I'm Putting Blackjack in Mothballs, Thanks To All!

Gentlemen,

About six to eight weeks ago, I played my last session of blackjack which I foresee to be my last for quite some time. With a wife and child to consider, my long held desire to venture into moderate to high stakes has come to a halt, and I can no longer justify the two hour plus round trip travel time for the three or four trips a month I had made to play a $5 to $80 play most or a $10 to $80 wonging game. The time involved, vehicle wear and tear, not to mention the volatility of the game have forced me to reconsider my options.

For many years, I have considered myself to be underemployed, though I have done very little to rectify the situation. I had returned to school a few years ago and I was able to bring GPA up from a putrid mid two range to a respectable 3.26 though I fell short of getting my degree (Financial Management). At the very least, returning to school was a resume enhancer but until now I've done nothing to capitalize on it.

Currently, I have a tremendous opportunity for employment as an Investment Representative with a top five or six brokerage firm. I anticipate that I will need to dedicate myself to 60 to 70 hours per week over the next three to five years before I really make a strong go of it. I'm fortunate that I have the strong support of my wife and parents. Being a broker is something I've wanted to do for the last decade or so and I've finally overcome the fear of making such a career change. Needless to say, I don't anticipate that I'll be playing any more blackjack over this time frame unless I strongly overachieve and surpass the median income for a third or fourth year broker.

I've only been an intermittent poster here over the last two years or so but have been an almost daily lurker. Over the last few weeks my lurking has dwindled and I anticpate that I may only lurk about once a month or so in the future just as a form of diversionary entertainment.

I'd like to thank all of the tremendous posters on this site, most without even knowing it, for all of their great wisdom and knowledge they have shared. I feel my game is a strong one and I do anticipate a day when I will return to the fold of advantage play. As one poster once replied to me, "the game will always be their in the future". I'm sure that, say, five or six years from now, it won't take me all that long to "ramp up" up game and take it back out of mothballs.

I can't even begin to give a list of of acknowledgements but I'll try: Don Schlesinger, Stanford Wong, DD, Math Prof, Cacarulo, Parker, BJAddict (Orange County), Bad Cutter, The Mayor, Moose (the visual provided by the story of Moose's almost back off followed by a loud F--- an A still cracks me up), El Burro, Bootlegger, Joe (though I wouldn't try many of his methods) are just a few who come to mind. I really appreciate EVERYONE, including Clarke Cant and TG (I'm a pretty forgiving guy even when personally attacked, especially on a message board).

I've tried on occassion to give back to the newcomber what was so freely given to me although it seems like every time I'd be ready to give an answer, Parker had beaten me to the punch. :->

I just felt a need to let everyone know that I'll be moving on for now lest anyone happened to be thinking "I wondered what happened to that Telescopic guy; he never posts anymore" (not that I'd really be that missed here or anything).

So there it is. I certainly hope the best for everyone here. I'm feeling almost emotional that I won't be regularly following the trials and tribulations of many of you here. Though I've met none of you, I do feel a certain connection to many of you.

Enough blathering,

Sincerely,
Telescopic

based on what is right for your family and your future and that shows that you are a good man and have your priorities in the right place.

I am 51 years old and have been successful in my occupation and thus in a position where I owe no one and have the spare money to play the gamble game.

The thing that always held me back from big stakes is that I have 2 kids in college and one who in the fall will be in the 9th grade of HS.
While their college is paid for, (Met Program), and we have considerable savings set aside for them, my playing is always tempered with the thought that I still have them to take care of, the responsibility of children and family.

You made the statement about BJ always being there. I now doubt it will always be there for the counter, tracker, as the casino is doing more all the time to stop us with machines and rule changes. I think it is now just a matter of time.

In reality there is much better things to do with your time than gamble, even at it's best it is a dangerous pass time.

It is my belief that taking care of business and family must always come first and I see you subscribe to that also. That is excellent, I applaud you.

Best to you.

Joe.

in view of the return you were receiving for the effort involved.

If, when you return to the casino, I would suggest you only bring what you can afford to lose. Never take any money with you that should you lose it, would impact your family in the slightest way. Family is always first!

