Losing session update

[seriousplayer]

I post recently about my losing session but the thread was closed. So I opened up another thread. I just want to update that I am starting to recover from my losing sessions. As of right now I am only down $200. I recovering from my losing sessions was risky because Harrah is observing my play right now. I have been losing more hands than winning but I have been winning my big bets at true count +4 or higher. Since I was using a 1-12 bet spread they call up to surveillance when I put out my max bet. Unfortunately, you need to be able to play to make money in Blackjack. When I notice the heat might be coming after the shoe turned negative I ask for color went to the cage and left the casino. Before they have the opportunity to really analysis my play I left. but I have been playing long sessions before. It seem like they are putting my hands into the computer and doing analysis. Game I was playing was six deck S17, DAS, LS. It seem like the dealer and pit boss is giving me hints that they know I am counting cards. Because the pit boss was saying to me "You sound quiet today what is the wrong?" I answer I just have to go to the bathroom. Then a dealer today when I was playing said to me you lower your bet just in time. When I first master card counting I know that the casino is in business to make money. They prefer to cater to players who know how to lose rather than those who know how to win. How I stand out is that everybody seem to be losing but my chips seem to be going up.

Should I start watching my bet spread when the pit boss is watching? Given the fact that card counting is not considered illegal in Pennsylvania the casino can deny player from playing a game in which they have an advantage versus the house, how should we cope?

[ZenMaster_Flash]

The "Pit Critter" (not the Pit Boss) observing you means very little.
in fact, if the Pit Critter is NOT watching you that often means that
the "Eye in the Sky" is already doing a "skills check" on your play.

You need to avoid playing "by the book." You must develop some
camouflage which includes reducing the frequency of your changing
your bet size too often. Learn why you need to always stand on 16
vs. 10. Learn why it benefits you well to bet 2 or 3 units "off the top."
Comprehend why it is wise to take "Even Money" and to insure your
20's, 11's and 19's below your regular index to do so. Finally, learn a
stronger count than what you are using now. Doing so has numerous
rationales, including, making it more difficult for the staff to decide that
you represent a threat to them; and making it so that you can utilize a more "polite" (less threatening) bet spread, and lowering your ROR
(Risk of Ruin).

Counting cards is easy. Winning money is hard.

[Three]

Should I start watching my bet spread when the pit boss is watching? Given the fact that card counting is not considered illegal but the casino can deny player from playing a game in which they have an advantage versus the house, how should we cope?

On top of ZMF's fine advice on your game. Only you can assess the situation accurately. It is tough for others to say when just getting your report. Just because they know you are counting doesn't mean you will get the axe. Having others see a winner actually helps business and they know it. What they act against is someone that is a true threat to their bottom line. Some counters are long term losers. It may just be variance or it may be they are bad at either counting or the non counting aspects of playing a winning game. Anyway, they will tolerate you too a point. You don't want to play too frequently, win too much at any session or over a short span of multiple days, or bet too much (spread or max bet) and you don't want to win too much over the long haul. All these "too"s vary by casino. Some have almost no tolerance while others have a great deal of tolerance and everywhere in-between. When you have overstayed your welcome they will let you know. It looks like you have identified at least some of the signs. Leave if you have overstayed your welcome. If the signs look really bad a vacation from play at the property may be in order. If you are way down on a day don't try to get it all back in that session.

This is the appropriate time to use the it is all one big session adage, and be happy getting most of it back and posting a loss. The loss looks good when reviewing your file. Whether you play rated or not they have a file on you now and likely have for a while if you were playing unrated. If you play where they have license plate recognition software they likely have your name on it or at least the plate. When you show up they know you are there before you place a bet and add play to your file. The key now is to stay within their comfort zone. Most AP's get a BO because of their greed. Some AP's don't care because they are using a slash and burn strategy at that store. If longevity is important at that store don't give them a reason to act by doing any of the "too"s. I always figure most places know I am counting because it is not hard to tell. The key is to allow them not to act without getting shit from their boss. When what you do will make them catch shit you are forcing them to act. If you do things right when the BO comes (not if) it is for a very high lifetime win and not anything else.

[seriousplayer]

This is the appropriate time to use the it is all one big session adage, and be happy getting most of it back and posting a loss. The loss looks good when reviewing your file. Whether you play rated or not they have a file on you now and likely have for a while if you were playing unrated.

