Counting Strategy

I've been using the AOII (Bryce Carlson) point count for several years now. From the various books I've read it seems to be the best of the level one or level two count systems. Previously I had used Hi-Lo and the Revere Point Count. I also ONLY play SD or DD games. One change I did make to it was to adjust the True Count indices for the number of half decks remaining instead of FULL decks. I did this primarily to reduce (by half) the absolute value of the playing index numbers. That way the index numbers are smaller and I find them to more manageable mentally. The AOII is more complex that a level one system like Hi-Lo but in thoery is much more powerful. I guess I'd like to here from very successfull advantage players which are their favorite systems and why. I consider myself a very, very good player BUT I do not have the winning record to back up that claim. In fact I'm probably just barely break-even in a decade of playing the AOII system. After a $3k loss on green chips a number of years ago I "retired" for several years. So there is some doubt in my mind as to whether or not the AOII is really worth the trouble or if a simpler sytem is as good or better. My "day" job is an engineer so the doing the various number crunching on the fly hasn't been a big obstacle. I'm just dissapointed with minimal results over the years. I live in Western Oregon and have a family so my play has been rather limited in the past several years. But I spent a week in Reno last month and played 2-3 hrs/day and only made about $200 with an average bet of perhaps $30-$40. I also went to Vegas for 4 days and lost $1200 on roughly the same kind of play. I'm headed back to Vegas next month to try again but the inability to win a double and all those miracle dealer 21's sure took their toll!

Advanced Omega II, (with side-counted aces) is an excellent "2-level" count for use in "pitch" games. You probably have only played perhaps 10 ,000- 50,000 hands (You were vague about the breadth of your experience.) This is NOT the fabled "long run." Being approx. "even" at this time is in NO way unusual. It is probably a statistically insignificant result. It is just plain UNremarkable.

From your experience on this trip, what casino's in Reno would you recommend.

Any of the large downtown casinos are fine for green chips but the outlying ones have the best rules (DOA instead of D10 or 11). But the outlying locals casinos have mostly $3-10 betters so you will really STAND OUT there so unless you have a good act, and I don't, then you won't be able to play for more than 30 minutes in the small outlying casinos. SD games are still the norm and most have at least 50% penetration, some were up to 75%. The significant exception would JA Nugget about 2 miles East of Downtown along I-80. They have good rules (DOA, DS) on their DD games AND they handle big bets well unlike thier MUCH smaller neighbors. So I'd suggest the Nugget as your best option. Rail City, Silver Club, Baldinis, and Western Village are all very low roller oreinted so unless you want lots of attention from the Pit Critters stay out of them. Also the Sienna in downtown has great rules but they are VERY quick to bar.

Winterhawk, thanks for the information. What about the Boomtown in Verdi? Did you go there? How well do they handle green action? Have you played at the casinos in Wendover? Do they handle green action well? I do not want to get barred from any of the casino's on this first trip to Northern Nevada. Thanks again.

and I'd make trips to Wendover a on a monthly basis. They have very good games but not a lot of high rollers for cover. Wendover draws almost exclusively from Salt Lake and that doesn't translate into a lot of BIG betters especially during the week when its mostly bus trips with the older folks and their rolls of quarters. Your best options there are the Stateline and the Peppermill. Weekends are very good at those places. The other places are just too small to play very long w/o attracting a lot of attention. Preferential shuffling is the main anti-counter used in Wendover. Try tipping the dealer when you really want that next hand dealt!

Winterhawk, you are Mr. Helpful for sure. So, what you are indicating, visit Wendover during the weekend(Fri/Sat/Sun) with green action and not during the week? The CBJN indicates great penetration for the casino's there including the Peppermill(0.4). Is this fairly accurate? Thanks again.

Wendover in general has very good games but the only places you won't stand out playing green are Stateline and Peppermill on the weekends. Also there is virtually nothing to do in Wendover except gamble. Good place for a Friday/Saturday and then time to move on. Good luck!