You are wise to follow your educational and professional goals...BJ will always be around, do not let the game become your master, it's supposed to work the other way around.

I wish you good luck and good fortune...and leave you with this quote.

Regards,
Wildcard

I know how you feel. When I read PB and started this gambling habit, about 6 months ago, it felt really cool. I was thinking "Wow, man, I am screwing over a CASINO, how incredible is that?". I was getting a real kick out of watching waiters, dealers and other casino critters servicing me with that look on their face that hissed "Come, come, dear ssssucker, make yoursssself comfortable and give ussss all your savingssss". And then I proceed to rip them off. Hahaha. :-)

But as time passed, it felt more and more like a job than entertainment. Profit is the only thing that keeps me going nowadays - everything else sucks. The ever-present stench of burnt tobacco sucks, the combination of flashing lights and noise sucks, sitting for hours staring at playing cards sucks, and you know what gets me the most? The social environment.

Is there any other place with a higher concentration of morons per table than a casino? If someone did a survey, the average IQ of a casino patron should be around 75. I feel I am getting dumber just by talking to these people.

So if you are giving up gambling for good, then more power to you, I'll probably join in the near future. Money isnt everything, best things in life are free.

You only live once, why waste this life on counting cards.

Living a gambling life, keeping a secret identity and occupation, doing nothing to help the world, risking a lost of bankroll, waste of time and emotional depression.

I think I will leave card counting for now and enjoy life.

Although you profess to be a lurker, you have stepped up at several junctures with kind and informative posts that led me to discoveries of a most profitable nature. When I was just learning to count and taking trips to Wisconsin for the experience, you gave me gentle reminders to not slip back to bad habits. Your advice on spreads, penetration, and especially on understanding standard deviation moved my game along much more quickly than I would have found alone. You made me reach back for Arnold Snyder's writing at a time when it was highly relevant. and you encouraged me to dream of better days that would follow when I had doubts about my abilities to assimilate the new information. Thank you for training your lens in my direction...

You have probably made a great career move at a time when your clients' expectations will be at an all time low. I hope your learning curve has the same kind of slope that you allowed my skills at blackjack might find with proper application and perseverance. Your predictions have been fulfilled..... as my bankroll has been doubled twice since you first noticed me. I suppose you have to take some credit for this.....:-)

You may also be interested to learn that the casino where I had a knockdown dragout with management about their policies with abusive ploppies and poor comps has begun to suck up to me in a major way. A free room, three dinner comps at the Steakhouse, and a handwritten letter from the casino host have come may way in the last couple of weeks. As you once pointed out, patience is a priority when dealing with shoe conditions on midwest riverboats.... and don't burn your bridges behind you when you deal with management.

Don't suppose the lousy conditions and improper penetration on the Ohio have anything to do with this retirement, do they?

BTW..my library is now up to 25 books on BJ, if one includes Snyder's 'Beat the 2D' and 'Beat the 6D' articles that you recommended to me before my campaign on downtown Vegas,

Good luck with the Bulls and Bears. I would have to opine that your timing, as usual, is right on the money.

As some of the posts in this thread illustrate, you may have contributed far more than you realize.

I wish you success in your new career, and I am confident that if you approach it with the same degree of tenacity and common sense that you have approached advantage play, you will indeed achieve that success.

I respect anybody's decision to quit gambling, but thinking you are "helping the world" by doing something else is an overly idealistic view, don't you think? What percentage of people really "help the world" in carying out their occupational duties? Some people in the medical field would be an example of those who do, but how many others do? In reality, most of us are just existing as pawns who are at the mercy of the powers that be, most notably Corporate America.

Enjoy your time away from the game, if you ever decide to come back, I'm sure it will be something innocent that brings you in, like walking past a poorly-dealt 6D game but noticing the RC is +19 and you happen to have some 20s lying around..

I'm glad I could amuse with my tales. Believe me, I felt like I won a million dollars when I finally figured it out ;)

Enjoy your family, I've come to learn that they can be far more worthwhile than some crazy card game and some funny paper with numbers next to it.

M.

one person is quitting blackjack for a while to come, and now everyone thinks it is the best move and are ready to join him??? I respect the reasons that Telescopic is leaving the game, i really do. It sounds like a GREAT move for him. But what, is counting cards really that horrible???? I'm beginning to wonder why anyone on here even does it anymore. All i ever hear is negative stuff about blackjack on here.

