6:5 game vs. zero pen. - beatable?

Although I'm still learning HiLo primarily for 6-deck games, I couldn't resist playing this single-deck pitch game (S17, DAS, DOA, RSA I believe). A natural pays 6:5 but the penetration was to the last card!!! The temptation was too much; I took the bait (for practice, leastways). I either dropped or got off the count several times, and missed a few variations when called for. This was my first (unplanned) venture into card counting. Often, my hands were shaking - remember those days? I was soon up about 8 units but ended up down 12 units after about 2 hours play. I had a ball...is that against any rules? (OK, losing wasn't fun!) Once home I was unable to answer this question from my literature and was hoping you guys might advise me...Am I'm wasting my time on this game?

49_...
The majority of books I have read state something along the lines that we get our advantage out of the dealer busting and getting paid more than the dealer on naturals. I'm not too sure which one has a larger effect on the overall EV, but I suspect the 3:2 payment on naturals is a large chunk of the EV because 6:5 games have a %2.5ish house advantage, deeming them unbeatable. However, if it is dealt down to the last card I suspect you could set up a betting schedule to safely reflect an advantageous game. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has a simulator.

I'm not too sure which one has a larger effect on the overall EV, but I suspect the 3:2 payment on naturals is a large chunk of the EV because 6:5 games have a %2.5ish house advantage, deeming them unbeatable

The 6:5 payoff cuts the effect of a high-low TC point by about 20%, which added to the extra 1.39% the house gets with this lousy rule, makes it unbeatable as a practical matter using straight card counting.
There are "end-play" strategies which could theoretically beat this game. Those strategies have some rather obvious tells associated with them. You'd need to re-read Beat The Dealer and develop an end-play system with cover optimized for the modern era. That's a lot of simulation work, probably not a justifiable use of time unless 100% pen becomes commonplace.

You can beat this game using straight card counting, no end-play required, with a big spread. I have no idea what type of spread they will tolerate.

More likely this may be a weak attempt by a casino rep to say something positive(but untrue) about a ripoff game that takes advantage of the lack of knowledge in the general public about blackjack.

Full penetration,any game could be beaten with that,I really doubt any casino anywhere in the world world would offer full pen

I really doubt any casino anywhere in the world would offer full pen

The little Poker Palace in North Las Vegas has long had a single deck game dealt to the very bottom. But blackjacks pay even money, and the table max is only $50.

Sorry guys, I really can't add much more helpful information. I only spread from approx. $5-$25; I didn't have that much money on me at the time since I wasn't planning to do any gambling. This was more of a recon mission while my wife played the nickle slots.
As for "heat" there was none. Of course, you can't blame them with the pittance I placed on the felt. The pit had a very relaxed atmosphere. It kinda felt like I could have spread much more; but I came financially unprepared.
I know it's not much but it's about all that I have. Good cards!

It is a $2 minimum, $50 max table. You could conceivably spread $2 to two hands of $50 each. There is a "no mid-entry" rule which is sometimes interpreted to mean not adding a hand. I suppose you could play two hands of $2 each and spread upwards to two hands of $50.

It is a break-in place, with even the supervisors having little game experience or knowledge. But you won't be able to take much out of there. The cage calls the pit when a single green chip is cashed out. And you will be the only person in the place playing chips instead of coins. There are no black chips in the rack, and the table is open only on swing shift. The pace of the game is extremely slow because of the break-in dealers and the type of players the place attracts, agonizing over every decision on their $2 bets. My advice is to forget about it.

Had a dealer a few years back at the Riverside in Laughlin run out of cards and re-shuffle the discards to finish the round. It was just like when you'd play with your buddies back in the day.

To answer your endplay question.

Endplay was a technique used by Thorp era advantage players. It is my understanding that there were several variations however I will give the one example I am most familiar with.

The main criteria is that the dealer deal a single deck to the last card and if that last card comes out in the middle of the round, the cards on the table stay on the table and only the discards will get re-shuffled.

Lets assume the hi-low running count is -8 with about 10 cards left (lots of little cards to come). A good way to endplay this situation is to play 3 spots with a minimum bet. The player will need to hit or stay such that the deck runs out during that round. The dealer will leave all the low cards on the table and shuffle a the deck (which contains a +8 count). The dealer will proceed to finish the round (hopefully with as few cards as possible). After that round is over, the next deck will be very favorable to the player because 8 small cards have essntially been burned.