the 'counting thing'
1. when counting and playing H2H, and the count is +, wouldn't the count be positive for the dealer as well? this is concerning to me when the dealer is consistently pulling 9s 10s on their top card and i have to hit.
Yes it is, but there is a difference in him and you .. you get paid 3:2 for your BJs (if you will stay away from the 6:5), he can not double, split or surrender. His big advantage is drawing last.
2. i don't quite understand why having a 5K bankroll is not enough, I can bring more, but are you saying i'll have that much of a losing streak to lose my money entirely, by the time i'm down 1k at a particular table, I would have left to another. I guess I don't understand what the unit bet is $25-100 or $5-10.
$5K is enough if you can replenish it as you seem to be able. It is just that if your max bet is set to high, a long negative run of hands -which happens -could wipe you out at any particular point in time. If you are trying to knock 'em dead .. big time .. you should bring more than $5K to support the level of play you seem to need.
3. I understand the grind, I do it many times, but often times, I have doubled or tripled my buy-in within 2-3 shuffles (buy-in $300-500)and usually satisfied, the longer I play or is it the more greedier I become, I see this money down to what I started or on the losing trend. I think that is where basic strategy has its downside. but mentally, you also become angry and tired, and that is when the casino has its bigger advantage.
Quit .. when you get angry or tired. Overall, it seems you haven't seen your money down on the losing side; aren't you up overall < $10K? Nobody said it was quick or easy to get and stay ahead.
4. often times, i'm at a table with $25 and betting progressively, the pit boss is over to the corner of my eye either in front of me or at the far side watching my play, how do you AVOID that scenario if you grind and count. I don't range bets and that is part of the counting principle, but add to my bets occasionally, this already brings attention.
Don't play for long stretches of time at one place (maybe an hour or so.) Study books on camo and make some plays that don't cost you much in EV. Shoot, call the guy over and ask HIM what to do, etc, etc, etc.
> It would be a great pleasure to take home thousands without any heat so most of the time, I would be happy to make $200 or more a day (i'm understating, it's just and example) with expenses paid and come back another day.
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
Last, you say you have tried this 'counting' thing a few times.
Here's the thing. You are basically a basic strategy player that has stuck his toe in this 'counting thing' to see if you like it. Be glad you are still up overall.
With all due respect, you need to work on and perfect that skill as much as you perfect anything else important to you.
Do you only play good games; are you getting decent pen? Can you count in your sleep? Can you see a pair or three card hand and know the total without thinking? Can you do it while being distracted.
You don't range your bets when the count calls for it? Why not? How can you expect to win if you don't.
It's learning how to play and then being disciplined in how you apply what you learned.
You'll get out of this 'counting thing' exactly the effort you put in it.
Good Luck.