Overall I was a winner playing Harrah's Eight Deck blackjack. It is just recent that I start losing in their six deck blackjack games. I know mathematically I will get it back. Talking about overall I am still ahead of them in profit. But I don't like losing to Harrah's.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

As long as you are not perceived as being "greedy" your longevity will be enhanced.

instead of listing all that a player must do (and not do) I will leave it to others to post

their thoughts and their questions here, as this is a crucially important topic to explore.

[seriousplayer]

The "Pit Critter" (not the Pit Boss) observing you means very little.
in fact, if the Pit Critter is NOT watching you that often means that
the "Eye in the Sky" is already doing a "skills check" on your play.

You need to avoid playing "by the book." You must develop some
camouflage which includes reducing the frequency of your changing
your bet size too often. Learn why you need to always stand on 16
vs. 10. Learn why it benefits you well to bet 2 or 3 units "off the top."
Comprehend why it is wise to take "Even Money" and to insure your
20's, 11's and 19's below your regular index to do so. Finally, learn a
stronger count than what you are using now. Doing so has numerous
rationales, including, making it more difficult for the staff to decide that
you represent a threat to them; and making it so that you can utilize a more "polite" (less threatening) bet spread, and lowering your ROR
(Risk of Ruin).

Counting cards is easy. Winning money is hard.

How does the casino figure out that my play is a stupid play or you just deviating according to the count? Some pit critter don't know how to count cards. If I stand on my 16 vs 10 while my big bets are out how do they know that I am counting? Because average player will think that because he has a big bet out that is why he is standing. Because he don't want to lose his big bet.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

How does the casino figure out that my play is a stupid play or you just deviating according to the count? Some pit critter don't know how to count cards. If I stand on my 16 vs 10 while my big bets are out how do they know that I am counting? Because average player will think that because he has a big bet out that is why he is standing. Because he don't want to lose his big bet.

You are mistaken. Utilize "Occam's Razor" to easily determine
the least complex (most likely correct) solution to this issue.
Ploppies play simplistically, i.e. they change their bet size but
rarely, or they bet progressively in an easily observed pattern.
They play their hands predictably, e.g. With 16 vs. 10 they very
consistently stand OR hit. They don't vary.

[Three]

If I stand on my 16 vs 10 while my big bets are out how do they know that I am counting? Because average player will think that because he has a big bet out that is why he is standing. Because he don't want to lose his big bet.

This is an easy one. When the RC is not negative the correct play is to always stand. They look for differences in the way you play certain hands. The productive matchups for them to look at are high frequency matchups with an index close to 0. This means you will frequently be making this decision as you will get the hand frequently and you will be often make different decisions because the index is so easily reached. In a short time if you don't always play the matchup the same they will see you play it both ways. Now if you are going to always play it the same which way should you play it? You want to play it right for your advantage bets so you always stand. The second issue is how you play it one way versus the other correlates with when you have increased bets out. Unless you use an ace neutral count, then the correlation is most of the time. This makes it easy to spot.

[DatabaseGuy]

What count are you using?

[seriousplayer]

What count are you using?

My own version of True Count KO with CVDATA generated risk averse indices. I keep improving the count by adding tweaks. Like canceling out the Aces for insurance betting sometimes to make the insurance decision more accurate.

[seriousplayer]

This is an easy one. When the RC is not negative the correct play is to always stand. They look for differences in the way you play certain hands. The productive matchups for them to look at are high frequency matchups with an index close to 0. This means you will frequently be making this decision as you will get the hand frequently and you will be often make different decisions because the index is so easily reached. In a short time if you don't always play the matchup the same they will see you play it both ways. Now if you are going to always play it the same which way should you play it? You want to play it right for your advantage bets so you always stand. The second issue is how you play it one way versus the other correlates with when you have increased bets out. Unless you use an ace neutral count, then the correlation is most of the time. This makes it easy to spot.

Suppose I am a pit crew who doesn't have any idea on how to play blackjack what tell them which hands or plays to look for? The computer?

[Three]

Suppose I am a pit crew who doesn't have any idea on how to play blackjack what tell them which hands or plays to look for? The computer?

The guy that does, his boss.

[Jabberwocky]

Suppose I am a pit crew who doesn't have any idea on how to play blackjack what tell them which hands or plays to look for? The computer?

Stupid splits, crazy surrender, ridiculous double downs. The chameleon synergy in action. There's your answer spelled out in black and white.