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Thread: Hollywood: How do you handle this?

  1. #14
    Hollywood
    Guest

    Hollywood: Re: Probably, it's only UNITS

    > It appears you are betting 1-10 black,
    > correct? With all respect, Hollywood, do you
    > feel that is an appropriate level of play? I
    > have read many of your posts, and I will say
    > that you are progressing, but I don't think
    > you are ready for high stakes blackjack. You
    > may want to lower your stakes, take your
    > time, be patient, study the game, and then
    > move back up. Good luck, and I wish I had
    > the bankroll to bet that big.

    Thank you for your post. But, I must say it's only units. It is completly umemportant if I play at a $10.00 table or $100.00 table. All of the principals play out exactly the same.

    I'm only a KO player and according to that system when the counts call for it, I must send it in. (As is the case with all systems.) Unfortunately I pretty much only play in AC. I'm a high stakes person in regular life, so why wouldn't I be a high stakes player? The problem in AC, is that anything outside the pit is 8 decks. I am not confortable playing with 8. But, even if I were playing at a $5.00 table, I would still be playing with black chips only. To me UNITS are UNITS, and it's inconsequential what the denominations are. That is where risk of ruin comes. Mine could be one thousand dollars and yours one million.

    If I gave you the impression I am complaining about the losses, I apoligize. I come in here when unusual things happen to me and I need reassurance that what i'm doing is correct. The wins come much more frequently then the losses. I apply every principal in KO combined with every page and word that is spoken by THE DON. (they only thought the real one died on 6/10 ) I can't do more then that. I love the criticism I recieve in here. How the hell else can I learn.

    Here is a kick for you. I just purchased a watch (looks like any other) that is for handicapped people who can not hear. I am able to set it and it vibrates on my wrist silently. This allows me to preset my sessions, so I am constantly warned as to how long im playing without anyone else knowing. Now this was as a response to some nice person posting several months ago that perhaps my sessions were to long. My point is I evaluate every word that is said in here (good or bad) and I make my adjustments accordingly.

    And when all else fails, I go looking for the DON

    Thanks to everyone in here, I sincerely appreciate your feedback.

    Hollywood

  2. #15
    Hollywood
    Guest

    Hollywood: Re: Probably

    > I will say this much: there is no way in
    > the world to lose more money faster than to
    > play the shoe, alone, with a big spread.

    > The swings can and will be astronomical.
    > So, maybe you want to play for lower stakes,
    > or maybe you want to play with others, both
    > of which will cut both your EV and your SD,
    > on an hourly basis.

    > Or, maybe you really are ready for prime
    > time! :-)

    > Don

    You know Don, that is a very good point. I never sit down alone with a dealer. But, frequently the other people I sit down with leave and I find myself head to head without it having been my original intention. I think I will make that adjustment and just announce casually, "I really don't like playing by myself, i'm gonna go to another table". The funny thing is that in all the Pits, there is no place far to go. You are confined to a small area. (you being a long island guy, know this)
    But from now on I will impose this into my ritual.

    Thanks Don,

    Hollywood

  3. #16
    MathProf
    Guest

    MathProf: Agree with Only Half

    > I will say this much: there is no way in
    > the world to lose more money faster than to
    > play the shoe, alone, with a big spread.

    > The swings can and will be astronomical.
    > So, maybe you want to play for lower stakes,
    > or maybe you want to play with others, both
    > of which will cut both your EV and your SD,
    > on an hourly basis.

    > Or, maybe you really are ready for prime
    > time! :-)

    > Don

    Swings are inherent in Blackjack. If a player cannot tolerate swings at their current betting level, it suggests they may be over-betting their risk tolerance. The solution is quite simple: reduce the stakes, which was one of your recommendations.

    I don't see much point in playing slower. You will not reduce the magnitude of the swings, but the length of time that you suffer through them. If you next swing is a 10K loss, I would say it is better to suffer this in a couple hours, and get it behind you, rather than lose it over an extended period of time.


  4. #17
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: Probably

    > I think I will make that adjustment and just
    > announce casually, "I really don't like
    > playing by myself, i'm gonna go to another
    > table".

    I do that quite often. Playing a shoe alone, you have to eat all the negative rounds yourself, or be forced to get up and change tables a lot. Again, this is more than balanced by the opportunities to have all the high counts to yourself, but if cover and appearances are important, it's something to take into consideration.

    Don

  5. #18
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: Agree with Only Half

    > I don't see much point in playing slower.
    > You will not reduce the magnitude of the
    > swings, but the length of time that you
    > suffer through them. If you next swing is a
    > 10K loss, I would say it is better to suffer
    > this in a couple hours, and get it behind
    > you, rather than lose it over an extended
    > period of time.

    To each his own. The complaint was a huge swing an losing 17 hands in a row. If you play like a machine, this shouldn't matter, as time is money, so volume per hour should be all that is important.

    Unfortunately, we are all not machines, and, therefore, sometimes adjustments to "perfect" play are called for, purely on the emotional level.

    What I advocate for myself isn't always what is right for someone else.

