> How could one go about figuring out just how much is
> needed to make even 'not really that much'?
> Is there a calculator available somewhere?
> Thanks

Well, there are lots of calculators around. The best one would be, like Dog said, is buy a sim like CVCX. Check out qfit.com and see all the calculators. Look over Don's CH10 to get an idea of risk and spread and roll for various games. If you can understand that, your half-way home to understanding the data any sim will give you. There are even free sims available as at least a starting point.

Your question is so broad that it's difficult to answer. Of course "not really that much" isn't very specific either!

But, broadly speaking, it's not just how much you will win, it's also risk involved. And both change depending on a lot of things, like counting system, use of indexes, rules of the game, penetration level of the game, whether you play-all and spread 1-8 or 1-24, whether you backcount and when you enter and leave and what you spread and when, whether you spread to multiple hands or not, use of cover or not, not to mention how much time you have to devote to a game and whether you care about hourly win, etc.

Like, maybe, say for example, in a given game, played in a certain way with a counting system, maybe with indexes or not, you are supposed to win $1 per hand betting say $25-$500, a 1-20 spread. Sounds good right? The more you play, the more you win, right? Whether your total bankroll is $200 or $200,000 you still are expected to make that same $1 per hand. But I think anyone can intuitively see that with an 8 unit roll, playing for any length of time at all, one will almost always go bust but, with an 800 unit roll, not go bust nearly as often, all the while making the same expected $1 per hand.

Just maybe keep that risk vs reward stuff in the back of your mind going forward. Knowing and understanding both may just give you the keys to the kingdom.

If you get more specific with maybe whatever it is you may have in mind, maybe, if I can't, others here can shed some light on the plan you have in mind. Maybe even just learning all that is needed to even get an answer to your question, all the questions a sim will ask you anyway, would be a useful exercise.