Jon, team play

Everybody seems to have such different opinions about the amount of money or percent edge you can obtain on blackjack. If a group of people execute a team play as in the wonderful and apparently true narrative "Bringing Down the House" you can get a much better return, if you ahve a high bankroll to begin with also! But I guess my real question here is related to some posts I skimmed where it seemed like you thought counting in itself was useless or soemthing. Forgive me, I haven't gone over all teh messeges, but what else would you recommend? An ace side count, what else?? I guess I jsut want to know how I can get the fullest advantage. I should say though that I have read every book EXCEPT the one you wrote about blackjack! Hahaha, sorry!!! I jsut haven't picked it up yet. I've been studying for about 2 and a half years-- I'm only 18-- plan on hitting the casinos when I'm 21-- bring down the house! I'm also studying the phsyical discrepancees in roulette-- my goal is to get an advantage at every game I can by my 21st b-day! Aayways thanks!

I'll start by saying that I am a straight counter. I can't shuffle track or read hole cards, or do many other fancy things. My opinion is that the way to make the most money in gambling is to finance others. But I won't go into that now.

Straight counting and bet spreading, or Wonging, is very difficult to pull off at higher stakes play... or any level that could provide a reasonably good income. Reasonably good play strategy, coupled with heavy black action and any spread at all, draws lots of scrutiny. A guy who makes a few units per hour betting red and never gets backed off would not be able to make a good living simply by having a bigger bankroll and increasing his action 20 fold. The red chippers isn't really fooling anyone, like he thinks he is. The casino just couldn't care less. Once you start putting money on the table you'll find that, while they are dumb, they are not nearly as dumb as you think.

I've been able to survive the last several years only through extensive travel, use of lots of aliases, disguises, and the willingness to take casino abuse, plus risk continuously going back to places that have thrown me out. This is not something that is going to appeal to most people.

If you would really like to make good money as a professional gambler, and do so for a long time, I'd advise learning as many positive ev games and techniques as you possibly can.

Forgive me, I haven't gone over all teh messeges, but what else would you recommend? An ace side count, what else?? I guess I jsut want to know how I can get the fullest advantage. I should say though that I have read every book EXCEPT the one you wrote about blackjack!

1 - Obviously you have not read every book except the one he wrote about blackjack.

2 - None of John May's books are going to help you. Neither is anything he (or anyone, really) posts here.

Anyway, perhaps in the three years you have left to study prior to the beginning of your casino exploits, you can figure a few things out.

I've been getting about 10 e-mails an hour talking about how stupid a question it is to ask what to do if I win 10K!!! I KNOW it ain't gonna happen people!!! It was the only thing I could think to ask-- and it is something I have been wondering about for a long time-- how people who actually do it move the cash out if they are using other aliases. I was just freaking curious! I know I sounded all excited and stuff in my messeges-- but I'm not a moron! I play cards because I enjoy it. And obviously I haven't read every single book on blackjack, only about 15 or so thus far-- you're not supposed to take it literally! I'm jsut getting fed up with all the messeges I'm getting saying that I'm a damned moron. I am going to keep practicing, I am going to play, and if I feel that I am good enough and I somehow get a decent bankroll I might try it in a casino. My questions were for mere curiosity-- just wanting to know what other things people might suggest. So I'd appreciate less offensive e-mails, PLEASE!!!

if this was addressed to me or not, but if it was I have little to add to DD's comments.