newbie : how should I proceed?

OK, these are my goals : I want to get to a point where i can play blackjack in Las Vegas at a profitable pace at the $25 minimum tables (basically between sports games & poker, to kill time)...but I don't want to be doing it constantly, as I have other interests not primarily BJ. I have a basic understanding of the basic hi-lo count. I'd be playing BJ maybe 8 hours a trip, and maybe one trip every 6 weeks. (is this too much layoff time to make me stay sharp?)

Assuming the above, and I am somewhat intelligent, please tell me :
1. How much can one make per hour? (without getting thrown out)
2. How long should it take for an intelligent person to get to that level?
3. Once I get to that level, what spread will allow me maximum profit without getting kicked out? (is it $25-$200)?
4. If you were me, and knowing what you know now, how would you proceed? What should I read (one book rather than multiple would be more pracitcal for me)? How long should does one need to practice before I am ready?

You said:

"I'd be playing BJ maybe 8 hours a trip, and maybe one trip every 6 weeks."

That's about 70 hours per year. At the 70 hour level, almost anything can happen in any given year, and counting will not make a noticeable difference in the result for a single year, or even three years at that pace. You may not notice that you have an edge for about a decade.

Of course, it is nice to be playing with an advantage over the house.

one book rather than multiple would be more pracitcal for me

I'm nowhere near as qualified as many on this board to be dishing out advice on blackjack, but if I had to make one suggestion based on your post, it would be to read everything possible on the subject of blackjack. I know that for me, gaining multiple perspectives on the game has helped greatly.
-=-Drew

I would take my intelligent head and flush it down the toilet.

yes, I understand that i would probably not even notice the difference...however, I do like gambling with an edge...why else gamble?

Responding to number 4. If i were you i would read every book available on bj. I would refrain from becoming a disciple of any one methodology. I know the counters on these boards think they have found the holy grail but, IMHO ALL of the methods posted here work SOME of the time and conversely NONE of them work ALL the time. You should know basic strategy and the I18 and have a good counting method. You should also understand shuffle tracking (clumping) and progressive betting. A judicious use of these methods combined, provides me with a $40. per hour expected value playing green chips. While this data is not based on millions of hands it is based on many years of play all over the U.S. and Canada. Good luck

"1. How much can one make per hour? (without getting thrown out)

It is possible to average 1-2 units per hour. So, if you are spreading green, $25-$50 per hour. However, keep in mind that this will not come in a steady stream. You will have large winning sessions, and equally large losing sessions.

2. How long should it take for an intelligent person to get to that level?

If you do your homework, you can be competent with the system I am recommending by your second or third Las Vegas trip.

3. Once I get to that level, what spread will allow me maximum profit without getting kicked out? (is it $25-$200)?

It depends on the game you are playing. This will be covered in the book I recommend.

4. If you were me, and knowing what you know now, how would you proceed? What should I read (one book rather than multiple would be more pracitcal for me)? How long should does one need to practice before I am ready?

Order a copy of Knockout Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. It can be ordered from this website (catalog link at left) or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. This is an unbalanced system (no true count conversion required) and it uses a reduced, rounded strategy matrix that is easy to memorize and use. There are more powerful systems, but this is by far the easiest system to learn and use.

You can find out more at their website - link below.

You will need to spend several hours practicing at home, counting down a deck of cards. No matter how much you practice, you will probably struggle the first time you try it in a casino. Find a table with low minimums and practice, practice, practice.

For purposes of perspective, my first time in a casino was Feb of this year. I get to Mobile, hence Biloxi, every couple of weeks on business and get to play 4-8 hrs a trip. Bet red to lite green, have used KO, changing to UBZII. Won a little money, enjoyed some free hospitality, and am having a great time. Far from expert, but not far from where you are, so here's most of what I've learned.

