Beginner Progress Update 2

**Chef** · 12-01-2014, 01:48 PM

Figured I would keep a little log here for any suggestions and to maybe help the beginners out there on what to expect while learning and practicing the steps needed to master Blackjack BEFORE the trip to the casino.

My first post on this matter was here: http://www.blackjacktheforum.com/sho...ips-strategies

Daily routine consists of 30-45 mins of Basic Strategy work and counting exercises. I deal out a 6 deck shoes to 4 players plus a dealer, and play all hands using basic. After a few shoes I move to some counting drills. Single deck counting, single deck count vs dealer with basic, and then dealing in pairs. I think it finally clicked when counting down a single deck. Last weekend I clocked it at 49 seconds for my first try and today I'm down to 35 seconds. Still slow but for all the beginners out there, if you don't practice the speed simply won't come. However, I do have some trouble playing basic and remembering the correct count when I am not saying it out loud. If I can say the count out loud along with basic, I play perfect. Practice and time will sort this out though. Its all slowly coming together now. 3 weeks ago I looked at the basic chart and thought no way. Now basic is as easy as tying my shoes in morning or writing my name.

Whats next? Continue on running count practice daily and trying to get away from speaking the count when I'm playing against the dealer. Haven't touched deviations or betting units yet. Not nearly ready for it.

Most importantly is this: I am making progress. At this point I am a far better player than I ever was before when playing. I look back and think why would I ever play blackjack without the knowledge I'm learning now?

Best,

Chef

**paymypush** · 12-01-2014, 03:54 PM

What count do you have cooking there, Chef? Is is Hi-Lo or you experimenting with more than one?

**MJGolf** · 12-01-2014, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Chef

Whats next? Continue on running count practice daily and trying to get away from speaking the count when I'm playing against the dealer. Haven't touched deviations or betting units yet. Not nearly ready for it.

Most importantly is this: I am making progress. At this point I am a far better player than I ever was before when playing. I look back and think why would I ever play blackjack without the knowledge I'm learning now?

Best,

Chef

You HAVE to learn counting WITHOUT moving your lips or speaking the count. WAY TOO EASY for them to see you do that; but honestly, if they see you move your lips or hear you count, I doubt they take you quite as seriously.

Best thing in world is to acknowledge your limitations and to thirst for the knowledge to KEEP IMPROVING. This board will help. Practice helps. Playing at VERY low limits helps; treat any losses as the cost of training. Treat any wins as positive variance. The reason I say you have to learn AT the tables some is there is NO way to absolutely duplicate a true casino atmosphere without playing........without being in the heat of battle with all of the distractions there are at the table. No amount of "leaving tv on; radio or music playing; playing with friends, etc" will EVER duplicate REAL CASINO action.

My best wishes in learning but you might also join as a member and take full advantage of the subscription posts, suggestions, etc, too.

**bassplayer3822** · 12-01-2014, 08:46 PM

ill second the subscription option. its only 3 bucks a month man. i would bump your practice sessions up to 1 hour in the morning and one hour in the eve. i done this for the past few weeks and had basic and counting down. i can do them both in my sleep now

**Jabberwocky** · 12-01-2014, 09:01 PM

Involving yourself with Blackjack presents you with two problems.
The first is to develop the skills to play a winning game. The second is to know how to hide those skills from the casino. But don't listen to me. I'm a looney lune and haven't a clue.

**ZeeBabar** · 12-03-2014, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Involving yourself with Blackjack presents you with two problems.
The first is to develop the skills to play a winning game. The second is to know how to hide those skills from the casino. But don't listen to me. I'm a looney lune and haven't a clue.

There is a third problem and that is you yourself. Read http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/...t/wontwin.html

**stopgambling** · 12-03-2014, 08:30 PM

2nd and 3rd are much harder. 1 st is easy . It is very hard to find playable games anymore , I meant without a great deal of heat and uncrowded condition.

**Intermediate** · 12-05-2014, 05:49 AM

OP, I taught myself counting much the way you are - dealing four hands on the kitchen table, counting down decks, adding a skill at a time. One way to get away from saying the count out loud is to use "the voice in your head"', like you are reading to yourself. You also should start practicing with the TV on, music blaring, and having a friend or spouse talk to you.

I also support the suggestion to get into a casino and find a very low limit game so you can practice with real world distractions. It will also help you get comfortable with chip handling, buy-ins, digging for more money, etc..When I started, there were still $2 and $3 games around. I suggest you limit yourself to $5 tables max until you feel confident you can maintain the count, play and bet ramp appropriately. I haunted those local charity "casino nights" for about a year. I got some good practice maintaining the count while other players ripped me for hitting my 12 vs. 3 and my A7 vs. 10.

RS · 12-05-2014, 07:03 AM

In my opinion, make sure you know basic strategy 100% down cold. It should be as easy as writing your name.....it's just automatic. I wouldn't practice counting and basic strategy at the same time.

Perhaps, try playing out a shoe just using basic strategy, no counting. Then play out a shoe with just counting, no basic strategy (ie: Deal out 3 or 4 hands, no hits/splits/etc.).

Before practicing with TV, music, etc. make sure you can do it perfectly without those distractions. I think the best distraction is actually talking to someone. I've found that even if the TV is on or music is blaring, I can "cancel it out" and ignore those distractions. But when you actually have to talk to someone, you're forcing yourself to concentrate on that as well, as opposed to just ignoring it. In other words, don't just have a wife talk to you and tell you a story, interact and talk back.

**Exoter175** · 12-05-2014, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by RollingStoned

In my opinion, make sure you know basic strategy 100% down cold. It should be as easy as writing your name.....it's just automatic. I wouldn't practice counting and basic strategy at the same time.

Perhaps, try playing out a shoe just using basic strategy, no counting. Then play out a shoe with just counting, no basic strategy (ie: Deal out 3 or 4 hands, no hits/splits/etc.).

Before practicing with TV, music, etc. make sure you can do it perfectly without those distractions. I think the best distraction is actually talking to someone. I've found that even if the TV is on or music is blaring, I can "cancel it out" and ignore those distractions. But when you actually have to talk to someone, you're forcing yourself to concentrate on that as well, as opposed to just ignoring it. In other words, don't just have a wife talk to you and tell you a story, interact and talk back.

I agree with this, a lot.