Hi Aslan,
Your dedication is commendable, and I wish I could offer advice for your situation, unfortunately this is a field where opportunities are unique to each environment. For instance, I talked about a little system I used for 1-2 poker. However, it wasn't really the system per se, but rather the conditions that summer. The economy was strong, and I picked the battlefield. Now, anyone in my same situation could have done the same. It wasn't a matter of having specialized knowledge, but rather positioning yourself at the right time and place.
For instance, I'll still play 1-2 ... when Wilbert is there. That's his game. He'll drop upwards of $10K a night. When I can routinely get him drawing dead, my only concern is getting enough money on the table (buy-ins are capped at $500). Now, last night was fortunate, the table stakes changed to 2-5, then 5-10.
Were an advantage player to step into a casino on a Friday night and walk past the poker room where Wilbert is raising and playing every hand to the river and then proceed to play at a crowded BJ game strikes me as borderline lunacy. In the same way, I observe the poker regs grinding away mid-week, during the day, swapping blinds with each other. Asinine. Go play that heat-free, single pass, heads-up for 200+ hands per hour.
It's not so much about slotting advantage play into one skill set. But rather having the flexibility to see the conditions as they are, and allowing them to decide for you the best opportunity. I remember there was a debate about the
Cookbook approach to tracking vs the
NRS method. Both are excellent at the right time and place. The shuffle, the composition of the slugs, and your ability will often determine what approach you use. And this may change from shoe to shoe. But if the poker game is good, I have no use for even a 10% edge at BJ.
In poker, that's generally referred to as a race.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned from James was nearly a decade ago. He told me his goal was to be able to beat every game in the house. When you can do that, you don't have to pick the game ... it picks you.
Of course, your question is how one gets there, and I can't really answer that. I can tell you that I aligned myself with real players, and sought out their advice. Arnold Snyder, Radar O'Reilly, James Grosjean, Stalker, and 98% were my influences. The internet is littered with keyboard jockeys. And they are not all ill-intentioned; many times they do mean well, its simply they have no experience to draw on. And without that, it's like trying to learn to swim from someone who is afraid of the water.
So as default advice, I would encourage everyone to seek out those who actually play for a living. Begin there. For instance, James Grosjean is often in the chat rooms. Talk with him, ask him a few questions. Don't be shy. He's remarkably accessible. You can trust his information, it is not the product of fantasy. It is born and written of blood, as the
Hagakure would say.
So go to the source. Go straight to the flame.
And see what lights up.
All the best,
Syph