Any alternatives to a big bankroll to win big at BlackJack?

Don`t forget that Uston was playing in a time when you could still find a single deck game S17, DAS and 75%pen. and spread 1-10 without any problem. If you can find very good conditions and are willing to accept a high RoR , go for it but I believe (firmly) that in the modern game it is unrealistic to make $50/hour on a regular basis with a $3000 bankroll.

.. I personally believe DD', ODATT, and Hal Jordan have it right.

IF you desire to accumulate a formidable BR, you can spend the rest of your life grinding it out in the pits with red chips and your $3K BR, playing to a miniscule ROR, and adding to it from your meager savings. And likely as not, it won't happen. Playing reds and earning $5 or maybe $10 an hour will never get it done.

Sitting at your kitchen table, playing hand after hand, while trying to save a decent BR will not get it done either.

Learn the game and play it well, then warm up to the concept of a "lifetime bank", show up, put your money at risk, and don't be afraid to tap out and start over.

Now, if your goal is to protect that $3K BR for otherwise sporadic weekend play or vacation play, then by all means manage that BR carefully and simply enjoy the action and the comps that might follow.

To make money you have to have money, a capital. As advised by the other posters, buying books, playing online, hustling coupons are things you can do while accumulating a decent bankroll. The best thing I ever did was to buy the BJRM Blackjack risk manager software. I was playing $25 table with a $5,000 bankroll that got wiped out. Now I know why. At $75 or so cost, BJRM paid for itself in one correctly sized bet.
To make $50/hour with a $3,000 bankroll, this would translate into a 46% and more risk playing $20 min and wonging out of negative hands, at the best 6D game you can find (S17DASLS 5/6 pen = 0.26% casino edge), which is not normally available at the red chip level. A better idea would be to bet it all one one hand of BJ at a 50.26% risk. It will save you a lot of time and have the same result....

What you are using is basically a trip bankroll. I think counting with money as you get hold of it can be more profitable than saving up. First of all, you're gaining real world experience sooner. You are also betting with an advantage sooner.

Your BR is how much money you can throw into it, not how much you have at any one time. If someone decides they'll use a bank of 10k, lose it, then put in another 10k, their original bank was always 20k.

Maybe I'm wrong, that's just how I see it (wow it's been along time since I've posted here or played BJ at a land based casino).

He should be able to turn that into 4-5k within a month or two.

perhaps it would be better to bet $3400 to win $100. Pain if it loses, but more likely for one spin of the single zero roulette it would be a steak dinner and a glass of wine.

(wow it's been along time since I've posted here or played BJ at a land based casino)

...but I bet you're still in the top 10 posters. :-)

were probally defending myself about the use of progressions. Even just taking a diplomatic stance and explaining to newbiez that progressions can't provide an advantage would draw fire (all from the same few posters). I admit I did use them for a little while
:( but never fooled myself into believing they provided an advantage.

I'm 21 this year and wouldn't mind counting a bit when I'm in vegas. Starting to brush up on my skills. Also a nice change from what I've been doing lately.

he said his bank was $100-$200 not $3000.

Yep because succeeding relies on the same principles. Creating an advantage and managing risk. An AP basically does run his own business. His business is investing his capital.

.. but atleast for me, it makes my point even more.

What is a guy to do with $300 these days?

$300 simply can't be played safely or effectively with red chips. With 6Ds, it's at best 5 max bets. So you stay at home and save.

Or, you go put it in play, the best way you know how.

You learn the game you're playing stone cold. BS, your count, the I18 indexes. You then find the absolute BEST games you can and settle for no other. You Wong in; you Wong out. Maybe you lay back and track ONE huge high clump through the next shuffle, then Wong in and out immediately after you perceive it to be played out. You put that $300 in play and maximize it with every way you know how.

And then you lose it. :)

It's the best $300 lesson you could have.

And depending on your station in life you spend 6 weeks or 6 months saving another BR. And you do it again.

I am thinking it is all about your goals and the resources you have to work with.

If I were to ask the board .. "what is the minimum BR you should have before placing your first bet" .. I imagine the majority response would be about $3K; 50 max bets on a 6D shoe.

What then? Play careful, conservative, BJ and grind out $5 to $10 an hour? That is a plan; and a good one depending on your goal.

But if a goal of building a formidable BR is what you have .. what then?

Thereare too many dreamers and GAMBLERS out there.Dreaming is OK as long as it does not eat up your pay check every weekend. Seen it too often at the local casino.

cheers.

Buccaneer

...is ensuring you have the necessary skills before you play for real money.

If you have been studying and practicing for months but only have a few hunder dollars to spare, by all means give it a shot. At worst you will have lost a few hundred dollars and gained some valuable experience.

This is not an excuse, however, for skimming through Knockout Blackjack then running to the nearest casino to place a bet with whatever you have in your pocket.

if you only have a few hundred bucks then risk of ruin, while almost certain, has very little in the way of consequences. For part-time players with very small bankrolls risk of ruin is a very unimportant concept.