Team strategy

I looked through most of the bulletin board. How come there are no posts reguarding team strategy? Isn't that where the real money is?

recent threads on Green Chip...perhaps you need to pony up $12.25 per quarter and check it out.

What is it about team play that you don't understand. Team play is just like solo play except that you have investors and players (and combinations of investor-players).

I'm considering taking a BJ seminar taught by a couple of the ex-MIT team to get my foot in the door to a potential team. Do you think I'm wasting my time and money?

...if you and your group have what it takes. The chances are pretty remote. There is a big difference between a team sharing a bankroll, and "team" play as people think of the MIT teams. Sharing a bankroll is the best approach in my opinion, but I don't think this is what you are referring to. Any ideas you may have on making alot of money quick and easy is pure fantasy. Even though it is very possible to make it big the "MIT" way, there are so many obstacles I wouldn't know where to begin.

On a side note, I am very much against any seminar that charges money to educate people on how to make money. I consider ALL of these seminars to be over-hyped scams. You have to understand that the people giving the seminar are making their money by giving a seminar, NOT by practicing the idea they are pushing. You have to be pretty gullible to buy the idea that "I made my millions and now I just want to help people". This is just my opinion. Can you tell I hate seminars?

How are you on solo play? If you are not an A+ on solo play you will have little to bring to the table for a team. You can do more harm than good. Solo play is something you can and should perfect on your own.

Best of luck!
Krillion the Great

I'm pretty much an amateur counter, I've been practicing hi-lo at home with "black-jack verite", but I haven't stepped into a casino yet. I don't know anyone in the BJ community, so I thought this seminar would be a good "foot in the door" towards a possible team. But I hear what your saying, I guess I'll try my luck solo on minimum bet tables for a little while. Thanks-- Mike

That is what I would do but others may want the eduction of the seminar. You could receive some benficial information there, but not anything different from the vast amount of information available in the better books and on the net. If you go I would do it mainly for the info, not the prospect of joining a team.

Someone posted a couple weeks ago on the "science" and "art" of counting. The possibility is a science, but actually doing it and getting away with it is an art. Almost all of my practice is done in the casino. I have and love verite, but I rarely play actual blackjack on it. I do extensive research and homework for countless hours but I do very little simulated play. I do this so I perfect the "art" while I practice the "science". Another reason is that I find it boring to play at home, so perhaps I am making excuses for my own shortcomings in my training. This method has worked well for me but others believe in practicing for many hours at home. Find what works best for you.

The toughest part of the game is variance. It will ruin almost everyone that makes an attempt at advantage gambling, or trading for that matter. Learn to accept the variance and manage the risk and you have 99% of the game. Learning to count is the easy part.

Always remember that making money long term at blackjack is very difficult. Like every "get rich quick" prospect, if it was so easy, why isn't everyone doing it? How many professional blackjack players have you heard of that have been playing full time for over 20 years? I am sure there are a couple others but I know of only one. Wow!

Good luck,
Krillion the Great

You've been playing full time for 20 years, that's impressive. If you ever have an interest in taking a newbie under your wing, I'd be interested. I live in New York. Thanks again for the advice.

-Mike

I realize now I made it sound that way but it isn't me. Maybe someday. I have only heard of one guy that is still doing it full time after 20 years.

Good luck,
Krill