Where to focus my BS studies ??

[Warlord]

I need some guidance on the most common variations. I plan on spending a day just scouting each Casino and taking notes (in the bathroom) but have yet to do this.

There are so many variations of BS that I lose focus trying to learn it. I have like 4 different charts printed out and as many pads of paper going where I am re-writing the charts.

Should I focus on 1 Deck right now since it seems that there are plenty of decent 1 deck games near me (Tahoe /Reno)

and if so, are most of them typically (I have not scouted yet):
Dbl only on 10,11,
&
H17

and what about DAS? I seem to remember being able to DAS at the Biltmore? but is this uncommon in a 1D game ?

If so then I can focus on that variation and get it down before expanding., and to get my focus and morale up.


I finished reading, "the big book of BJ" Snyder and Wongs "Prof BJ"

and I have ordered (from Amazon):
BJ Bluebook II
BJ Blueprint
Blackbelt in BJ




TIA for all the replies and suggestions etc.

 

[shadroch]

DO NOT TAKE NOTES IN THE BATHROOM! Bathrooms are under scrutiny because of the many perverts who hang out in them.
Don't give a casino any reason to suspect you.
Concentrate on the games you will be playing.

 

[SPX]

I haven't been to Reno but have played in Wendover where the SD rules are usually pretty similar and in Wendover what you're looking at is:

SD with pretty good penetration
H17
DOA
No DAS

I think you are right though that Dbl on 10/11 only is typical in Reno but I have heard of games in the area that are DOA and even a small handful that are DAS.

 

[Warlord]

DO NOT TAKE NOTES IN THE BATHROOM! Bathrooms are under scrutiny because of the many perverts who hang out in them.
Don't give a casino any reason to suspect you.
Concentrate on the games you will be playing.

lol.

Yeah, I do not want to drop my pencil in a stall and inadvertently make some pickup signals etc.

I certainly want to concentrate on the games I will be playing.

So, it will be 1 D.

BUT, how common is it to have a 1 deck that you can DOA or one that u can DAS ? and it seems that most all iD games are H17 ?

thanks for the reply.

these are the areas that make large changes in the BS .

 

[Warlord]

I haven't been to Reno but have played in Wendover where the SD rules are usually pretty similar and in Wendover what you're looking at is:

SD with pretty good penetration
H17
DOA
No DAS

I think you are right though that Dbl on 10/11 only is typical in Reno but I have heard of games in the area that are DOA and even a small handful that are DAS.

Thanks SPX, that is what I am looking for. I think I will concentrate and get the BS down pat for the following:
SD
H17
NO DAS
Dbl on 10/11

I am sure once I know this (like my phone number) then it will be easy to expand.

cheers.

What do you (and others) think of this DVD and/or this one.?

 

[SPX]

Thanks SPX, that is what I am looking for. I think I will concentrate and get the BS down pat for the following:
SD
H17
NO DAS
Dbl on 10/11

I think this configuration is definitely what you're going to see the most of. Like I said, I've heard that some select casinos may offer better rules, but what you've mentioned is "standard."

In regard to the DVDs you linked to, I haven't seen either but if it's sold through this site then I would think they'd have to be useful.

 

[bj bob]

I need some guidance on the most common variations. I plan on spending a day just scouting each Casino and taking notes (in the bathroom) but have yet to do this.

Should I focus on 1 Deck right now since it seems that there are plenty of decent 1 deck games near me (Tahoe /Reno)

and if so, are most of them typically (I have not scouted yet):
Dbl only on 10,11,
&
H17

and what about DAS? I seem to remember being able to DAS at the Biltmore? but is this uncommon in a 1D game ?

If so then I can focus on that variation and get it down before expanding., and to get my focus and morale up.

TIA for all the replies and suggestions etc.

If you are in the Reno / Tahoe area, the BS is very simple, i.e. SD, DD, H-17, DOA. Since there are only slight differences between the two, it's really the same animal. The reason I add DOA is the fact that Reno is gradually converting to DOA ala. Siena, Boomtown, Rail City, Silver Club, Fitzgerald's, Alamo and Western Village etc. There are a bunch of other clubs that offer DOA on DD as well, so might as well take advantage of that extra .26% that DOA offers over d-10. Clubs such as Ascuaga's, Peppermill and the El Doardo offer DOA games on both DD and higher limit SD while the other tables in the pit are still d-10, so do your homework.
DAS in SD is non-existent in this day and age, so forget about it. As you have already mentioned, the Biltmore in North Shore used to have an excellent DD, DAS $5-10 table until last year. That was the only DAS I was ever aware of in the entire area. Too bad it's history.
As far as taking notes in the bathrooms, I do it all the time with a few fine points. First, prepare your "stall visits" ahead of time. While you're still in your car in the parking lot start your note taking, i.e. the casino name and the start time. Use shorthand or code for your notations. That saves time and adds some piece of mind in case it ever gets out of your hands. Try to use the handicapped stalls as they are always larger and usually next to the wall. The one "weird" men's room to avoid is the front set of the Peppermill at the end of the long serpentine hall. There are sure some interesting fellows greeting you as you pass by. Otherwise, I've rarely encountered any "monkey business" in most places.

