Newbie update

[JulieCA]

I had fun watching the tournament at Pechanga yesterday.

I did not play blackjack there. All the low-limit tables are CSM and I hate those things. SD and DD were also higher limit Being as I was looking for a low-limit game to practice on, I trotted on over to Pala after the tournament - no point in driving through Riverside and Los Angeles counties at 4 p.m. in a 30-year-old car that has a tendency to run hot.

I am proud to say I was able to maintain the count (most the time) in the single deck game. Well, I'm pretty sure - rather hard to verify accuracy under the circumstances. All the tables were full so I was only able to practice - there were 2 hands (at most) out of a deck. After busting my brain and breaking even for half an hour, I took a break and went back to the 6D - where I couldn't maintain the count past 3 hands. <sigh> However, I was able to make enough to pay expenses for the trip.

 

[StandardDeviant]

I took a break and went back to the 6D - where I couldn't maintain the count past 3 hands.

Keep the faith Julie, you will get there! Some suggestions: Get Casino Verite - if you haven't already - and practice, practice, practice on the counting drills. (There are other software practice games out there, but IMO Norm's is the one you want.) At the casino, try to sit at either 3rd base (or alternately) at first base where it is easier to see all the cards. Crowded tables can be better for practice, because the deal can be slower. Seek out slower dealers, so it will be easier at first. If you lose your count in the middle of the shoe, just keep going on the next hand by estimating the count based on where you were. Your may be off on your count, but this is about practice, so you should be flat betting anyway.

 

[ihate17]

Practice, practice and then more practice

I had fun watching the tournament at Pechanga yesterday.

I did not play blackjack there. All the low-limit tables are CSM and I hate those things. SD and DD were also higher limit Being as I was looking for a low-limit game to practice on, I trotted on over to Pala after the tournament - no point in driving through Riverside and Los Angeles counties at 4 p.m. in a 30-year-old car that has a tendency to run hot.

I am proud to say I was able to maintain the count (most the time) in the single deck game. Well, I'm pretty sure - rather hard to verify accuracy under the circumstances. All the tables were full so I was only able to practice - there were 2 hands (at most) out of a deck. After busting my brain and breaking even for half an hour, I took a break and went back to the 6D - where I couldn't maintain the count past 3 hands. <sigh> However, I was able to make enough to pay expenses for the trip.

Julie
I believe that the single deck game at Pala is a 6/5 game, which makes it a very bad game to play or practice on.
Since their 6 deck game has a house edge of about 2.5 times lower than a 6/5 game, even losing the count it is a better game for you to practice on. Best though is to just practice at home with a computer program.

Counting one deck or six is really the same thing except you do one of them for a much longer time. Things like table talk and interruptions tend to make new players lose track of the count or dangerously reverse the count. Someday, you will be unable to even look at cards without doing a count, you will be able to take a flash view of all the cards on a table and update your count and while you are doing this you should be able to hold a conversation with the pit, server, dealer or another player, but it takes time and practice.

ihate17

 

[JulieCA]

Julie
I believe that the single deck game at Pala is a 6/5 game, which makes it a very bad game to play or practice on.
Since their 6 deck game has a house edge of about 2.5 times lower than a 6/5 game, even losing the count it is a better game for you to practice on. Best though is to just practice at home with a computer program.

ihate17

Yes, the SD is 6/5 game. I don't normally play those tables but that's all they had - I would've preferred DD but if they had one, I didn't see it.

In the half hour I played SD, there wasn't one BJ dealt, which I found unusual.

I do have CV - I try and do the drills every day on both the BS plays and counting, as well as with a deck and a shoe. Still trying to learn how to tweak some of the settings (I suppose reading the Help file would help, but it's always a last resort!)

Off to Palm Springs next week for Girl's Week - 10 of us are getting together for a week of gambling, drinking, sitting by the pool and generally making ourselves useless.

 

[ihate17]

7 DD tables at Pala

Yes, the SD is 6/5 game. I don't normally play those tables but that's all they had - I would've preferred DD but if they had one, I didn't see it.

