Usually Come out a winner...

Hi,

I have been playing black jack for about 6 months now.

I do not count card, just play and try to bet accordingly to the ebbs and flows of the game.

Me and my wife both just follow the strategy from blackjack info.com

we've been doing well.
In las vegas earlier in the week, we did came out like 600 bucks up from the mandalay bay

We had been scoping tables, staying away from continuous counting machines, dealer must hit on soft 17 tables. Mainly 25 dollar tables and Mirage and Mandalay, which we did well on. all six deck games
We stayed away from all 6:5 games as well.

This weekend, our brother in law came to town so we thought we'd go to Atlantic City, where all tables are dealer must stand on all 17s etc.

1st stop: Borgata. we went there bc we had heard its the place to play BJ right now. We started at the 25 dollar tables 6 deck games. And we busted out very quickly. Split aces, both 21's and the dealer hit a 4 card 21... just bad luck like that.

We moved to Ballys, noodle bar,and some bj.
Same thing, we tried sitting out hands, but busted out again.

Moved to Trump Plaza, 8 deck. Even worse.

so We never lost money before, and now we got hit big time.

I am assuming this is pretty normal.

For players who just follow strategy, i guess its not enough.
What would you suggest?
1. learn a counting system?
2. Stop gambling all together?

anything else?

Well, i appreciate all the help.

Sam

without learning how to play with an edge then I'd advise learning how to become an expert comp hustler to get back as much value as possible back that way. With rooms, meals, cash backs & coupons, free tournaments & drawings, etc, you recoup a very big piece. Try to make it appear you are betting more than you are. Play slowly, seeking out crowded tables. Just the opposite of an advantage player who is looking to maximize his hourly positive ev. You want to minimize your hourly negative ev. Get player cards everywhere so as to maximize mailers. Don't play any place longer than you have to in order to earn a night and a meal or two. Take your action elsewhere after that. Playing twice as much does not nearly double the value of what you get in the mail from one place. But playing at twice as many places does.

As usual, you would do well to follow DD's advice if counting is something you don't want to learn. Comp hustling can make blackjack at least a breakeven game with the house.

As DD' said, play slowly. Look for games with poor penetration (how far the dealer goes into the deck or shoe before shuffling). Crowded tables with handheld games that have poor penetration are the slowest. If you can't find handheld games, then find a shoe game with lousy penetration by looking at where the dealer places the cut card before returning the cards to the shoe after the shuffle. The more cards she cuts out, the better off you are for comp hustling. Look for crowded tables in shoes as well, and if you happen to find a table with a chatty dealer, and talkative players, the game can get very slow, which is good for you. Take bathroom breaks midshoe instead of waiting for the shuffle. If you carry a cell phone, taking a break to "answer the phone" or "make an important call" can be worthwhile as well.

Look for promotions that add value to the game, such as special bonuses for certain hands or the holy grail of promotions, blackjacks that pay 2:1. Take as much advantage of coupons as you can, and make sure you get rated in any house where you play, even if you are only playing for a few minutes.

If you are playing at $25 levels or higher, you will find that many places will give you a free meal for very little play, and sometimes you can get them just after a buy-in. If a host approaches you and asks what she can do for you or if you need a room for the night, or wants to know where you are staying, find out what they may be willing to do for you.

Just a few pieces of advice for a potential comp hustler.

you would have better EV for your time and effort if you work an entry position at McD's.

Learn to count. Learn to play. Learn it all. Then go back in there fully loaded and ready to rock.

hi,

can anyone suggest, either a good book, or website that has a solid counting method and related techniques?

Hustling for comps is nice, but still no guarantee.

Sam

can anyone suggest, either a good book, or website that has a solid counting method and related techniques?

Click on Home at the top of the page. Then look for BJ School on the left. That will take you to the gamemasteronline website. He teaches the hi/lo system. You might want to investigate the KO system. You can go to their website, and the KO Rookie system is explained for free.

Also look into the Greenchip section of this website.

Books? Professional Blackjack, Blackjack Attack....KO book if you decide on KO...and go from there...good luck.

Counting gives you an edge. It is like trying to pick a white marble from a jar with 51 whites and 50 black marbles. You will lose frequently. Comps, however, are just about a sure thing unless you get barred for counting. What you would like to do is play with an edge and get comps.

If you're looking for a guarantee, and you're looking at counting, then yer lookin fer luv in all da wrong places. A comp is the closest thing I know to a guarantee in the gambling business.

Unfortunately for me, I don't LIKE asking cockroaches for comps. So I'd say, in answer to your original question, if it's between counting and quitting altogether -- ixnay on the amblinggay.

ETF

One more thing I'd add, and that is to ASK for comps. I've found that asking is necessary for many comps, especially food comps. Green chip play will get comped meals at many places (and not just buffets), even without a long time of play.

If you decide to play strictly for comps or to augment your EV with comps, check out Max Rubin's Comp City.