If you had to it all over, would you have started along the AP path?

[Aslan]

I read Revere's book over 30 years ago, and even though I was intrigued about card counting, I did not pursue it seriously until many years later after I had retired from work, my kids were grown, and my body told me to slow down with young man sports.
I love AP as a retirement hobby. However, even though BJ conditions were better years ago, I'm glad I did not pursue CC until I did because it would have been a big distraction to my career, my family life and my weekend warrior activities.

Well said.

I was a pretty good pool player back in the day. When I landed a good job I never played another game of pool for almost 30 years. I had developed a real passion for the game. I recognized that staying up all night gambling at pool would have and adverse effect on dating and later marriage and on my job. I realized that I was too obsessed with the game to become a "weekend warrior." When things become a passion, they tend to control you instead of the other way around. I'm now retired and I play all I want, although I do try strongly to give way to other things I need in my life, and in fact, had to quit playing for a long period even after I retired to make this happen.

[ZeeBabar]

Well said.

I was a pretty good pool player back in the day. When I landed a good job I never played another game of pool for almost 30 years. I had developed a real passion for the game. I recognized that staying up all night gambling at pool would have and adverse effect on dating and later marriage and on my job. I realized that I was too obsessed with the game to become a "weekend warrior." When things become a passion, they tend to control you instead of the other way around. I'm now retired and I play all I want, although I do try strongly to give way to other things I need in my life, and in fact, had to quit playing for a long period even after I retired to make this happen.

Exactly how I feel. People get addicted and then Card Counting and being an AP is just a form of denial and rationalization. Those AP's who had or have other ways of making money have generally quit playing (some write books and play occasionally) and others really have no other options of making similar income and stay AP'S.

[Goodboy]

I would definately do it again! I truly enjoy the ride and freedom it provides me. Of course I would have started wiser: I'd would have used my current counting system from the beginning, would have started travelling sooner and very aware that given my initial bankroll, spread and expenses, I was playing 2 hours of each session just to cover that. I smile everytime I remember those lucky days, when I just thought it was normal to win the way I was winning.... how naive! LOL

[Tarzan]

What are the variables here? Starting over without my job and career before and as a prelude to playing blackjack, which would only work if I knew everything that I know now and go back to the day I turned 21, in which case would work out to being as enjoyable as my most vivid pornographic fantasy come true are you kidding me!?! Otherwise, it wouldn't have been particularly beneficial because blackjack like most things you can't start with zero and I made more money working than I could have made building a blackjack bankroll from nothing at 21 years old. Add to this (and back to that pornographic fantasy thing) I did more thinking with my penis than I did with my brain at that time of my life, so I likely would have failed long before ever achieving success. Going back knowing all I know now? That's something else all together and AP would have been my only career once I had a sufficient bank to work off! Okay, here's the deal... I go back in time knowing all that I know now to 21 years old with 150,000 backing me up.

[Bodarc]

If I had it to do all over again, I think I'd spend more time looking for sugar mama's. Much less variance I think.

[mcallister3200]

If I could go back in time and had a choice of time travel vehicle, I would choose a Delorean rather than a hot tub. I'd more yes than no still AP.

[stopgambling]

For me it is really the mentality of trying to get more .

[ZeeBabar]

I never ever went at it full time and had another career to support me and while I was smart enough not to quit my job, in that early brief period of success I enjoyed myself despite doing some horrid things and taking risks (hookers, drugs etc.).

[Norm]

"Never practice two vices at once."

- Tallulah Bankhead

[Three]

Are you kidding me? If I could go back to the '70's and take BJ seriously then rather than a backup AP opportunity would I do it. Of course. Now if I could go back with all the knowledge I have now I would have no problem with making BJ a primary pursuit. Now if I had to start today at age 21 it wouldn't be such an easy yes. I think it would still be a yes but just would have to consider it harder.

[Orangechip2]

IMO, It is a bit shocking that there are only 3 people that answered 'no'. I thought that choice would at least get upper 20%.

[ZeeBabar]

IMO, It is a bit shocking that there are only 3 people that answered 'no'. I thought that choice would at least get upper 20%.

This os because the poll addresses active AP's and others are not here. If you include all folks who were AP's and who went broke or quit for other careers, I suspect it would be some 80% who wished they had never heard of card counting and became AP's only to quit because of what it did to family, raising kids, being reliable and dependable and more.

[Norm]

Zeebabar has a point and clearly that affects results. My point in asking the question was more aimed at those that have spent more time in the field. The question isn't about whether or not you have profited financially, but how it has affected your life. As if anyone can possibly project an alternative life-path.