Believe me, i have played enough hours and have lost enough money and hit some swings that i dread facing again. But that's blackjack folks!!! I simply LOVE this game, and if it was easy, then hell, everyone would be doing it. I look forward to all the challenges that the casinos throw my way. As long as they offer decent games, then i KNOW i am gonna keep making money. Most people in the world are content with working 9-5, and if it makes them happy, then i congratulate them, cause to me, success is measured by happiness, and happiness only. Me though, I hate working 9-5, and having my time OWNED by someone else. I like living a certain kind of lifestyle, and money is what makes me happy, and i am not sorry to say it. No, money isn't everything, but it DOES it for me.

I have met most of my dearest friends through gambling, and i look forward to making many more hopefully. I wouldn't trade what i do for anything, except maybe an entertainer, or professional sports player(who could blame me there) I am very young and feel that if i ever do get to the point where i DON'T want to do this gambling thing day in and day out, then when i decide to tone it down, i will have alot of money to make life a little easier.

Then again, if alot of u really do plan on giving this thing up, go ahead, cause then there will be more money left for me to take...LOL!!!

Good Luck Telescopic, and i hope uhit it big at your new occupation!!!!

Later all,
table

Scobee, I'm glad to hear of your success. You've definately become a very active, enquiring student at I'm sure your game is a proficient one. Only ten more books to go, and you'll have my library matched. At your current rate of expansion, I'm sure you'll match my number and then some in a matter of weeks. Very perceptive of you to recognize the mediocre condition available to me on the Ohio River as a contributing factor.

I love this game as much as anyone here, but I can't continue at any cost. I've realized as well that I've always played as an undercapatalized player and I did forget to mention that I've made a vow to myself that I won't play again until I am once again completely free of unsecured debt AND $50,000 in the Black (seperate of my 401K and IRA which I would NEVER cash out for a game such as blackjack). With that being said, I'd say my career total of 460 hours was time well spent and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

So now my career path is changing. I'm certainly willing to work hard to get into the long run of my chosen profession as the median income for a 5th year Representative at this firm is over 100K and for a rep. with 10 or more years it is over 200K. Quite honestly, I'd be ecstatic if I attained those numbers and will be happy if I attain 70% of those numbers. At the same time, I realize that I must set my sights higher than the median figures as I'd be closer to the chopping block if I only attained the numbers that I'd be happy with.

If I was still in my twenties, I'd probably hold on to the dream of being a semi-pro counter but seeing as I'm in my mid thirties and have already bypassed many, many opportunities toward more lucrative career choices, I believe the time has finally come for me to take on new challenges and endeavors.

but I will be back,
it the game is still playable down the road

Telescopic

I figure I must be at least a couple of large in the hole to you, if you took your broker's commission. Too bad I can't share a comped surf and turf with you to celebrate the new job....but if you travel to Chicago and I don't hear about it, you're in for a lifetime of stale pizza! :-)

I'm glad you have diversified your web site choices... and just because you aren't playing doesn't mean we aren't playing for you.

If you don't make recreational stops frequently enough on these forums you are sure to hear about it. If for some reason you change the e-mail address, let me know. It would be interesting to hear about those 'other' lucrative career choices since the prospects you discuss as being within your grasp seem pretty attractive all by themselves.

I just know you will be a revered advisor because unlike my former FA at Morgan Stanley, you understand risk and individual tolerance for it. You have learned how to develop realistic approaches to monetary investments and are not afraid to cut your losses. That will put you head and shoulders above most brokers.....but it is your humanity and diligence that will bring you the clients. It would not surprise me if you are underestimating your place in the hierarchy at the new firm within a couple of years. But I am sure you will put in a lot more hours than you did learning advantage play to understand these markets.

So what else can I say? Bull Market or Bear, there are always opportunities for those willing to make the correct plays. At least your library to study will be expanded. Who knows? You might turn out to be the next Edwin Lefevre. Your research in Market Theory could inform your eventual return to blackjack.

see ya in Parker's Playhouse,

scobee