The Prince: Keeping up with practice

[The Prince]

Once one becomes proficient at card counting, to what extent does actual casino play substitute for practice. In other words, how often does a guy have to isolate and practice the fundamentals of card counting (counting down decks, running through flashcards)once everything has already been put together? Does putting in casino time by itself take care of spending an hour or two flipping through a deck one card at a time and flipping through flashcards.

[bfbagain]

Once one becomes proficient at card counting, to what extent does actual casino play substitute for practice.

It doesn't.

In other words, how often does a guy have to isolate and practice the fundamentals of card counting (counting down decks, running through flashcards)once everything has already been put together?

As often as necessary. I know. That's a vague answer, so I'll try to be more specific.

There isn't a day that goes by, when I expect to visit a casino, that I don't run through my counting drills. Once you're proficient, and experienced, you probably can get away with counting down deck(s) 2, 3, or 4 times before (I) heading out, providing I'm both accurate, and fast. Well, I'm always fast. It's the accurate part that I'm concerned with. It's kinda like shooting baskets in a gym. Has anyone really quit, on a miss? Not me, and not anyone I ever played with. Even if it was a layup, I wasn't leaving until I made that basket.

Same thing with counting drills. I have to be accurate before I head out. I honestly don't make many mistakes, but I do, on occasion, so I won't leave until its right. As time goes on you'll know (especially on a trip) how many times (for me, I keep 2 decks with me always) you need to perfect your drills before you go into a casino for the day. If I'm playing everyday, I'll probably just count down 2 decks 2 or 3 times, then off I go.

As to indices. There can be no substitute, but you can keep a chart with you (don't bring it into a casino) and review it. You can also do this anywhere. It's rare that I don't run through my indices at least once every couple of days when I'm not playing. When I'm playing, its all day long. A small clarification here. You will find, both during the day, and trying to sleep at night, how your mind will review plays, literally hundreds of plays that you made in the casino. It is with that in mind that your indices will always be right there (at the tip of your tongue and in your mind's eye), ready to be reviewed, just too make sure you did the right thing. Sometimes its a pain in the ass at night when I want to sleep.

Of course, there are other drills as well, but you need to practice over and over, and I've been doing this a long time. It adds or reassures confidence, of which there is no substitute when playing this game, which can, on occasion, test your very soul.

cheers
bfb

[Norm Wattenberger]

There are better cars than a Porsche

Of course I agree with everything else. Besides the lack of time pressure, the problems with practicing in a casino are: you don't know when you're making an error and you don't run into unusual situations often enough, by definition.

I do find that I have a problem at times. When practicing the count for the highest speed possible and then experiencing the relative slowness of a casino, at times I have double-counted cards. I have to force myself to look at the cards as little as possible. Of course this is good practice anyhow.

[Parker]

> Once one becomes proficient at card
> counting, to what extent does actual casino
> play substitute for practice. In other
> words, how often does a guy have to isolate
> and practice the fundamentals of card
> counting (counting down decks, running
> through flashcards)once everything has
> already been put together? Does putting in
> casino time by itself take care of spending
> an hour or two flipping through a deck one
> card at a time and flipping through
> flashcards.

I'm not that big on counting down decks, but being somewhat of a computer geek, I never travel anywhere without my trusty laptop. I set up Casino Verite to mimic the game conditions I will be playing, and put in a "virtual" session before hitting the tables for real. I don't really think of this as "practice" -- more like a baseball pitcher warming up in the bullpen before taking to the mound.

[Viktor Nacht]

> There are better cars than a Porsche

No, there are faster cars than a Porsche, but there are none better.

Regarding everything else, right on. I do, however, encourage beginners to go out and play red chips ASAP as much as possible, keeping count without changing their bets (or just adding a silver on positive counts). IMO, 50% or advantage play is being comfortable at the table and comporting yourself well, without which you will make mistakes and/or look too obvious. It's an education you won't get at home, and you're going to pay for it one way or another, so while they are working on playing perfect at home, I say get your ass to the tables and get used to the flow of the game and the various pressures such as time and other human beings.

Good Cards,

V

[Ouchez]

> I'm not that big on counting down decks, but
> being somewhat of a computer geek, I never
> travel anywhere without my trusty laptop. I
> set up Casino Verite to mimic the game
> conditions I will be playing, and put in a
> "virtual" session before hitting
> the tables for real. I don't really think of
> this as "practice" -- more like a
> baseball pitcher warming up in the bullpen
> before taking to the mound.

You use the military approach, frequent drilling, knowing the enemy and battle simulation.

I would label you a "BJ Warrior".

Regards,
Ouchez.

[Sun Runner]

.. and it should be a generally cheap education.

I sat with my son one night over the holidays and watched him play and gave BS advice. Red chips against a CSM.

We played for three hours and were down $2.50 when we left. Shoot, he drank that much in half caffe decaf mocha latte caramel expresso deals.

I like mine black.

You must practice; but nothing beats the being there.