Which is better? Act or counting ability?

I have a friend who is a genius at counting learned a level 3 count quite easily and has no problem using it.But the problem is his act is terrible,doesn't seem to be able to interact with the plops or dealers,just sits there quitely and he looks a bit emotionless whether winning or losing.Because of this he always gets heat.
I on the other hand like to joke and have a laugh while playing,get in with pit staff and plops.although I would not be technically a better counter than my friend.I rarely experience heat and get a lot of comps aswell.
This is why I believe that act is much more important.
what do you guys think

the game right is the way to go. I got caught up in alot of "the act" stuff after my first few years of playing and it's not my personality and i don't really deem it necessary. I was at the Gambler's General Store a few weeks back and listening to the in-house blackjack expert. I was looking at poker books and he was demonstrating how to keep the count and do it with a cancellation method to 5 or 6 clueless onlookers who were just interested in a few books on blackjack. He then told them that even at red chip level most high end strip casinos will bar you after an hour once they know you are counting.

He then proceeded to sound like a genius and talk about camouflaging one's blackjack play even at the red chip level. This made him look like an even bigger genius....lol!!! It was hard to stand there and not intervene but i pride myself on my discipline to not let my ego take over, still tough though! I thought to myself that these people will never get off the ground with counting cause they will probably work on camo more than the actual aspects of the game. Learn to track the cards right, size your bets, scout and play the best games you can, work with software, read the greenchip archives 1000 times if you have to, learn to handle losing, learn to shove out the bets when the count warrants it and for the most part.....throw that camouflage out the window!!!

My current approach to the game is that i simply am not hiding the fact that i am counting cards, i know i'm doing it, don't care if people at the table think it, if the dealer thinks it or if the PC's are sweating. I now go in to play like a machine and will suffer whatever they have to throw my way. Hopefully i can keep this mentality when and if i ever get to black chips, i can't see why not, but it is an adjustment i know. I'm not trying to sound like the next coming of superman or anything....i just have seen the light! Bang 'em hard, hopefully don't get barred, but if you do move on to 1 of the next hundreds of casinos and pick up where you left off. Of course this is only my opinion but between the bullshit i have put up with between betting sports and playing bj, i simply don't worry about backoffs or barrings anymore, so why use camo? Just handing them back some of my hard earned money.

regards,

table

let me note that your question's answer does depend on what each players actual goal is. Mine is to try and make as much as i can before i can never sit down at a table again. But if you want to play for many years to come then i guess it's really up to you.

table

You need both. Neither alone is enough.

...make sure your technicals are down solid before you work too much on your act. In order to perform an act well and not lose count, you will have to have enough experience just counting. I have found that red chip level is perfect for learning the system (or learning a new system) with relatively little heat (regardless of your bankroll). Then once you have the system down, gradually work on your act as you move up the ranks. At least this is my plan, and working well so far:)

I can say, with all due respect to tableburner, I find it hard to believe that you can play black as a solo counter with no camo and last very long at all. I plan to have a great act built up (as well as numerous IDs) by the time I get up there. But thats just my style, as TB said, it should vary depending on your personality and what suits you best...

Good Luck.

D

I guess the reason why your friend is not able to perform an act has much to do with the fact that he uses a 3-level count which absorbs him totally. Other arguments for 1-level counts are the lower error rate and the fact that you can play faster which gives a better hourly win rate.
Playing speed acts in two ways. Besides the higher win rate it will provide you camo: "at that speed it's impossible for him to count!"
Of course it's important to master your count perfectly and to understand the other implications of the game like bankroll management but camouflage is indispensable if you want to stay in business for a while.

Francis Salmon

If you're willing to travel, work on seeking out games and don't overplay your spots you can empty all the black chips plus a refill or 2 in an afternoon a few days in a row while the pony tailed shift manager stands there and watches and comps the crap out of you. When you've sniffed out enough spots you can do this for 5 days every other week for 7 or 8 years. BTW..it won't happen on handhelds.

I just ... act like I used to act when I hadn't learned to count! Which isn't too different from how I act presently. Joke, look tired, look (slightly) drunk or disinterested..
It also helps that I look like an a##hole in real life, and wouldn't be remembered from one week to the next.
Also I move from one casino to another. there are enough of them within driving distance that I (who live in L.A., CA) don't ever have to visit the same place twice in a year.