When to walk away from a table

[BlackKing]

When sitting down at a Blackjack table, how bad should you be doing before deciding to walk away. After losing the first 3/4/5 hands in a row? If I sit down at a $25 table with $500 in my capital, how should I decide when to walk away before losing all of my money. In other words, how quickly in terms of time and money, should I decide that the deck is not on my side and I should try another table.

I like to go to a casino with $2,000 and where I like to go the lowest table min is $25. This means that I would optimally bring $500 to said table for adequate capital. That being said, if I were to spend all of the 500 and lose at 4 tables, my bank roll would be gone. So I'd like to keep myself from getting slaughtered if possible.

It's difficult because I once sat down at a $50 dollar table with $500 bankroll, and with my last 50 bucks I ended up walking away with $5,000. But more often than not, when you've lost half your money and you feel like you're going to lose the rest of it, you do.

I'm also looking for opinions on these matters:
1) Fact or myth: Is it just me, or is it VERY difficult to get in a good win streak in double deck tables
2) Fact or myth: In my limited experience, I've had much much more success on higher limit tables with fewer players (pref heads up). Now I know about the concept that playing heads up means the dealer gets 50% of the BJ's, but can having several people at the table dilute the cards so much that it's hard for you to win consistently?

PS. I do not count cards (not much knowledge of it, I'm only 22 so I haven't been playing long but I would like to be as experienced as possible without cheating)

I follow a simple progressive betting method that minimizes losing streak damage and maximizes those lucky long winning streaks.
I've already had enough bad experience with regressive bets, like the time I took $100 to $900 on roulette, just to lose it all in a matter of minutes.

Thanks for any info guys.

[Coyote]

My advice to you is to STOP gambling immediately!

You are playing a loosing game!

You need to start reading some books ASAP!

I would recommend Kevin Blackwood's Casino Gambling for Dummies

[21gunsalute]

Is this a serious post? $500 is not nearly enough "capital" to play at a $25 table. $2000 is likewise not nearly enough. But these are moot points because you're playing a progression which means you will lose everything you have at some point if you play long enough. Counting cards is not "cheating" but it is the only way to get an advantage. If you don't want to play with an advantage than give me your money. I'll put it to better use than any casino will.

[Chip Hoarder]

I'm also looking for opinions on these matters:
1) Fact or myth: Is it just me, or is it VERY difficult to get in a good win streak in double deck tables
2) Fact or myth: In my limited experience, I've had much much more success on higher limit tables with fewer players (pref heads up). Now I know about the concept that playing heads up means the dealer gets 50% of the BJ's, but can having several people at the table dilute the cards so much that it's hard for you to win consistently?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue6amV9bCd8

Not myth - f***ing voodoo magic, man!

[blackjackomaha]

If you don't want to play with an advantage than give me your money. I'll put it to better use than any casino will.

You beat me to it!

Anyway, please learn how to play with an advantage unless you don't mind giving the casino everything you've won, plus more. What you've told us illustrates the wonders of variance in the game of blackjack. Of course you can turn a meager amount into a large amount if the cards fall the correct way. You can also lose any amount if the cards fall the wrong way. One of the reasons these forums exist is to help others learn to knowledgeably play the game with an advantage. What you've described does not fall into this category. If you're serious about becoming a lifetime winner, you have a lot of work to do. Please read and educate yourself on correct basic strategy, choose a counting method, and practice practice practice. To do this, you don't even need to go into a casino! There are plenty of resources available, including CVCX. Once you've learned what is necessary, then go back into the casino and scout for appropriate games - do not pick one because you "feel" it might be lucky. If you were to play the $25 minimum game you described after you've educated yourself, you might be surprised to find that myself, and others, would strongly recommend at least​ a $20k bankroll.

Blackjack is definitely beatable and you're able to stay a lifetime winner over the casino only if you play smart.

[BlackKing]

Well I don't really have much choice since the lowest table minimum at the nearest casino is $25. Granted I could find somewhere else but I don't want to. Unless I'm in Vegas, that is probably what I'm going to stick to. I'm not expecting some magical profit or to do this for a living, I just want to play the best I can. That being said, I do well as often as I do bad, and I've made more money than I've lost, and I don't plan on playing every minute of every day until I've flipped all odds of me winning to the casino and I've lost everything.

Can you recommend a card counting method for a beginner that doesn't draw much attention?

[Three]

The answer to your question is not when to leave but when to sit down. Take some time and learn to play with an advantage. A few months of study and practice and you can make money. What you are doing is guaranteed losing money. The increase in bet at random only increases the rate of the average loss.

[Baberuth]

BlackKing, They are trying to help. The 2 deck game you describe is probably a good one, but at 25 min. you really need a larger bankroll. A trip bankroll wouldn't be 20K, but 5-6K is enough because you won't be playing that long at each session. With your advantage counting at a 2 deck game you will be leaving after one or two good shuffles to keep the heat away. It sounds like you go to a local store and there isn't much else around so you won't want to get barred after you start winning more often. Listen to the advice here and you will become the advantage when you enter this casino. Then you will need cover (hiding your counting ways). It sounds like you have trip bankrolls enough to make a strong BJ bankroll. I also think you will be a good student and have a story to tell in the future. i just loaned Blackjack Bluebook ll to a young man just like you. It is a perfect first book and you won't be able to put it down.
Keep tuned in and be coachable because the guys here will help you. Don't get upset if they sound shocked, but picked up on what they say. Read practice and post for more help as you do. We will all be happy for you when you are a winner much more often.

Go to school now and ALWAYS have the advantage.

Babe

[Norm]

I'm not sure why the responses I'm getting act so shocked that I'm a beginner when I stated as much

Sorry, you have a point, but that's the way of these fora. If you are a beginner, it's better to spend a few days reading posts before posting. The thing is, Blackjack seems like such a simple game. But, beating it ain’t so simple.

[Three]

KO or HILO are good counts for the beginner. If you are smart you can upgrade when you get accustomed to counting. KO is the easiest. HILO is usually batter but requires the added skill of true count conversion. A nice progression of learning: KO, HILO then zen.

[BlackKing]

Thanks for the advice and the only knowledge of when to sit down that I have right now is look at the trip tray and see if the dealer is low on black chips (I know that's silly).

But for the record, I don't raise my bet at random, I raise it by certain intervals when winning. Then every time I lose, I go back to the minimum bet.

[AussiePlayer]

Why exactly is such a high bankroll necessary, and could you please recommend a card counting method for beginners that doesn't draw much attention?

Thank you

You should start here with our gracious host's book, mainly because this book is free and if after reading it you decide card counting is not for you, then you aren't out of pocket. It will take considerable practice but contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be 'rainman' to count cards and card counting is in no way illegal, you are simply using your brain.

After reading this book, feel free to ask any questions, people here are more than willing to help you learn, they just don't like seeing people lose there money using progression betting or other losing systems as you've described.

All the best.

[BlackKing]

Thanks for your understanding, support, and advice on where to get started. If your trip bankroll is 5-6k, how much do you need to sit down with for a session?