Alright guide.

First off you missed the fact that you must sit in the first or last seat. otherwise you'll be looking side to side and the dealer will know.
Secondly, although its not ILLEGAL the casino is a private business, they hold the right to decide who comes in and bets. they CAN kick you out if they find out your counting cards, less the mentioned Altantic City.
Lastly, you need an even bet else they'll know your counting.

swunder

United States22 Posts

June 03 2009 23:50 GMT

#42

On June 04 2009 08:32 Mykill wrote:
Alright guide.

First off you missed the fact that you must sit in the first or last seat. otherwise you'll be looking side to side and the dealer will know.
Secondly, although its not ILLEGAL the casino is a private business, they hold the right to decide who comes in and bets. they CAN kick you out if they find out your counting cards, less the mentioned Altantic City.
Lastly, you need an even bet else they'll know your counting.

The first and last statements are false.

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 04 2009 00:00 GMT

#43

The vast majority of people look at every hand that is dealt so your first point is false.

Betting an "even bet" does nothing to prevent them from figuring out that you are counting.

Mykill

Canada3402 Posts

June 04 2009 01:01 GMT

#44

I've talked to dealer before. thats how i learned to count cards.

the first thing they look for is people glancing around at all the other peoples cards each time its dealt, vast majority do not glance around. its a sign that dealers look for.

if you bet the minimum when the count is low and then raise it high they will figure it out very quickly. thats why you need an "even bet" to not be extremely obvious.

otherwise it was a good guide.
good luck on getting that SCII key

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 04 2009 13:46 GMT

#45

On June 04 2009 10:01 Mykill wrote:

if you bet the minimum when the count is low and then raise it high they will figure it out very quickly. thats why you need an "even bet" to not be extremely obvious.

Betting the minimum with a low count and a much higher amount at a higher count is the backbone of how you make money while counting. You can have the spread be less, but you will make much less money.

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 05 2009 13:49 GMT

#46

On June 04 2009 06:40 Tbird wrote:

I believe in Vegas they have card counting programs in the back that do perfect card counting for all tables, so by knowing what a perfect card counter would do in every situation vs. what you do, they can reasonably determine if you're counting or not over a period of time. And if they think you are, you will get the boot! The MIT blackjack team is blacklisted from Vegas casinos, haha

Very nice guide, thanks for the writeup!

I would think they would have the same software in AC, but I'm not certain.

What I do know is as follows. When they believe I am counting, they will limit me to one hand and also cut about 3 decks out of the shoe instead of the usual 4.5. The first time they did this to me it was after I had one a few $50 and $75 bets spread over 3 different betting circles. The pit boss immediately came over and told the dealer to reshuffle the shoe and that I wasn't allowed to play more than one hand. This caused one of the other players to freak out, "Can I play more than one hand?!?! Why can't he?!" It was pretty funny. After they ruined most of my advantage, I stayed around for a few more shoes and then left.

Since then, it has been pretty random whether or not they have targeted me as a counter. Last week I went and before I could even raise my bet above $20 they started cutting 3 decks out of the shoe. I still managed to win $700+ that day due to dumb luck. However, the very next day they were cutting the usual 75% of the decks out and did not seem to mind whenever I bet big or in more than one circle. As I said earlier, I'm not sure exactly how they deal with it but it does not seem very consistent.

kdog3683

United States916 Posts

June 06 2009 09:10 GMT

#47

Is BS same regardless where and what casino you play at it?

Also what does double mean?

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 07 2009 01:52 GMT

#48

On June 06 2009 18:10 kdog3683 wrote:
Is BS same regardless where and what casino you play at it?

Also what does double mean?

Basic strategy is more or less the same. That chart is specifically for 6 deck with double after split allowed.

A double down is when you double your initial bet after the first two cards to receive only one more card.

Liquid`Jinro

Sweden33719 Posts

June 07 2009 18:19 GMT

#49

Moving to general by request.

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 08 2009 15:17 GMT

#50

Thanks FA! Hopefully a few more people will see this now.

Empyrean

16974 Posts

June 08 2009 15:44 GMT

#51

You should have an actuary Q&A blog <_<

SwEEt[TearS]

Canada1575 Posts

June 08 2009 15:46 GMT

#52

awesome guide, hitting the casino with 2 friends I didn't see in years a bit later tonight should be fun

already knew how to count just didn't know the basic strats hehe

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 08 2009 16:46 GMT

#53

On June 09 2009 00:44 Empyrean wrote:
You should have an actuary Q&A blog <_<

I really should. I can't believe people have actually been PMing me about being an actuary.

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 08 2009 16:49 GMT

#54

On June 09 2009 00:46 SwEEt[TearS] wrote:
awesome guide, hitting the casino with 2 friends I didn't see in years a bit later tonight should be fun

already knew how to count just didn't know the basic strats hehe

Good luck. I'm gonna head to the casino in a bit as well.

Trying to count without knowing basic strategy is like trying a Reaver drop while only mining with 4 probes the entire game. Gotta start with the basics.

Puosu

6984 Posts

June 08 2009 16:50 GMT

#55

On June 03 2009 16:04 exalted wrote:
as a high level poker player, i must grudgingly admit that the previous posts are true about the average player becoming increasingly tough

in other words, if you haven't picked up poker yet and are looking to, it's probably not a good idea due to the current high skill level

that said, if you really want to be good, you will probably end up ignoring my advice and then proving me wrong, DUCY?

correction: NLHE is dead for new players, not poker.
PLO is where the money is for the new generation, especially if you've got some gamble in you.

Deadlift

United States358 Posts

June 09 2009 15:20 GMT

#56

On June 09 2009 01:50 Puosu wrote:
correction: NLHE is dead for new players, not poker.
PLO is where the money is for the new generation, especially if you've got some gamble in you.

PLO = Pot Limit Omaha? The game with 4 hole cards? What do you mean "if you've got some gamble in you?" How is it riskier than Texas hold em? More randomness since you have 4 cards?

Uraeus

France1378 Posts

June 09 2009 16:02 GMT

#57

Really cool guide.
I hit the casinos in Vegas last year during a week-end trip, but as I knew I would play for a few hours only, I didn't bother to learn strategy, as it only pays off in the long term. So I played with my guts (and lost

).
However, if I am to play BJ again, I will most certainly put your guide into practice.

Good lick for the SC2 key !

bdams19

United States1316 Posts

June 09 2009 19:09 GMT

#58

On June 10 2009 00:20 Kishime wrote:

Show nested quote +

PLO = Pot Limit Omaha? The game with 4 hole cards? What do you mean "if you've got some gamble in you?" How is it riskier than Texas hold em? More randomness since you have 4 cards?

There is a lot more variance due to the fact that people often have at least 10 outs against you regardless of their hand (say you flop a straight and someone has a flush draw and two pair, or a set, etc.). Hold em players always joke that you can just go all in preflop and no matter what hand you have you're a 45/55 dog.

Rakanishu2

United States475 Posts

June 10 2009 01:12 GMT

#59

Good read