I have about two weeks before a trip to the casinos with a bunch of friends. I am looking for an edge and have read Professional Blackjack and a few other books. I am a beginning counter and have two weeks to practice. My bankroll is between 400 and 600. Any ideas on a good strategy for that size bank. Progressions, counting techniques, etc. All help appreciated.
I hope by "Progressions" you mean betting ramp. If not, please read the info on Progressions in the BJ Reference section ASAP.
With your trip bank, you could be wiped out in one or two sessions, and realisticaly, it is likely to happen. Play the fewest number of decks with the lowest minimum bet you can find. Don't play during negative counts and if you lose count, take a break or quit.
Read all the articles in the BJ Reference section on this site and any of the books reccomended (and sold) by this site- they are solid and not based on Voodoo, or unscientific "systems".
No offense intended, but from your questions, it sounds like you need to put in more time studying, and building a bigger playing bank. Take it easy at the tables- it is easy to get overwhelmed and overdo it. Take frequent breaks and just make this a feild trial and not a $600.00 practice session.
Sentry
If you want to double your bankroll, your best chance would be to put it all on banker at baccarat in one shot. If you want to make money counting cards, you'll need a bigger bankroll or just stick to low limit single deck or a the low limit deeply dealt downtown double deck games and spread 1-4 red on the single decks and 1-6 red on double deck, you
ll probably bust out, but you might get lucky.
If you simply want to go to LV for comps, pick a generous casino with good rules and flat bet one green chip when you first sit down and the pitboss is watching, and bet one or two red chips when the pitboss isn't watching. This works best at a place like the IP or Stardust where there is good double deck with low limits and generous comp policies. You could also try this at some downtown casinos with good single or double deck (LV Club, Plaza, Fitzgeralds, etc). You'll get lots of free drinks and may get your meals comped. You'll also trigger a lot of mail offers good on future trips for free rooms.
Great advice, particularly for the beginning player. It's nice to see the experts be patient with newbies asking newbie questions.
