I was wondering if most of the AP on this site use a variety of techniques to gain an advantage or if they rely soley on counting? If so what other techniques would you recomend to someone starting out?
I simply count using hi-lo with I-18 and Fab 4 basic strategy deviations. I get my rooms and meals comped in AC, CT, and LV. I imagine that the most commonly used other technique used is shuffle tracking, which I have never tried and see as impossible. But others swear by it and I will take them at their word. I haven't gotten rich counting cards but I am a long term winner. I am a green chip player.
I thought the same thing about shuffle tracking. Seems to me like you would have to have a lot of skill in order to pull that off with a lot of the shuffles I have watched. You say that you get rooms comped at CT. You must be doing pretty well to rack up points like that. I have only played in CT so far I am fairly new to this and it is the only place close by. I was actually thinking about takeing a blackjack science seminar taught by one of the MIT guys in CT. Have you ever heard anything about it?
Haven't heard anything about seminars from MIT, but don't do it if its just about counting. If its about shuffle tracking, I guess you can take a chance, depending on the cost. Just because you "know" your first card will be an ace or ten, doesn't mean you're getting a BJ, 20, or even winning the hand. I've known through dealer mistakes that my first could would be a ten maybe 3 times in many, many years of playing, and I don't think I won one of those hands. I've gotten killed in super high counts so many times I could puke, but that's just an unfortunate part of the game. A good AP, who knows BS and deviations down pat, can manage his emotions and money, and many other things, has a very small LONG TERM advantage over the house. The game is a grind and a roller coaster and not for the faint of heart. Getting back to the MIT team, if it is just about counting, don't do it since you can learn anything you need to know from books by Wong, Schlesinger, and many others, including the one that started it all for me (but outdated) Playing Blackjack as a Business by Lawrence Revere. If you just play CT, stay with FW and forget MS.
Thats what I have found too. When I first started counting I thought that MS would be a better bet because they use 6 deck shoes as compared to FW 8 deck shoes. But the penetration at MS is awfull. I have been there a few times and spent a lot of time walking around just to find a half way decent game. Also the dealers at FW and MGM seem to be happier people in general. They will talk to you and help new comers play their hand if neccesary (BS). MS seems like they are just there to take your money not a fun atmosphere at all. But that is just my opinion. I hope others have had better experience than I have. But back to the MIT seminar. It is a one day seminar that covers BS, card counting, optimal betting and variance, getting to the long term, basic team play, cut card techniques, keycard sequencing, shuffle tracking techniques, and avoiding detection. The class costs $800 and is one day for 7 hours. Seems like a lot of stuff to cram into your brain in one 7 hour session lol. If anyone out there has taken it though I would love to hear what you thought of it.
Somebody told me there might be an article on it somewhere.
ETF
Seems like $800 is way steep for that. Spend $200 on CVBJ and a few books and you'll be in far better shape. The MIT folks are just trying to capitalize on the name a bit, and notoriety from the movie.
You can better spend the $800. I haven't taken the Blackjack Science course, but I do own the 2 DVDs. The first is an introduction to counting. The second, and expensive one, discusses advanced techniques and is a condensed version of the live course. I happened to find one set of both on ebay for about $100 in case you are interested. I don't think that they are worth the price. No information you can't find elsewhere.
http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACKJACK-SCIENCE-Counting-Betting-Advanced-2-DVD-NEW_W0QQitemZ160294882341QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160294882341&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
