 hours and only jumped in when the RC went above 25 (or -3) and still lost $$. Stiff hands all day. I was very close to loosing the 27 units I started with, thank god for that last shoe. I ended the day 6 units down.

Dont you just hate it when your backcounting a 8-decker, it finally goes positive, you sit down, bet, loose then the good old cut card comes out...
that was my day yesterday.

Jeff.

 

[ihate17]

Grinding away

I play a lot of shoes and grinding is exactly what it is quite often.
Take a quick study of the habits of some of the players in your local (if it is your local place) place.
Lose a few in a row and they sit a few out or they sit the rest of the shoe out?
Take a bad beat, their 20 beat by the dealer 6 card 21, and they either steam (time to raise your bet because the count is up) or sit out (time to walk off your bad beat because the count went down.)
Dealer gets a blackjack, you wait for the shuffle.
Though you know other players do not effect you, you can always pick a play of another player as an obvious excuse to excuse yourself from the table for a while.
Do they just stop playing sometimes and just say they are waiting for the next shoe? If so, you can too.
Count is bad, lost a few with minimum bet, know how to look frustrated, light a smoke and take a walk to cool off.

Same reason can be for spreading or sitting out.
Lost 3 in a row, count negative----I am sitting out
Lost 3 in a row, count going up----I am steaming.

Besides the usual cell phone and bathroom breaks, just follow the lead of susperstitious players and when the count and the situation match, take advantage of it. You will find yourself able to wong out of just about any negative shoe that you want too.

The real real grind is playing 6 deck shoe after shoe on full tables.

ihate17

 

[sagefr0g]

It's rather good to be able to report a series of three trips to the casinos and also be able to claim a profit! That's not always been the case. However, on the last three trips, I've been ahead by 65 units, by 100 units and finally by 31.5 units. I'm playing a 6-deck game all hands (I know, but it can't be helped because of the flock of people trying to get seats) with a 1:10 spread using KO Preferred.

Mike you might consider still wonging out even if the tables are crowded. then if you can't get a seat you got a good excuse for back counting the table and you can then bet behind a seated player (who you see is a good basic strategist).
best regards,
mr fr0g

 

[zengrifter]

Mike you might consider still wonging out even if the tables are crowded. then if you can't get a seat you got a good excuse for back counting the table and you can then bet behind a seated player (who you see is a good basic strategist).

Do they allow back-line betting, Mike? zg

 

[Canceler]

And now, time for a little heresy!

I've been thinking (look out!) about Mike's posts and the replies to them.

I think if we asked the members here why they play blackjack, most would agree with the following: I WANNA MAKE A LOTTA MONEY!

Some of us have other reasons for playing, though. This is a complex, fascinating, intellectually stimulating, fun game. I play this game mostly because it's fun, and I don't mind gambling. The idea of being a long-term loser doesn't appeal to me, though. That's why I learned to count. But making a lot of money at this is not my primary goal.

Someone in it only for the money won't mind spending hours backcounting tables; I would. I'd rather be playing. Yup, I play all.

It's wonderful that we have people like zg here to give us advice. He's been very helpful to all of us, and to me personally. But never forget that his viewpoint is that of a professional.

Some of us are just recreational players, and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Backlining in crowds

That's a great technique because in many places the back better doesn't have to split. That's the way it is at the 'Woods, and there are a couple of counters who recognize me and backline me.

Overall the biggest problem with not Wonging out of bad counts isn't that you are playing bad counts, but that you're not playing good counts. Easy for me to say I know, when I have 100 tables to choose from. The 'Woods-Wongaround (tm)has been very lucrative for me, and a 1-8 spread is more than enough.

 

[zengrifter]

I've been thinking (look out!) about Mike's posts and the replies to them.

I think if we asked the members here why they play blackjack, most would agree with the following: I WANNA MAKE A LOTTA MONEY!

Some of us have other reasons for playing, though. This is a complex, fascinating, intellectually stimulating, fun game. I play this game mostly because it's fun, and I don't mind gambling. The idea of being a long-term loser doesn't appeal to me, though. That's why I learned to count. But making a lot of money at this is not my primary goal.

Someone in it only for the money won't mind spending hours backcounting tables; I would. I'd rather be playing. Yup, I play all.

It's wonderful that we have people like zg here to give us advice. He's been very helpful to all of us, and to me personally. But never forget that his viewpoint is that of a professional.

