Anyone play video blackjack at a casino?

**bruceinga** · 01-24-2014, 01:55 PM

I enjoy video bj more than a live table game. I've found one machine at an Indian casino that offers 1 deck; shuffled after every hand doubling on 9, 10 and 11; split first pr only with no doubling; 6 card Charlie; dealer stands on 17 or 6 cards. Oh yea, bj pays 3-2. Minimum bet is $2 and max is $50.
I've been playing there for 16 months, usually winning. My winnings weren't much, probably because I only bet 2 or 4 dollars. I was happy leaving with $100 or so for a couple of days play and the room was comped.
A couple of months ago I got braver and decided to up my bets to a max of $10. Also, paying attention of streaks of high cards. I would start with a bet of $2 and when I noticed a streak of tens I'd increase my bet to $10. After a few hands I would see that I once again was being dealt 13 or 14's or I would lose a couple of hands. At that time I'd go back to my $2 bet.
I am finding that now I'm winning 5-8 times more per trip than a year ago. I understand that I should expect a loosing streak but so far I haven't experienced a lasting one. I have experienced a losing morning or afternoon but the next day I'm back to winning.
One more thing, over the two days we spend there I only play maybe a total of 10 hours. I'm thinking of increasing that and possibly increasing my bets to $20 when on a streak. This is really different from my beginnings at Binion's when I was play .25 vbj.
I'm glad that counting won't work on these games as I don't think I could concentrate enough on it.
I've downloaded a strategy card with this game's options from Wizard of Odds and am happy with the results.
I keep up with my "money in" and "money out" and my totals for each day. In 11 trips I have had only one losing trip.
Thanks for listening, I just had to share my excitement!

**steveistheman84** · 01-24-2014, 02:13 PM

quit while you're ahead brother. if you expect to make money or even break even in the long run, you're in for a rude awakening. you should go back to the wizard of odds and look up the house edge for that game. it's not much, probably around .2% or so, but you go through a lot of hands at a much faster rate, and expect to lose that %age of each bet you make. good luck anyway.

**bruceinga** · 01-24-2014, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by steveistheman84

you should go back to the wizard of odds and look up the house edge for that game. it's not much, probably around .2% or so,

I did, house edge .125%.
My bankroll per visit is only $200 to if I were to lose that I'm still way ahead.

**muffdiver** · 01-24-2014, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by bruceinga

I did, house edge .125%.
My bankroll per visit is only $200 to if I were to lose that I'm still way ahead.

You'd be exactly $200 less ahead.

**hitthat16** · 01-24-2014, 02:54 PM

What if you lose the 200 for multiple trips in a row? House got you.

**bruceinga** · 01-24-2014, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by hitthat16

What if you lose the 200 for multiple trips in a row? House got you.

As of now I'm up far more than $400.
I'll post my results in two weeks.

**redbuck** · 01-24-2014, 03:22 PM

Investors???

**Slacker13** · 01-24-2014, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by bruceinga

A couple of months ago I got braver and decided to up my bets to a max of $10. Also, paying attention of streaks of high cards. I would start with a bet of $2 and when I noticed a streak of tens I'd increase my bet to $10. After a few hands I would see that I once again was being dealt 13 or 14's or I would lose a couple of hands. At that time I'd go back to my $2 bet.

Maybe I am confused, but if they shuffle after every round why would any "streaks of high cards" change your starting bet? Am I missing something?

**bruceinga** · 01-24-2014, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Slacker13

Maybe I am confused, but if they shuffle after every round why would any "streaks of high cards" change your starting bet? Am I missing something?

I know what your are saying. Do a search on card clumping on some of the blackjack boards. From what I got out of it is that even after shuffling there are tens and are in groups. Try it yourself. Shuffle a deck of cards and then look at them. All tens aren't equally divided.
I'm not saying that every time that I think there is a streak that it actually happens, but, many times I will win the 5 out of 6 or 3 out of 4 hands. I will even win some that I shouldn't win, for instance, my 12 against the dealers 10. Sometimes I will lose two in a row so I'm back to the $2 bet.
I have had an hour or so of losing hands but then the next hour is full of winning hands.

**hitthat16** · 01-24-2014, 07:08 PM

Card clumping is a myth.

And video machines use random number generators. Where's even the remote possibility of "clumping" there???

**Marvin** · 01-24-2014, 07:09 PM

How many spots can be played? If you can play 7 spots, or if 7 people could play a hand, then it may be possible to gain an edge by betting more on the last 2 spots and just using play deviations. With a $50 max bet it's not really worth serious consideration, but it is interesting.

**bruceinga** · 01-24-2014, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by redbuck

Investors???

lol! My good buddy, my daughter, and wife's sister will joining my wife and me on our next trip! I'm concerned that I'll have to spend time helping them.
Speaking of my wife, she believes me but she's hesitant to increase her bet to more than $4 a hand. She is also reluctant to double and split. I tried to tell her that doubling and splitting is when the most money is made but it's hard for her to risk that money. I've always been a low roller but now I am paying more attention to the cards dealt and not the money bet. In fact I find that when I do lose money it's because I haven't decreased my bet after 2 or 3 losses. I need to concentrate more on that.