Just starting out

[MetaEdge]

I just started learning Basic strategy and card counting a week ago. I still need a lot of practice before I'm ready for a casino, and I need to save up to have a bankroll big enough anyways.

I'm getting pretty good with basic strategy, my splitting still needs work though. I know my card counting needs lots of work too, but I can at least hold the card playing just my hand and the dealers in a one deck game. I get the count right more often then not, and when I mess up it's only ever 1, maybe 2 off.

Do you have any tips on improving my card counting, I'm starting with the Hi-Lo system?

Should I change basic strategy up a little depending on the count or is that too risky? I only have one casino near me that have actually blackjack, the rest of the electronic version. I would hate to be banned from it, is there anything I can do to help prevent this?

Thanks for putting up with me, I know newbies can be rather annoying at times

 

[Severity8]

lol

Start reading! and keep reading and then read some more.

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=14297
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=9666
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-school/
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bb/showthread.php?t=20984

buy some books and read them and use them as reference material. If in this process you find that a topic or question isn't answered then there are several very impressive minds on this forum that will do their best to help get you the correct answers or at least the honest ones that you need!

Sev~

 

[MetaEdge]

Thanks for all the links.

I've already read about half way through the school link. I think I had to leave for work at that point so I left it. I should probably finish it off when I have time tonight.

 

[Koz1984]

Ensure you have BS mastered first, before any attempts at counting begin. You need to have that flawless. Ensure you're also learning the correct BS for the particular rule(s) you'll be playing most.

 

[MetaEdge]

I've been trying to get at least an hour of practice in a day. I have a lot of free time on my hands so either I get more then that or I spend the rest of my time reading posts on this forum.

If I'm interested in something I tend to learn very fast. I started with basic strategy, once I was able to play correctly by memory alone (a few rare glances at the chart just to make sure I was doing it right) I started with the counting.

I practice in three ways, counting down a deck. Playing through a deck as fast as I can with basic strategy (some times counting well doing this, sometimes not). As well as playing several hands at once all with correct basic strategy on my dinner table using 6 decks well trying to maintain an accurate count.

I'm still having trouble with the third thing, I find my count has been going way off on it. I'm going to try and work more on accuracy then speed from now on to try and correct this.

I understand that it's important to be able to play and count with very little effort so I can hold up a conversation at the same time and not look like I'm putting all my focus on counting, however I think this is something that comes on it's own after putting enough practice in. I'm more then willing to wait until this comes naturally before actually trying a casino out. (maybe one trip to see what the rules are in my area).

I've come to realize through reading posts on here that this isn't something I can expect to make a lot of money at. If that were my only reason for learning this skill then I'd probably have given up by now in favor of something with a better payoff. However this is not the only or the most important reason why I want to learn this skill. To be honest, I like the work out I'm getting for my brain well learning this. Lots of memorizing, and lots of fast simple math calculations. Those are two basic skills I lack, though I'm great at math in general. Calculators have just eliminated the need for quick and precise basic math.

The possibility of winning is just something extra on top of all this.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to see what your guys perspective on my perspective is.

 

[socal_bj]

Here's a trick I use to catch up with the count while I'm playing. It also helps as a cover to pretend that I don't know what to do.

Keeping counting in live play with 6 other players at the table and 2 of them talking to you while you're trying to count is hard especially if you are using a level 2 or 3 count.

I have the most difficult time when it's my turn and I want to split a pair and a bunch of small cards keep popping up. I'm torn between adding up my hands and keeping the count. So I let the dealer add up my hand while I keep the running count by looking at him for "help" to add up my hands for me.

They think I'm an idiot but it works because I'm keeping accurate count (which is really important when those small cards pop up) and I give myself plenty of time to make the right play decision based on the most current index which may change with each card that is dealt in front of me.

That's just what I like to do. Play dumb, control the pace of play. It's rare that a beginner card counter gets to play head to head with the dealer anyway since you'll be at the crowded $10 tables and you should not play fast if you are a new at counting. Slow down and play accurately.

 

[MetaEdge]

Very good advice. I'll keep that in mind. I only have one casino near by that has blackjack tables (BC isn't very good for card counters or so I hear) so cover will probably become important, maybe not when I first start out, but eventually.