wondering about a bet spread

[rrwoods]

I think I'm ready to start counting. I know the hi-lo system and how it works, and I'm prepared to drill myself on it for a month or more before I take it to the tables (someone let me know if they think a month is too short). One thing I'd like to get some feedback on before I hit the tables is a bet spread.

I know that I would like to play red chips my first time out, just to get a feel for things. I ran PowerSim (I know, the free one... if I decide I really want to get into this game I'm going to get CVData, believe me!) and determined that my ramp would be:

-2 wong out
-1 $5
0 $5
+1 $10
+2 $25
+3 $40
+4 $50
> $50

The generic question I guess is: Does this make sense at all or am I totally off base? More specific questions: Is wonging out at -2 too aggressive? At the AC Borgata, I saw people simply sit at the table and not play for 5-10 hands in a row... and some of these folks were playing two spots! I figure at red-chip levels, a 1-10 spread isn't enough to catch anyone's attention. Am I right?

I'll be playing at the AC Borgata again when I do this, prolly on a weekday, hopefully starting early enough to catch a seat at the $5 table and play this spread (or something similar). Conditions in that casino (for those unfamiliar) are: S17, DAS, RS4, No Sur, One card to split aces. My bankroll is (hopefully!) $10,000, for one day's play. Ha, another question: Do I need that much for this level of play for just one day?

Thanks in advance guys -- this forum has been really helpful in getting me started having fun playing this game

 

[21forme]

At the AC Borgata, I saw people simply sit at the table and not play for 5-10 hands in a row... and some of these folks were playing two spots! I figure at red-chip levels, a 1-10 spread isn't enough to catch anyone's attention. Am I right?

They were probably counting. It's called wonging in place. You're probably OK with that spread. It took the Borg about a year before they half-shoed me for the first time, and I was playing green.

Also, I suggest wonging out at -1 rather than -2. Just sit out a few hands and see which way it's going. If the count comes back, jump back in. If not, find another table, though that's probably not possible if you're only playing the $5 min table.

 

[rrwoods]

Good to know. I thought maybe that wonging out at -1 might be too aggressive, since I'd be essentially sitting out like half the hands at that point... and also, my goal as a casual player at this point is to have fun while playing with a +EV, and I'd want to wong in place since as you say, a seat at the $5 table is tough to hold. And for my first trip that'll be what I want to do. Eventually I'll be comfortable playing more money, and I'll be willing to sit at the green tables... but for now, I'm going to stick to $5 tables and that probably means squatting and playing enough hands for the dealer not to push me off in favor of someone who will actually play.

 

[moo321]

Good to know. I thought maybe that wonging out at -1 might be too aggressive, since I'd be essentially sitting out like half the hands at that point... and also, my goal as a casual player at this point is to have fun while playing with a +EV, and I'd want to wong in place since as you say, a seat at the $5 table is tough to hold. And for my first trip that'll be what I want to do. Eventually I'll be comfortable playing more money, and I'll be willing to sit at the green tables... but for now, I'm going to stick to $5 tables and that probably means squatting and playing enough hands for the dealer not to push me off in favor of someone who will actually play.

No, the beautiful thing about wonging is it adds EV and acts as camoflouge.