I used to count cards, but where I live there are only a few casinos that have playable blackjack and there is no way to get in enough hours to make good $. Plus the bankroll requirements to make anything happen in blackjack is unreal.
Spreading 1-12 on a $5 table calls for a $5-60 spread and your max bet should 1% of the bankroll....$6000 needed for minimum red chip play!!!
At how bad most of the poker players are at the casinos on weekends. I've just recently started playing Hold 'em in casinos on a regular basis. Most of the players play every hand to at least the flop. I guess these guys are watching a few episodes of the WPT and thinking they can do it.