foxwoods counting

I have mastered basic strategy and counting hi-lo in pairs, and I can cleanly count down a deck in about 25 seconds.

I understand how to count and why one benefits from counting - but how can I implement what I know at a place like Foxwoods in Conn? 8D, DAS, DA2, LS, S17. Dealers usually cut off two decks or less, so the conditions aren't great, but they should be beatable.

What counts and bets should I use, and what are other peoples' experiences at Foxwoods?

Thanks you,

D

I think that I am at almost the same level as you are...
I have been a BS player for a long time, and have been working on counting for a while (I use KO). I have had a few runs at counting in casinos...
If you look down in the posts there are some messages about Mohegan Sun that answer some of your questions and mention Foxwoods.

One bit of advice (and I would love any comments to this)
Practice counting in a table type setting, Here is what I did to pracice:
deal out 10 cards in pairs
count (I count after it is in pairs)
deal out each hand according to BS, and keep count as you do.

This helped me with 2 things, 1 it was like a table setting, 2 I had to count and think BS for 5 hands....which is harder than I thought the first few times, then pretty easy...

Have fun, Mohegan is close to Foxwoods, and I found many open tables there...but the penetration does suck.

Rob

is the crowding. You can't afford to just sit down and play all, but when you backcount, when it's time to jump in, you have to be ready to piggy back your bet on a willing seated player. Since foxwoods is always crowded, I find that finding piggyback participants is not too hard. Try to find someone to piggyback on who is not a total moron though--they get to make the hit or stand decisions.

Since you are just starting out, I will say if the count doesn't get to +1 by the time a deck or so is played, move on--there are plenty of other tables.

post of the month Dec. 1999 talks about powerful strategies about hitting the big shoes. I learned to count in foxwoods, I made some good money there and I used that post as a guide. I still have my origianl print out.

I had a blast playing at foxwoods. I used the partnership and wonging techniques. Never play-all. When I played with a partner I used the markers as a tactic to pull out of alot neg. situations and hold a spot or both in the process. A good Foxwood tip: If you become friendly with another player or players ot the table, and they are about to leave for good, encourage them to have a marker dropped in thier spot, when they say- But I am not coming back? Reply, you play well I would rather not have a bad player join the table. Do it if you are in Pos. territory, it will keep one or two spots out of play for at about 15 minutes, this will increase your hands per hour. It adds up the more you do it.

GC is worth it if you are serious.

If you find conditions crowded, try finding an OPEN seat at the
Shuffle. Sit down and start playing. If the count tanks, get up
and try to find another seat. Even play a hand or 2 of BS at the tail end of a shoe IF that is what it takes to land a seat.

Don't let the count go too negative. Typically leave when the HI-LO
true count is about -1, of course that can be modified a bit depending on the dealer penetration at the table.

If you use KO, I believe in the book, there are some exit strategies you can use.

Best of luck,
Shoe

Foxwoods allows backlining, that is a player can place a bet behind
the player owning the betting spot. Foxwoods allows separate play
for the 2. In other words, let's say you own the spot and have a surrender play. You surrender, but the ploppy behind you does NOT
have to surrender. They allow that ploppy to hit or stand IF they do not wish to surrender.

If you are playing one hand, no big deal. But let's say you are playing 2 hands and you allow a Ploppy to backline the first hand.
Let's say the count is reasonably high and you have a decent size bet out there. You recieve a 7,7 on the first hand and a 9,2 on the next hand while the dealer shows 10. The count justifies a surrender of
the 14. The ploppy decides to hit. With a high count, there is a
greater liklihood that the hit card is a 10. The ploppy hits, WHAM
a 10 to break. Now you double your 11 and receive a deuce! How would you feel? SURE the running count came down one and you still had "almost" (well for all intents and purposes virtually the same chance, but technically a Bit less) as good a chance to catch another 10. We know that, but psychologically you will be PISSED none-the-less!!

ALSO IF you chose to PLAY behind a PLOPPY you will MISS certain plays
because they DON'T know how to play! The players at Foxwoods are
ATROCIOUS!!! Wait till some damn ploppy hits 12 vs 4 in a high count
and breaks with your BIG bet going down the drain! I DON'T backline ploppies!!

Best of luck,
Shoe

alot like the vegas tourist style player in Foxwoods, I agree..I wouldn't backline. Those scenarios OMS described happen often, and if you are just starting out it can be psycilogical torture to have two max bets livelyhood in the hands of some hammered ploppy, and then, because of a bonehead play, watch them both go down the drain like his shot of jack. good luck.

The flip side: Take advantage of the bad plays. Somtimes ploppies fear the double down..if they will allow it, buy thier double. This will rake in some good e.v. Another good Foxwoods tactic.

This also makes for some awesome plays. You can pick up a few % points by splitting and doubling with a ploppy that doesn't know when to split or double and get a good edge from their lack of playing knowledge.

Check my spread sheet for the best plays to look out for:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackjackcardcounterscafe/files/other%20players%20hands.xls

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