    Here's an interesting question, to which I never get 100% the same response from everyone:

    If you're destined to break even for a week's trip, would you rather be ahead for the entire week, only to give it all back in the last couple of hours, and be bummed out to leave even, or, would you rather be losing the whole time and make an exhilarating comeback in the last couple of hours, to get even?

    Same result, but two very different emotional experiences for the week and for the plane ride home. People don't answer in the same manner, although it shouldn't make any difference to a pro just putting in the hours.

    Don

  6. #19
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: Probably

    "BJ will test your soul."

    > I like that.

    Hmmm. Why does that sentence have a familiar ring to it? First person to give the book and page reference wins a prize -- only I haven't thought yet about what the prize will be! :-)

    Don

  7. #20
    veinte-uno
    Guest

    veinte-uno: Easy!!

    > "BJ will test your soul."

    > Hmmm. Why does that sentence have a
    > familiar ring to it? First person to give
    > the book and page reference wins a prize --
    > only I haven't thought yet about what the
    > prize will be! :-)

    > Don

    Page 11, Chapter 1: Back-counting the Shoe Game
    (five lines down)

    Written by the ever profound Don Schlesinger in "Blackjack Attack" 2nd edition.

    Buenas,
    Veinte-uno

  8. #21
    Hollywood
    Guest

    Hollywood: Re: Easy!!

    > Page 11, Chapter 1: Back-counting the Shoe
    > Game
    > (five lines down)

    > Written by the ever profound Don
    > Schlesinger in "Blackjack Attack"
    > 2nd edition.

    > Buenas,
    > Veinte-uno

    ARE YOU SURE? I THOUGHT IT WAS FRANK STANTON WHO SAID THAT.

  9. #22
    BlackJackHack
    Guest

    BlackJackHack: Do you win in AC?

    I realize this is a bit of a change in topic - but I noticed that you said you play in AC. Do you actually win there with any consistency? Does anybody on this board win there?

    I live only a three hour drive from AC, but based on what I have read about the conditions there, have never even tried to play there. As a green chip player, the $250 airfare to LV (or $200 to Mississippi) is a pretty nominal amount of money to spend to get better conditions.

  10. #23
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: Easy!!

    > Page 11, Chapter 1: Back-counting the Shoe
    > Game
    > (five lines down)

    > Written by the ever profound Don
    > Schlesinger in "Blackjack Attack"
    > 2nd edition.

    I'm impressed! Of course, it was in the first edition, too, but that was a pretty quick reply.

    Now, I have to think of a prize! :-)

    Don

  11. #24
    ET Fan
    Guest

    ET Fan: I tend to react per casino

    > Here's an interesting question, to which I
    > never get 100% the same response from
    > everyone:

    > If you're destined to break even for a
    > week's trip, would you rather be ahead for
    > the entire week, only to give it all back in
    > the last couple of hours, and be bummed out
    > to leave even, or, would you rather be
    > losing the whole time and make an
    > exhilarating comeback in the last couple of
    > hours, to get even?

    > Same result, but two very different
    > emotional experiences for the week and for
    > the plane ride home. People don't answer in
    > the same manner, although it shouldn't make
    > any difference to a pro just putting in the
    > hours.

    I wouldn't feel much different. In either case, I'd be bummed out for "wasting" my time.

    But if this involved more than one casino, I might be "happy" about one and mad about the other. Currently, in the entire universe, there's only one casino that "OWES ME MONEY!" ;-) I know that's not a professional attitude, but I'm not a professional. I'm on a holy crusade to take the casinos down a peg.

    ETF

  12. #25
    Mr.X
    Guest

    Mr.X: Re: I tend to react per casino

    > Currently, in the
    > entire universe, there's only one casino
    > that "OWES ME MONEY!" ;-)
    Wow, are you only down overall in one casino? That's very impressive. Can you say, or give a hint at, which casino that is?
    I keep close stats of my play. Four categories, win/loss, time, EV, EV/Hour. I have a ranking system with many rules. EV gets a triple weighting.
    Of the 104 "currently active" casinos (casinos still open which I have had action, not just a non-playing time charge, in the last 5 calendar years), I am down in 9 casinos. But most have had little play. The most down casino, which HAS had a lot of play, is Harrah's Reno (my symbol HhR). The others, symbols only, are B (high stakes counting, large SD), O (a big 1CP loss in one trip, little action since) V (only played twice), MC, GN (Laughlin)(minor action),Cas (back when it was Sho), Fro (bad luck in the late 80's),and JW (minor play, zero EV).
    The 2 biggest losers alltime for me are not on the "active" list. RI and BPP, both in Atlantic City (gee, what a coincidence), back when I worked in DC/VA 77-87.
    My #1 ranked casino overall has been virtually inactive last few years. I won't give the name, but it had been known, in the good old days, as a flashing haven, in Northern Nevada. It has since really dried up.
    I don't have the list in front of me, but there are about 80 casinos on the "inactive" or "closed" list, of which I've lost at about 8 or 9. Anyone remember the Flamingo Capri?


  13. #26
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: I tend to react per casino

    I used to have fun doing what you are doing now. I stopped when I realized that the statistics were almost certainly completely random and totally devoid of any true meaning.

    But, it was still fun to do. :-)

    Don

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