 

[Warlord]

If you are in the Reno / Tahoe area, the BS is very simple, i.e. SD, DD, H-17, DOA. Since there are only slight differences between the two, it's really the same animal. The reason I add DOA is the fact that Reno is gradually converting to DOA ala. Siena, Boomtown, Rail City, Silver Club, Fitzgerald's, Alamo and Western Village etc. There are a bunch of other clubs that offer DOA on DD as well, so might as well take advantage of that extra .26% that DOA offers over d-10. Clubs such as Ascuaga's, Peppermill and the El Doardo offer DOA games on both DD and higher limit SD while the other tables in the pit are still d-10, so do your homework.
DAS in SD is non-existent in this day and age, so forget about it. As you have already mentioned, the Biltmore in North Shore used to have an excellent DD, DAS $5-10 table until last year. That was the only DAS I was ever aware of in the entire area. Too bad it's history.
As far as taking notes in the bathrooms, I do it all the time with a few fine points. First, prepare your "stall visits" ahead of time. While you're still in your car in the parking lot start your note taking, i.e. the casino name and the start time. Use shorthand or code for your notations. That saves time and adds some piece of mind in case it ever gets out of your hands. Try to use the handicapped stalls as they are always larger and usually next to the wall. The one "weird" men's room to avoid is the front set of the Peppermill at the end of the long serpentine hall. There are sure some interesting fellows greeting you as you pass by. Otherwise, I've rarely encountered any "monkey business" in most places.

Thanks bj Bob !

It is not that much more to add DOA to the BS chart I am studying now. I just highlight the changes so I know what to use for BS if DOA is not allowed.
(Dead link: http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackjackbasicstrategyebm8.png) _

_
(rather than study this separate chart.)
(Dead link: http://img79.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackjackbasicstrategyemt9.png) _

_

One question, why on chart 2 (DOA) does it have DS (stand if not allowed) ? why would it not be allowed if the rules are "double on any 2" ?

thanks

 

[bj bob]

Good question

That is actually a slight curiosity of the 2nd chart. Technically, if the header reads DOA, then one would think just that, i.e. double on ANY two cards: there are some casinos, though that do not allow "soft" dd and therefore, this chart allows for those certain casinos which impose the "no soft double" rule without having to create a whole new BS chart. As far as I know, there are no such houses in your neck of the woods, so don't worry about it.
As far as the DOA's to remember, forget about all those little soft "micro" dd's viz. A-2 to A-5. Knowing all of them together doesn't amount to a hill of beans and justs adds more "junk" indeces to clutter your brain. I think the grand total of loss of EV amounts to a whopping .14% and adds significantly to risk to boot, not to mention attracting unwanted attention. There's enough prying eyes in RenoLand watching your play as it is.
That being said, the rest is pretty simple. First focus on the dd 9 line. That in and of itself is a good chunk of the added EV, then the A-6 and A-7. After that go ahead and add the last two in importance, i.e. the hard 8 and the soft 19. That's it, you're good to go.

 

[Warlord]

I think the grand total of loss of EV amounts to a whopping .14% and adds significantly to risk to boot, .

Thanks Bob for the advice.

However, I thought that by following BS that you minimize risk ? So If you do not follow BS for those A,2 - A,5 situations aren't you reducing your advantage and thus increasing your risk? Or do you mean increasing your risk of getting pinned as a CC?

I completely understand that it is very small increase in EV and that it is probably better to forgo the BS on them than to have the pit know that you are playing so perfectly the BS that you must be an advantage player.

thanks again

 

[bj bob]

Not really

Yes, there is a minute amount of gain to be had by doubling on these hands; however, don't forget that by doubling you are also making twice your original bet and therefore doubling the $ amount of risk for that hand. In other words, would you rather add an extra $25 to your bet for a few extra pennies in return? Personally, I would prefer to save that extra $25 for a juicy high TC situation.

 

[Warlord]

I finally got out to stateline last night and did some more homework.

The Biltmore: (on a Friday night)
had only 1 SD game and it was Super Fun 21
paying even $ on BJ.
(Dead link: http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0rp6.jpg) _

_

They had 1 6d shoe, H17,DOA,DAS 3:2

and 3 shufflemaster games

I played the super fun at $5/hand solely to practice my counting and BS. Since I have only been learning BS for 1 Deck this is the best I could get.


Across the street at the Crystal bay club they had only 1 SD game that was H-17, DOA but it was packed and I could not get in on it.

They (CBC) also had a 4-6 shoe games 6-8D ? I am going back tonight to take more notes on these games.

Is not 1D worthless if there are more than 2 or 3 people playing the dealer? in playing SupFun, the deck turnover was just to fast (~3 hands) to take advantage of any counting. IMO Although sitting at 3rd base I could see some possible advantage play once in a while.

I think the Biltmore has more SD games that are normal during the week, at least they use to.

I think I will now concentrate on 6D and play 1 D when the conditions are right. I just cannot imagine only playing 1D in the long run. Maybe on south shore or in Reno I can have more choices w/ 1 D but in my backyard at Nshore stateline I don't think so.

I bought 6 decks of used cards from Bilty to see what 6 decks look like and to practice estimating remaining cards in the shoe.

? shufflemaster games are worthless for CC right? even if you knew how many decks were being used you cannot tell how many are left etc. Right ? wrong?

Oh, and counting is definitely harder in realtime than at home at the kitchen table. It is very easy to lose the count. I found that It was harder to count them as they were dealt, so i waited till all were dealt then started at 1st base and counted around. practice practice practice. huh!?

thanks