card counting still possible??

O.K, so I've read "bringing Down the House" and a handfull of the prominent bj authorities. I have found that these authors are all very optimistic about making serious $ in the long-term. Now, my question is: is card counting still possible with the advent of "mindplay" or continuous shuffling? What modern day preventions have casinos employed in the battle against counters? It seems indisputable that counting was lucrative in times past (even the MIT team acknowledged that the golden age of counting is over due to no longer being able to shuffle track), but what is a realistic expectation given modern casino technology to track counting methods? I am a neophyte counter but am willing to exert the effort to make counting a serious hobby. But I don't want to live in a fantasy world, and it seems us counters get so obsessed with the idea of counting that it blinds us from not stopping long enough to ask if it can really still be done today. I'd sure appreciate some long time counters to offer some informed opinions concerning the above . . thanks!

but there are many many more casinos now than before. People still make money counting cards...it's just not as easy to do as before.q

Yes, I believe you can still make money. I am doing it. Of course, I wouldn't be so optimistic right now if I hadn't of bounced back from that 2800 dollar loss I had last week.

What if I lost again for a 3800 dollar or even 4800 dollar loss? Man, this game can be tough.

Good luck to you. If you truly believe in what you are doing, you'll be ok.

BJ heavens to choose from now... most not in the US though... Making good money from BJ is still possible out of US and need skills "beyoond counting"... I and a partner won $75k for the past 4 months ($80k from non-US, lost $5k in the States). Cheers.

As a local you can still play at lower stakes (some green chip) and get by. You cannot do that as an out of towner wanting to make a living as you will not play high enough to get room and travel comps and the lower level games are crowded and have much worse conditions. It would barely cover costs. They have ruined the game and the players (mostly whiners with all types of excuses) have done nothing to fight back.

The real problem is the casinos don't want the skilled / advantage players. They are happy putting terrible games on the floors which are filled by vacationers who have planned to "donate" a given amount of money on their trip to Vegas.

It is tough to make a living at Blackjack anymore. In order to have an advantage you need beatable games which are becoming fewer and fewer in LV. It is just about too late now to start thinking about living off BJ earnings.

Good luck with the small advantage we can still get.

in a Tibet prison for currency violations? I hope it was worth it!

76 days... not 4 months.

you've won much more than I and don't mean to downplay or or insult you on that. It's just that some people on this board would pay six figures in cash tomorrow if it meant not having to spend 4 months in a Nepal prison. My point was simply that international play is probably a good bit safer for you, an asian, than for the rest of us "typical" Americans. It gives you an edge that the rest of us just don't have and cannot automatically expect.

BTW, we've met before and you are a nice guy (you were still using your old handle "yellowjack")

Much Success

bigplayer

I know I have the advantage of been an Asian. I don't agree about white men (or women) can't make good money from international play though... Greece has been a BJ heaven for many years for Greeks or anybody who have the capability of finding the places, several Americans won high 6 figures from Russia in several months since 1998. I gain nothing from luring American counters abroad who will share foreign good games with me. I only write of the information for the benefits of adventurous types and because someone is asking. I will cancel my post about how much I made, the amount was small against several really BIG players I know.

lost 33 pounds in the process... perhaps many people in this board will pay 4 or 5 figures for that? The Nepal jail was not so bad... my girl friend brought food and water to me every day from casino restaurant. I had enough food to share with some friends there. The casino owner, a distinguished American, and his collegue sent their lawyor to fight for me free. I read many books in the jail and wrote many articles. I got $400 gain from currency exchanges from my $20,000 which was withheld by the government then released me after I won my case. I considered this jail time as an invaluable experience adding exotic flavor to my biography.

Man you are adventurous....
Wish I were a little more like you (not sarcastic)
but I am definitely content with my $50/hour EV:)

I do, however, intend to stretch into international play a little bit when my unit color gets a bit darker..but even then will do enough research so that I will not wind up in a foreign jail *I hope*

I will just have to be content on reading about it..let me know when your biography comes out:)

D

If you need some BJ paradises for start on foreign play, e-mail me at tzlsyh@yahoo.com