Bet Spread

Haven't risked serious money yet on the tables. However, I'm gathering $10,000 for my bankroll. My question is this. At a 6 deck game with 10 dollar minimum what kind of bet spread could I get away with. My max bet being at a TC of 6. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

If by "get away with" you mean making the optimal bets for your bankroll, read Schlesinger's Blackjack Attack.

If by "get away with" you mean not getting heat, read Anderson's Burning the Tables in Las Vegas.

They're both excellent books.

Dug

of course, Schlesinger's book above is definitive, but if you plan to jump in and out for good counts rather than just sitting down and playing all (and I hope you do plan to table hop), you can use a smaller spread, maybe $10-$50. If you play all, you will need to do $10-$100.

Thanks Dug, I've read Ian Anderson's book. Thought it was excellent. I guess my real question is can I get away with an optimal bet spread of 10,000 bankroll? And I will eventually read Blackjack Attack.

I do plan to wong in and out of tables however, I would still like to keep my betting spread up around optimal. Is that going to draw heat? Jumping in and betting $50 and maybe $100 if the count is max.

Furthermore, I haven't figured it out yet but I think my max optimal bet according to the blackjack school is somewhere close to 200. Which uses the Kelly Criterion if I'm not mistaken.

Thanks for your response.

A max bet of $200 on a bankroll of $10,000 is only 50 max bets. Everything I ever heard says you should have at least 100 max bets but 150 is even better.

The new version of Blackjack Attack -Blackjack Attack III -is due to come out soon, real soon. If your planning on buying new, I'd wait to purchase.

If you are playing a nickle table, as long as your max bet stays under $100, you will be under the radar in most places.

If, at a $10 table, for example, a $10 to (2 x $70) spread draws heat, you are in a low-class burn joint.

I would think spreads like these are reasonable for a $10G bankroll.
I would also remember the power of the wong! Leaving at negative counts, and entering at positive counts, really improves the bottom line.

2 hands at $75 would be even better. And remember to get out of Dodge as soon as the count tanks.

Plus, you avoid the $100 'checks play' call.

I've read the same thing as well. In fact I was reading it the other night in Bryce Carlson's book. Anyway, I'm prepared to handle that much risk. I think it's an 18% risk of ruin following the online blackjack school betting scheme.

But for purposes of starting out I may use a betting schdueled according to a 5,000 bankroll instead of 10,000. Making my max bet a $100 at a TC of 6.

Ha ha, thanks for that tip. I'm actually a dealer and know all the calls and so forth. Where I deal I don't even think the pit bosses pay any attention to "checks play". I think "black in action" is more aggressive. But ofcourse, checks play called combined with winning will definetly raise some eyebrows.
Personally, I never call "checks play" just because I don't care.

Welcome to BJ21.com, as a dealer you can probably provide some valuable info to guys like me who have never worked in the casino industry. I'm real curious to know how much you guys are taught about counters. What is your opinion on the average pit persons ability to catch a card counter? What exactly do they teach you guys about where to place the cut card? Do they give you an explanation for why you should cut 2 decks off of a 6 deck shoe instead of just cutting off half a deck?

how about telling me why the pit crew seems to always show up and ask me if I want a players card only when I start stacking up some green first?

Stealth Bomber

Hmmm, well where I work usually everyone has a players card. As you probably know the players card is there to identify who you are and track your play. Mainly for comps...etc. Now, because your stacking up Green the pit most likely just wants to follow how much your winning. I think being suspected of card counting might be there. And could possibly be the reason why they ask you if you have a players card once your winning. But I have to errr on the side of they just want to keep track of whats going out and coming in more detailed.

To be fairly honest, I haven't been dealing for that long. But I communicate with the floor(pit bosses). Surprisngly some of them are quite knowledgable. I guess I could ask a few of my bosses and rely the response.

Good questions. The answers I like and so will you. Like I said in my previous post I haven't been dealing for that long. From the experience I've gotten most dealers don't know jack about counting cards. Furthermore, none of the pit has bothered to teach us. They just want us to follow procedures. By the book.

As for placing the cut card that is written in a manual but doesn't specify why to my surprise. We do have to follow these rules or there are moderate consequences.

However, on a 2 deck game we are to place the cut card at one deck(50%). If caught not doing so it will result in suspension. But even with those rules my fellow dealers still put the damn cut card at 65% to even 75%. I do it sometimes hoping the shoe will stay good, thus giving me more tipping opportunities. But to answer your question I don't think dealers know why they put the cut card where they do. Some do but not most.

As for the average pit boss being able to catch a counter. I may not be the most experienced guy to answer that but there are a few floormen who are knowledgable and in my opinion can catch one. However, I think the average pit boss can't unless you give yourself away by not using any cover or by winning an excessive amount and then having your play evaluated. Hiding chips and not playing to excessively in one place I think are some of the best plays you can do.

A few of my friends who also deal but at other Casino's know that I'm an AP and have agreed to give me more penetration however mostly on 6 deck.

But there are dealers who will bend the rules especially if you tip them. Nothing big even just a nickel bet every now and then. Or even a dollar bet on five straight hands. Whatever you can afford.

Thanks, but pretty much what I thought. You did say however:

>I guess I could ask a few of my bosses and rely the response.

Hey, whatever help you can give us from being on the inside, we're greatful. Maybe we can share some knowledge of ours so in the future, you will s!!t-can the wrong side of the table for ever and start making some real $ with us. ;-)

I usually play 6D also. Always too many ploppies at SD & DD. Can't get enough hands, you know. I'm using AOII for my C. How about you?

Stealth Bomber

How closely they track the chips?

You mentioned ????:

>But there are dealers who will bend the rules especially if you tip them. Nothing big even just a nickel bet every now and then. Or even a dollar bet on five straight hands. Whatever you can afford.

But how do they know what it is your wanting? It's not like as if you can somehow just tell them, "I'm counting the damned cards dude, let's have a little more pen please."

Hey, none of us has a problem sharing some $ if we are getting something in return.

Stealth Bomber

Nothing big even just a nickel bet every now and then. Or even a dollar bet on five straight hands.

"Every now and then"? How often, once a year?

How much do these dealers think they can increase a player's EV by "bending the rules" in order to justify such a giveaway by the player?