Some of us are just recreational players, and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of.

In a 6D game the difference between a play-all 1-10 and a backcount 1-10 is ZERO vs. 2+units per 100 hands. So the next time you find yourself mindlessly playing through a negative shoe, enjoying the table chit-chat, remember you can exit the game WITHOUT losing your spots. zg

 

[JAXBOY]

Excuse my ignorance... but what is backlining?

Thanks.

J

 

[Mikeaber]

No ZG, Backlining is not allowed in KC at any of the casinos. It would be a wonderful option though! In KC, the dealers and pit bosses keep an eye on me; not because they fear me as a counter, but rather because they want to make sure I don't do anything stupid. They know I have to drive to KC to play there and that I have to take hydrocodone to make the trip (true but it's only 5 or 10mg and I'm straight when I play!) They are like mother-hens with me. This started a couple of months ago. I told them I was flying higher than a kite and might make stupid mistakes. To emphasize this, I did my best to appear to be in a daze while playing. That removed suspicion that I was counting back when my speed wasn't up to par. Then I did as I always do....I scooted the high-chair back away from the table and set an ashtray on it so my smoke wouldn't bother the other players. When the shoe ended, I went to a coffee machine and grabbed a cup and made it back to the table for the start of the shoe. When that shoe was over, I stood up and "discovered" that I'd played the entire shoe while sitting on that ashtray! Cracked them up and they still tell that story when I join a table there. They've never made comments about me going off into Never-Never land while contemplating plays or getting the count up to date. They never question any of the Preffered Indices plays. Nor do the question me leaving the table for long smoke breaks while standing back from the table "backcounting."

I don't worry much about the camo in Vegas but I have not wished to screw up my welcome in the local casinos.

Most of the "old-timers" on the forum here know that I've played for years and years as a recreational player....Basic Strategy and flat betting, getting poluted and having a blast...but, I got tired of losing more often than I won. That's why I took up Advantage Play...well, that plus the peer pressure I was getting here on the BJI forums! Kind of flattering to call it "peer pressure" since in no way do I consider myself a peer of the likes of ZG, Sonny, Ken and several others who post regularly here.

I still play "recreationally" but now, I can almost afford to play and make a little bit instead of constantly having to supplement my BR with out of pocket funds.

 

[sagefr0g]

Excuse my ignorance... but what is backlining?

Thanks.

J

backlining is where you can place a bet behind a seated players bet. if he wins you get payed. so you want to do it behind a proficient basic strategy player.
this allows for 'laser' precision bets. great for back counting. i wouldn't over do it though, crowded conditions are perfect for it.
many joints allow backlining.

best regards,
mr fr0g

 

[nc-tom]

I've been thinking (look out!) about Mike's posts and the replies to them.

I think if we asked the members here why they play blackjack, most would agree with the following: I WANNA MAKE A LOTTA MONEY!

Some of us have other reasons for playing, though. This is a complex, fascinating, intellectually stimulating, fun game. I play this game mostly because it's fun, and I don't mind gambling. The idea of being a long-term loser doesn't appeal to me, though. That's why I learned to count. But making a lot of money at this is not my primary goal.

Someone in it only for the money won't mind spending hours backcounting tables; I would. I'd rather be playing. Yup, I play all.

It's wonderful that we have people like zg here to give us advice. He's been very helpful to all of us, and to me personally. But never forget that his viewpoint is that of a professional.

Some of us are just recreational players, and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of.

Canceler this is a great point and hits on what i have thought about concerning this forum.People play this game for many different reasons. While I too am very grateful for the advice I have recieved from ZG sonny and other posters I am not planning on becoming a pro BJ player. I play when I can with whatever money I can and just want to play with an advantage against the casino rather than them having one against me,at least as much as possible.One should keep in mind where a poster stands on the BJ spectrum when reading a post.

 

[Mikeaber]

I plan on retiring from my profession of near 40 years here in two or three years. When I do, if I have a large enough BR, I'll play much more seriously. If I don't, well, I'd rather "deal" than work as a Greeter at Wal-Mart!

 

[Sonny]

I plan on retiring from my profession of near 40 years here in two or three years. When I do, if I have a large enough BR, I'll play much more seriously.

Ah yes, there’s nothing like a little tax-free supplemental income to keep you comfortable in those golden years! With a little positive variance you might even be able to retire a little early.

-Sonny-