long term advantage.. 0.5-1.5%

can someone tell me what that really means.. i mean not every bj session u take part in is going to achieve that yield... so over the long run u obtain that % doens't that sound kind of low for the time / mental strain... and bankroll that is required to sustain any extended losing streaks that may occur...??

all i know is about a year ago .. i had a small bankroll about 1000 and i play here in canada ont..8 decks i use hi low card counting... one month i made 2000 profit but the next 2 months i lost 1500 ... that said... i had to pay off my mastercards at the same time so i didn't get to really use my profits to put back in my bankroll..

if i ever walk into a casino again... to play bj... i want to be fully prepared this time pychologically and financially ...

i was sitting down to 10 hour sessions... many a time just to break even for that day...

for starters i will have to have the discipline to take breaks more frequently and less time in total...

and i'll practise at home and see how i do over the course of a few months time...

can someone over me some advice ... to doing this bj thing right.. are there any schools in canada or usa .. that teach the game from beg.. to advance..

i consider myself a decent counter.. dabbled in ace side counts .. so i don't have a prb.. there... i think my game is weak in time and money management...

i've even considered sitting back watching a waiting untill the count becomes at least plus 3 to enter the game.. i've done that before.. sitting at the table even .. dealers would always ask me are u in???

nah... i would say .. and just sit there... watching the paint peel untill i can get that advantage that rarely comes in the 8 deck games..

anthony .. email me advice or just post it here.. thanks

I tried that same logic that you are trying to use with the long term advantage. A cop told me he had clocked me doing 80 miles per hour. "No Way", I protested, "I haven't been driving for an hour! I am only 10 miles from home, what makes you think I have gone 80 miles?"

Step 1: to play 8 decks and make money instead of wasting time, you have to enter the game when the count is in your favor, and leave the game when it is not. You can't play every hand and expect to win every time. By only playing positive counts you are also cutting down on your variance, and therefore the bankroll required.

Step 2: you have to be very selective about your game conditions. If the rules are bad, or they are not dealing deep enough into the shoe, DON'T PLAY. Know the difference between a good game and a bad game. The most powerful and effect method of self defence is called "Run Away".

Step 3: find better games. Yeah, the closest casino to you plays an 8 deck game. Their is blackjack all over. Maybe it would be better to save your money, practice, and take a vacation or trip to where their is better blackjack.

Long term advantage is difficult to define as a certainty of absolute measure.
There are many reasons why this is difficult, a few are- The proficiency and experience of the card counter- Constant play to different condtions- Change of bets due to conditons- Humans are not a machines - A flux in bankroll which may lead to a change in strategy- Nobody plays perfect.

Advantage derives mainly from bet spreads and a large bet spread is needed to beat the shoe. A 1% edge does not sound like much, but if you stay consistent,play very proficient, and have patience, you will see some positive long term results that can be rewarding.

Playing nothing but positive shoes does look good in the books, but is a demeanor of impractical use in my book. However,I do avoid most negative shoes but certainly not all of them.

If I were you I would start off cautiously and try to grind out a small edge. I dont think money should be the issue at your stage, but rather the concern of "units won".

Good luck.