is cover really necessary at low limit tables?

I have never counted in a casino, but am becoming fairly confident of my skills. I want to know how extreme you can play at a $5 (lowest at my casino) table without raising any suspicion that I am a counter. It's a 6 deck shoe.

I hear that you won't get any heat at a 5$ table... but I know I will if I play $5 hands for 4 decks and then all of a sudden bet 2 hands of $100. how extreme should I play?

No. I would say don't use any cover. I play green to black and still don't use much cover. Just limit your time at any table to about 1 hour. After the hour, go to another table or leave the casino.

Are you planning on playing in Michigan?

lets say I spread 5-60 at the tables and get some looks from the pit crew but don't get backed off. Then won't they remember me and when I move up to $25 tables get barred right away.

afford to give away anything and using a lot of cover at low limits guarantees that you will probably never move up to $25 games anyway.

This thing about the pit remembering you at higher levels....nope...in all likelihood...they won't remember much about you. Low limits is the time to just play like a robot and it's also the time not to aquire bad habits that will haunt you later on.

that's a good point... I know that I could gain the edge sacraficing anything.

thanks

that's a good point... I know that I could not gain the edge sacraficing anything.

thanks

Some things will draw attention to you, but for the most part you'll go unoticed. A big buy in on a $5 table is a red flag, not many people buy in for $1000 when there playing $5. I buy in for $100 or $200 and buy in for more when I need to(out of chips, double down, splits) or the count justifies playing more. I've found on a $5 table if you get up to the +$1000 mark you get noticed or if your doing well and you start playing $25x2.