"Blackjack Dairy" by Stuart Perry...comment..

[ZeeBabar]

I just re-read Blackjack Dairy by Stuart Perry with foreword by Don. S and praise from Arnold Snyder. Just starting to climb out of my biggest losing streak, I find his story comforting however, the man won $2310 in 231 hours of play over 2 months in Las Vegas.

In the conclusion, he goes over his mistakes (playing some bad games, playing when tired etc.) but what I found weird was that I thought his attempts at cover were costly. Surprises me that it was not seen by the author or editors.

He was mostly playing $10 and $25 DD and 6 deck games. He writes about spreading from one hand of $25 to 2 x $200 but for cover purposes, he often started out with 2 x $50 at the beginning of the shuffle, often increased his bet slowly despite count being positive and the reverse. I think these cost him.

I dont know how some of you LV based guys do it, cover plays, if you have to do as much as Stuart Perry does. Where I play, in the midwest, I play a Spread of $25 to $150 or $25 to 2 x $150 at DD games and $25 to 2 x $150 at 6 deck games and I seldom have to do cover plays and when I do, its just starting out with $50, dropping down after a loss.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

" ... often started out with 2 x $50"

I commonly do the same, to partially mask my spread.

Stuart Perry's spread was so very "impolite" at 6 deck

and predatory at DD. His [$25 to 2 X $200] is 16 to 1.

[Bigdaddy]

I commonly do the same, to partially mask my spread.

Regarding the above - starting out at 2 x $50. I'm interested....Do you stay at two hands throughout the shoe (or until wong out), or do you drop back to one hand and then back to two hands when the count dictates?

[ZenMaster_Flash]

If you move back and forth between one hand and 2 (or more) you are asking to be 86'd.

You start out at 2 hands and stay there as long as the count is not poor. Once you drop to

one (1) hand you remain there until the shuffle. There is nothing easier for surveillance to

do than checking the points where you increased / decreased the number of spots

you played.

[mofungoo]

This book is good about describing what it is like to play a bankroll and gives a good description of the severity of variance that can happen in a couple of hundred hours of play. The ups, the downs, the feelings of isolation, the backoffs, everything that happens during the play of the game. The technical advice is so-so with spreads that are too aggressive without a good act.

[Stealth]

I just re-read Blackjack Dairy by Stuart Perry with foreword by Don. S and praise from Arnold Snyder. Just starting to climb out of my biggest losing streak, I find his story comforting however, the man won $2310 in 231 hours of play over 2 months in Las Vegas.

In the conclusion, he goes over his mistakes (playing some bad games, playing when tired etc.) but what I found weird was that I thought his attempts at cover were costly. Surprises me that it was not seen by the author or editors.

He was mostly playing $10 and $25 DD and 6 deck games. He writes about spreading from one hand of $25 to 2 x $200 but for cover purposes, he often started out with 2 x $50 at the beginning of the shuffle, often increased his bet slowly despite count being positive and the reverse. I think these cost him.

I dont know how some of you LV based guys do it, cover plays, if you have to do as much as Stuart Perry does. Where I play, in the midwest, I play a Spread of $25 to $150 or $25 to 2 x $150 at DD games and $25 to 2 x $150 at 6 deck games and I seldom have to do cover plays and when I do, its just starting out with $50, dropping down after a loss.

While I have not read this particular book, I am familiar with Las Vegas DD play (have records for over 500 sessions) and can tell you that I, also, bet 2X50 off the top and rarely go beyond 2X150 at the top. I do believe the opening bet with the pit watching is critical to extending his disinterest in my play.

I will add, that the players persona is equally, if not more, important. If you look like a card counter, then you will likely have more trouble than a retirement age guy playing with his wife. Other presentations can be equally beneficial. Things like playing with a demonstrated precision to betting and decisions are technical constructs that are harmful to longevity, persona trumps many of these. Develop an act that is believable and use it.

With the correct combination of these, IMHO that you can play DD in Vegas at the "local" stores, if you rotate. Do not play rated and do not get greedy. If the numbers above do not suffice for your needs then you might consider other opportunities.

[DSchles]

First of all, since you wrote it not once but twice, could we call this a Diary and not Dairy, please!

Second, you need to realize that the events in the book took place over 20 years ago, and that virtually nothing in Las Vegas today even vaguely resembles what it was back then.

"Stuart" and I go back 25 years, and while he was a fine blackjack player and very knowledgeable about the game, it is far from his primary area of expertise.

Don

[ZeeBabar]

First of all, since you wrote it not once but twice, could we call this a Diary and not Dairy, please!

Second, you need to realize that the events in the book took place over 20 years ago, and that virtually nothing in Las Vegas today even vaguely resembles what it was back then.

"Stuart" and I go back 25 years, and while he was a fine blackjack player and very knowledgeable about the game, it is far from his primary area of expertise.

Don

well, now Ihave the honor of being corrected by Don S. Actually I screw up Dairy with Diary often even in pronunciation, calling "Diary Queen" instead of " Dairy Queen" and getting corrected by family. Another common error is "Dessert" and "desert".

I guess Las Vegas these days is very tough. I think many other casinos , particularly the smaller ones (Caruthersville, Mo, Evansville, IN etc.) have opted to save $$$ by not having too much technology into surveillance and rely mostly on pit folks to request surveillance. It's mostly local players but when someone is betting big, they ask someone to evaluate sans technology and when someone new and young come by, they look more closely.

[Boz]

First of all, since you wrote it not once but twice, could we call this a Diary and not Dairy, please!

Don

Dammit Don. I was going to ask about the pasteurization process.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

" ... Talk about killing it."

Minimum Wage.

[Jabberwocky]

Dammit Don. I was going to ask about the pasteurization process.

I played in a blackjack dairy once. All I got were grilled cheese sandwiches and twenty one cream-filled soft pretzels.

[Freightman]

I played in a blackjack dairy once. All I got were grilled cheese sandwiches and twenty one cream-filled soft pretzels.

Dammit Don. I was going to ask about the pasteurization process.

Reminds me of the blonde who was told that a milk bath would help to improve her dry skin. She left a note for the milkman asking for 10 gallons. The milkman, thinking the young lady had made an error, knocked on her door to confirm the unusual order. She explained her reason.

The milkman asked - pasteurized? - no, she replied, just up to my tits.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Norm]

Knowing "Stuart" for a couple decades, and, like Don, having an original manuscript of the book; I would guess that he wasn't likely to have had a good "act". But, I think the book is a valuable read to new players, and as Don says, it is not his area of great expertise.