100 Units Loss in 7 Hours Play: Advise Please

Inquiry,

Generally, the lower-limit tables have worse rules and more players than the higher-limit tables. Back in my red-chipper days, I used to play at odd hours when the tables were much less crowded. At a few of my regular places, I used to set the alarm clock in the hotel room for 3:30 AM so I could hit the tables at 4 AM, when they tended to have few (or no) players. Another good time to play is dinner time, when many players leave the tables to eat.

As for your count system, KO is not the best one for pitch games, but it is sufficient to get the money. In fact, KO was the first system I used. Particularly for a newcomer, KO is a good, reliable, simple system to use.

Elsewhere in the thread, you asked of The DOC:

Thanks! In retrospect, I did make some mistakes and lost count several times. About those indices, it seems outrageous, some of them anyhow, such as hit hard 12 against dealer's 5 or 6 in low count. I've seen player been cussed at while doubling on a hard 12 that led to the dealer's 21! How do you deal with that?

First of all, you have to practice, practice, practice! If you're losing the count, you need to practice some more. Your edge from card counting is so slim that losing the count can easily cost you your edge. I like the Casino Verite suite of products: their CVBJ is great for allowing you to practice your counting skills. Visit www.qfit.com and peruse their products. By the way, the two products I used to reply to your earlier posts in this thread were CVCX and CVData.

If you DO lose the count, just sit out (or play BS) the rest of the shoe. At least in DD, the next shuffle comes along pretty quickly.

Second, you'll have to develop a thick skin if you're planning to pursue card counting. You'll often make plays that'll annoy the other players: just get used to it. Even BS plays look odd to the "ploppies": just watch their eyes spin the next time you DD on A-8 vs. 6 in a H17 game! Let me recommend that you avoid the temptation to say anything indicating "brain usage" on your part. Don't try to tell the ploppies, "Hey, doubling down on A-8 vs. 6 is BS for a H17 game!" Not only will you NOT convince the ploppies (after all, if they REALY wanted to learn about BJ, they'd be on this site, too) you'll alert the casino to the fact that you HAVE studied the game.

Best is simply to ignore the ploppies who object to your plays that's where the "thick skin" part arises!

Hope this helps!

Dog Hand

It is well known by skilled players that the play of others does not affect your EV over the long run. Your deviations from basic strategy will likely draw somne comments from the table, say, if you hit a hard 12 vs. a 6. But if it's the right play according to the count, do it without even thinking about it.
If other players bitch, say anything you want:
"I don't play by the book."
"I play on hunches."
or
"It's my money, I'll play it how I want to."

Hopefully they'll move to another table. Heads up is best anyway.

something like 180 units in my first 20 minutes of play. I do think that by the end of the night I was back to even.

Dog Hand, (what a nick name)

Floppies? I'm a talker to a certain extend, so I did talk to quite a handful of players at the casinos. Some of them have been playing 20-30 years and still make simple BS mistakes. You should see how they act when I double A7 again dealer 5 or 6 up card, or split a pair of 9! After 20-30 years, still call floppies? I ask them that after playing for so many years, should they be extra professional by now? They just shake their head!!! It amaze me. I hope I don't turn out like that. God forbid.

Thanks again.