Counting is work. Fun, but work. I would

like to hear from my fellow counters on the following question.
How long are you able to play before you start getting tired?
When I was a BS player, I could play all night, chat with people in the middle of it all and have fun. Since I became a counter, it has become very serious. There is so much more thinking going on. I find after 6 hours I need a break. What is the consensus out there regarding this?

Just curious

Hollywood

If it weren't work, everyone would be doing it. Six hours is way too long before a break. In addition to giving the pit bosses more than enough time to catch on to you once you start betting the big chips, you eventually start making mistakes which completely blow your advantage. They certainly don't let dealers stand at a table that long before making them take a break. You should never wait until you get tired. An hour is certainly enough, and then you should take at least 10 minutes or more to clear your head.

IMHO.6 hours is a very long time.However I feel these boards are so dominated by the "professional player" or so they claim that well meaning advice often doesn't comply with the situation at hand.I see for example the blarney stones' jig of a 1 hour reply.Nothing against this most probable high stakes poster but for me it doesn't correlate with my own personal game.Everybody is in their own world playing the same game a different way.Education and perserverance will lead to one's own conclusion that inovation and common sense dominates.Willi.P.S.I smoked a huge doober before I wrote this.

5-6 hours sounds about right to me. Fatigue is highly variable though, based on many factors, not the least of which is the simplicity and familiarity of the system you are using. Omega II....forget about it. You'd stroke out a frontal lobe long before 6 hours. Hi/Lo with 30 index numbers works best for me. Gives you the advantage, while alowing the game to remain fun.

fatigue...and another 2 or 3 with moderate fatigue. Counting is worth is because I refuse to buy in to the casino myth...that it's entertaining to put your money at risk with a negative expectation.

Nothing is more entertaining than knowing that you have an edge over the house (sure losing sessions still suck...but I win more than I lose...and winning is very very entertaining).

Does anyone really make $ in the long run by counting cards. I have just recently started practicing and would like to have some example and opionions from others out there. I live in St. Louis. so I have easy access to some games. I wouldn't mind being able to make a few dollars playing balckjack...sort of a part-time job i guess.

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

counting. There are many people in these rooms that make a living doing this. I seriously don't recommend that however. But, what you need is a starting point. Well you have come to the right place. There are many knowledgable people in these rooms, not to mention some of the greatest Blackjack minds of our century. And they give of there time for free.
I first suggest you buy a book on basic stradegy and learn that. Next when you properly understand that, if you are sincere come in here and ask what your next step should be. The beginner room is an excellent place to get started.
Good luck

... open and close a casino without adding any counting errors. 9 AM to 5 AM. We get PLENTY of breaks. Dealer has to SHUFFLE, doesn't he?

If I'm tracking, 6 hours is about tops.

ETF