In the half hour I played SD, there wasn't one BJ dealt, which I found unusual.

I do have CV - I try and do the drills every day on both the BS plays and counting, as well as with a deck and a shoe. Still trying to learn how to tweak some of the settings (I suppose reading the Help file would help, but it's always a last resort!)

Off to Palm Springs next week for Girl's Week - 10 of us are getting together for a week of gambling, drinking, sitting by the pool and generally making ourselves useless.

Pala has 7 double deck tables but none in your comfort zone. There are generally 3 $25 tables and 2 $50 tables on the main floor, kind of close to the high limit area and cage. There are 2 more $100 tables in the high limit room.
The problem at Pala is that the tables on the main floor have been known to often have all seven spots filled even at was is generally an off hour.

ihate17

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Yes, the SD is 6/5 game. I don't normally play those tables but that's all they had - I would've preferred DD but if they had one, I didn't see it.

In the half hour I played SD, there wasn't one BJ dealt, which I found unusual.

I do have CV - I try and do the drills every day on both the BS plays and counting, as well as with a deck and a shoe. Still trying to learn how to tweak some of the settings (I suppose reading the Help file would help, but it's always a last resort!)

Off to Palm Springs next week for Girl's Week - 10 of us are getting together for a week of gambling, drinking, sitting by the pool and generally making ourselves useless.

Wait a minute, do you know what your advantage is at each count when playing a 6:5 SD game? Hard to make money without that info.

 

[JulieCA]

Wait a minute, do you know what your advantage is at each count when playing a 6:5 SD game? Hard to make money without that info.

No - I was just looking for a low-limit game that was SD or DD so I could practice. I already know I stink at counting a shoe. :grin:

If I ever get good enough at counting, I'll look up the advantages but my question is - WHERE are they paying 3:2 or 2:1 for SD or DD game? I haven't been in a SoCal casino that does.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

No - I was just looking for a low-limit game that was SD or DD so I could practice. I already know I stink at counting a shoe. :grin:

If I ever get good enough at counting, I'll look up the advantages but my question is - WHERE are they paying 3:2 or 2:1 for SD or DD game? I haven't been in a SoCal casino that does.

Pretty much everywhere on a DD game. Barona has by far the best games available in the state of California for a novice counter. They have late surrender on all games so make sure you know all the surrender plays and indices, surrender is awesome!

The casinos in Palm Springs have barely playable DD games. The rules stink so be forewarned. Playing any 6:5 game anywhere is a sure loser without using some very extreme techniques that monkeys use in the jungle and you probably wouldn't even want to see. Recommend the tapas bar on the main street in Palm Springs, and the art museum around the corner is worth seeing and a nice place for ladies to take a break from partying.

 

[BlackHawk]

If you're willing to drive an extra 15 minutes or so from Pala then there is Pauma Casino with Double Deck for $10. It's deal from a shoe and most of the dealer cut about 50-60% penetration, but on the bright side, the casino offer late surrender. Also, there is a small casino called Santa Ysabel about 30 minutes from Pauma Casino that also offer double decks for $10. They also offer Single Deck for $5-$50 with 3 to 2 payout. The only thing is that you have to ask for the table to be open since most of the time it's not open due to lack of blackjack players. Most of the dealers cut about 60%+ penetration. Just be careful because a couple of the pit bosses does know how to count as well.

 

[BlackHawk]

Thank you Daddydo for letting me know, I've took it off and hopefully you have done the same.

 

[daddybo]

Thank you Daddydo for letting me know, I've took it off and hopefully you have done the same.

Done. You can PM that kind of thing... good info.

 

[JulieCA]

Thanks for the tip on Barona - I've been there once and would like to go back. I need to get a room comped at one of the San Diego casinos so I can go down for more than a day - it's a bit of a drive to do it all in one day and I could hop casinos more easily if I had a couple days. Since I pretty much shut down my business, I don't get many excuses to attend conferences or seminars so I can write off the trip. :grin:

Will suggest the tapas bar to the group - I haven't ever been to one and I'm curious.