BlackJackHack: Help Me, I've been barred!

[BlackJackHack]

I was barred from an LV casino recently ("sir, we've been monitoring your playing -- you can play any other game here, but we would appreciate it if you did not play blackjack")

I'm a relatively inexperienced card counter, but it is pretty clear that I have "game" ($11k in 2 weekends in LV). My problem is that my game is much better than my "act" (I'm a semi-geeky white collar East Coast professional, and I really don't fit in with the casino crowd (IMHO, mostly a bunch of morons)) -- I've spent countless hours perfecting my counting on the computer, but almost none on my act, and dealing with the pit critters, etc.

2 questions:

1. to what extent to the casinos really share info - does being barred from one present a major problem in the future? Am I already screwed?

2. any general advice on how to avoid this? I am contemplating a strategy of (1) using multiple identities (e.g., wealthy but dumb nouveau riche loose cannon type who wears expensive but ridiculous-looking clothes), and (2) playing only 2 hours (or $1000 in winnings, whichever comes first) at any one casino, and then moving on. Any thoughts?

[Don Schlesinger]

> I was barred from an LV casino recently
> ("sir, we've been monitoring your
> playing -- you can play any other game here,
> but we would appreciate it if you did not
> play blackjack")

Technically, you've been "backed off," as you are still permitted in the casino. But, it really doesn't matter; you can't play blackjack.

> I'm a relatively inexperienced card
> counter, but it is pretty clear that I have
> "game" ($11k in 2 weekends in LV).
> My problem is that my game is much better
> than my "act" (I'm a semi-geeky
> white collar East Coast professional, and I
> really don't fit in with the casino crowd
> (IMHO, mostly a bunch of morons)) -- I've
> spent countless hours perfecting my counting
> on the computer, but almost none on my act,
> and dealing with the pit critters, etc.

The latter was a mistake. As you can see, playing like a machine doens't really get the money for long. You need to lighten up.
> 2 questions:

> 1. to what extent to the casinos really
> share info - does being barred from one
> present a major problem in the future? Am I
> already screwed?

You're semi-screwed. Nowadays, casinos share info much more readily than in the past. Those under one corporate management definitely share, so if yours was part of a big organization, you're pretty much dead in the whole group.

> 2. any general advice on how to avoid this?
> I am contemplating a strategy of (1) using
> multiple identities (e.g., wealthy but dumb
> nouveau riche loose cannon type who wears
> expensive but ridiculous-looking clothes),

You'll get tons of thoughts here. You might read Ian Andersen's books, as a start.

> and (2) playing only 2 hours (or $1000 in
> winnings, whichever comes first) at any one
> casino, and then moving on. Any thoughts?

Yes, you're one hour too long! Playing "only" two hours is already too long. I see where your problem arose. I wish more people would listen to my one-hour guideline. So many find out after it's too late.

Don

[Claymore22]

> Yes, you're one hour too long! Playing
> "only" two hours is already too
> long. I see where your problem arose. I wish
> more people would listen to my one-hour
> guideline. So many find out after it's too
> late.

Absolutely! I strongly emphasize, and agree with Don's 1-hour guideline. I _never_ play a session of more than 1.5 hrs, and rarely play a session longer than 1 hour. Most of my sessions are in the 45-55 minute range--regardless of outcome (i.e., no stop-loss, no stop-win, etc.).

The reason for limiting one's playing time to sessions of short duration is two-fold: first, and most importantly, your play becomes much harder to track/monitor by the pit/eye-in-the-sky and, secondly, I firmly believe that even a 5-10 min break after an hour is mentally refreshing, thus decreasing the potential for mental mistakes.

In Las Vegas, it is logistically easy to suspend a session after an hour and move on to another venue.

[Jimmy B]

> I was barred from an LV casino recently
> ("sir, we've been monitoring your
> playing -- you can play any other game here,
> but we would appreciate it if you did not
> play blackjack")

> I'm a relatively inexperienced card
> counter, but it is pretty clear that I have
> "game" ($11k in 2 weekends in LV).
> My problem is that my game is much better
> than my "act" (I'm a semi-geeky
> white collar East Coast professional, and I
> really don't fit in with the casino crowd
> (IMHO, mostly a bunch of morons)) -- I've
> spent countless hours perfecting my counting
> on the computer, but almost none on my act,
> and dealing with the pit critters, etc.

> 2 questions:

> 1. to what extent to the casinos really
> share info - does being barred from one
> present a major problem in the future? Am I
> already screwed?
The identity you were backed off with is probably dead in the casinos with the same owner. Change identity the next time you play there or better yet, play a short period (1hr) without giving a players card.

Don't be intimidated by these people. They back off a lot of counters. Just keep going back. There are very limited circumstances that allow a player to park for any lenght of time and play at these places anymore.

In pitch games in LV be very careful about going from 1 to 2 hands. IMO if you are playing all black you will have a tough time playing 2 hands in multi-deck games also. Even 2 hands with smaller spreads have been subject to greater scrutiny lately.

Limit session wins to $2000-2500 at the larger carpet joints. If you win big on a hot shoe, move on.

Don't get hung up on chasing comps in LV. I realize they have value but short sessions is the key to surviving.

Regards, Jimmy B
> 2. any general advice on how to avoid this?
> I am contemplating a strategy of (1) using
> multiple identities (e.g., wealthy but dumb
> nouveau riche loose cannon type who wears
> expensive but ridiculous-looking clothes),
> and (2) playing only 2 hours (or $1000 in
> winnings, whichever comes first) at any one
> casino, and then moving on. Any thoughts?