Books: Since you know HiLo, stick with it. If I were in your place, I would start with Stanford Wong's "Basic lackjack"and/or "Professional Blackjack". He appears to be the authority on HiLo. Next book would be Don Schlesinger's "BlackJack Attack". It's chock full of more info than I can digest right now, and his SCORE system of rating games is invaluable. All are available from this site. Every book offers some unique info and perspectives. Read everything you can get your hands on.

How much you can make per hour has way too many variables to answer here. # of decks, rules, penetration, betting unit, bet spread, # of players, all affect it greatly. "Blackjack Attack" (see above) is best source for this. My bet level is less than what your are talking about and I expect about $25/hr with big variations. If you're expecting to strike gold your first few trips, you're likely in for a big fall.

Same goes for how much you can bet without heat. Varies greatly by game and casino. Some general guidelines for bet spreads are: single deck, 1-4, double deck, 1-8, shoes, 1-12.

You can't practice too much. My intelligence level is questionable, but after a month of practicing KO, my first trip counting was awful, with awful results. 2nd trip, 2 weeks later was much more comfortable.

As to how to proceed:

Get some software and use it daily. I have Sage, which I got almost by accident. It is good training and practice, but I'm starting to question it's simulator. Well worth $30. I suspect BJ 678, available here, is much better. Casino Verite is supposed to be the best, and as you can guess, costs the most.

There are great posts in the BJ reference section to left on counting and money management.

When you first get to a casino, find a low limit, like $1, 6 or 8 deck shoe game and plan on spending some time there. Your bankroll will thank you. First concentrate on keeping the count. When comfortable, start adjusting your bet. Then add playing variations. If you can keep the count all the way thru a fast shoe, single and double deck will take some adjustment, but will seem easy. Move to a
higher limit, better game only after a comfort level here.

When searching for a good game, with exception of some odd rules like even money BJ, penetration is the most important thing to look for. I search for the least crowded single deck, then double deck, and as a last resort, 6d deck table. Don't bother with an 8.

Join Green Chip. The real experts post more frequently, share more detailed info, and are a great help. You'll avoid "useful" posts like the one from Mr. Holmes, and get a discount on books and software. I can't say enough about what the posters there have done for my game.

Keep in mind, this is only my opinion, but hey, it's free.

One book - I'd go with Wong's Professional Blackjack. Not much in the "cute story's" department, but filled with info about the game in it's various guises. Also, you don't need to already be an expert to read it, but it has the more detailed data when you get to the point of wanting to go further.

Parker knows a lot about KO and I don't so I can't comment on the strategy. Several posters on this board think it's the easiest way to go. I've been playing for about 20 years, and have been successfully using hi-lo since I started.

I only get to LV maybe once a year. I play the east coast multi-deck h=games so I'm not a Vegas expert. Some on this board say only the LV one and two deckers are worth playing. I do well with multi-deck games. (Just to give you an idea as to why you'll get varying opinions here.)

Once you've read your book of choice, learn a strategy so well a naked woman dancing over the cards can't distract you. THEN -Practice, Practice, Practice. I play 100K hands a year in casinos and probably another 50K in Practice - but BJ is what I do.) If you're gonna be playing recreationally, once you have it down you'll have to put in some practice time now and then to stay sharp. Practice several days the week before a trip to get your chops up.

You'll get a lot of advice to get a simulator. I never had one and probably never will. I started practicing with CARDS and will always do so. A sim can compare games, but it ain't gonna teach you how to play.

Beanie's advice about the first ventures is right on the mark. We all have a little horror story about our first ventures into the casino world. Pick the lowest level table you can find and use it as Practice to get accustomed to the casino environment. No matter how often you've been to a casino or how much you've Practiced at home, taking freshly learned Counting skills to a casino is intimidating for the best of us. Can't tell you how good I thought I wa on my first trip - and how rattled I got - and how badly I did - and how I forgot everything I thought I had down pat.

Do some reading and monitor this board. As your knowledge comes along ask some questions. MOST of the folks on this board are happy to help a new player who wants to learn the game.

Good Fortune With The Adventure.