I don't think I am missing anything...
...because I agree with every word you said. Good post. More blackjack posts everyone please.
...because I agree with every word you said. Good post. More blackjack posts everyone please.
"dont get me wrong i am not an experienced counter by any means..."
-Please do not take this as a personal attack, as it is not meant as one. On the contrary, I am trying to help.
I cannot strongly enough emphasize that tracking should not be attempted by beginners or those having trouble counting smoothly. They simply are not ready yet, and for them to risk their hard earned money trying to track at that point is worse than ploppy gambling, IMHO.
In fact, there are many top notch traditional counters who can count circles around me but cannot track. These people generally also have much beter math skills than I do. (But then almost everyone does!)
I am living proof that tracking is not an intelligence thing.
Its more of a conceptual visualization thing. (Sorry, that term sounds kinda pretentious, but I can't think of anything else as accurate at the moment.)
If your self assessment is true then please do not attempt to risk your money at tracking at this time. Instead, work on your traditional counting skills first.
Just my unsolicited advice.
take care,
@^)
Cyclops
I cannot strongly enough emphasize that tracking should not be attempted by beginners or those having trouble counting smoothly. They simply are not ready yet, and for them to risk their hard earned money trying to track at that point is worse than ploppy gambling, IMHO.
AMEN ;>
Its more of a conceptual visualization thing. (Sorry, that term sounds kinda pretentious, but I can't think of anything else as accurate at the moment.)
Well said. You can chart yourself to death telling people about it, but it is easier to tell people its like following the pea under three walnut shells, only a lot slower.
" it is easier to tell people its like following the pea under three walnut shells, only a lot slower."
-Oh c'mon now. Its a lot easier than that! Besides the old shell game is something that the player can never win at. Definitely not the case with tracking!
Its not voodoo, nor does it require super human concentration.
take care,
@^)
Cyclops
....an outstanding post. Well stated and informative as always. No surprise. Remember that old ad campaign slogan:
"When E.F. Hutton talks....everyone listens."
Well, IMHO, when "Alientated" talks about tracking everyone should listen.
"One that interests me is when the first part of a round will be dealt from the end of a segment mainly containing small cards, but the latter part of the round will be dealt from a ten/ace rich segment. This is especially so in games where the dealer takes no holecard. The attraction is the way in which the odds are shifted such that: the dealer is more likely to receive a small upcard, the player is more likely to get a hard doubling opportunity, the card received on the double is more likely to be helpful (if drawn from the ten/ace rich segment), and the dealer's hand is more likely to bust. "
-This had occuured to me, but I have never been in a situation to test it out, as I have never played where the dealer doesn't take a holecard. Have you been able to test this somewhere, and what were the results?
"I would agree that best-half tracking is often not much more difficult than straight counting,...."
-Yes, but it seems as though once you even say the word "tracking" so many people just immediately think "rocket science" or "Rainman" level skills or something. I wish more people would open mindedly just take a look at it. I think many of them might be surprised how well they could do with even just "best half". IMHO, part of the problem is the labeling system that most of them use when they strt to try tracking. I have ranted about this before, but with all due respect to (all rise!) The Bishop the old alphabetical system is just so unnecessarily confusing to new trackers. Just my humble little opinion.
"I'm not sure what you think, but in many respects I find ace keying, where applicable, somewhat easier than segment tracking, yet more lucrative."
-Wow!If that's the case, my hat's off to you, dude! For me, it is just the opposite. Ace locating wold be totally out of the question. Yeah, sometimes after 2 or 3 days in LV tracking, I just want to play some plain old double deck or just do some regular wonging and give my tired old 4 cylinder brain (with a lot of hard miles on it, btw) a rest! But I'm old! These younger players with good educations (and all their brain cells still intact) have got to be stronger mentally than me. They jusst need to have tracking presented to them in the proper light, IMHO.
"I guess what I'm saying is, for me, the difficulty level with tracking varies quite a lot, depending on what exactly I am trying to do.
-Speaking of which, have you ever experimented much with "wong tracking" as we have discussed on this site previously? I have done well with it at times, and and am real surprised that more trackers don't employ it. It (Wong tracking) has the benefits of tracking without having to sit and "invest" in a lot of table minimum bets/hands in order to get the information for the next shoe.People say in the midwest, where good rules can be hard to find, could use this method to more than compensate for poor rules/games/pen.
Take care,
@^)
Cyclops
