See the top rated post in this thread. Click here

Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Skills test ideas

  1. #1


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No

    Skills test ideas

    One of the things I am most concerned about is my skill level. I know that session wins and or losses cannot be a determining factor on my play accuracy.


    So my question is if you don't have an established AP to look at your game is there any way I could do it myself or with the help of someone who is untrained but willing to deal?

    I have a complete at home set up


    I deal myself a lot but I just don't know if that's an effective use of time. I could be wrong but I am assuming some of the full time pro's and some part time players probably hone their skills to "practice"

    Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

  2. #2


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    I think CVBJ has a practice suite included. You can run down cards based on your count, play against an expedient dealer, and have the software correct counting, playing, and index errors. I think it will also train you to catch errors by the dealer.

  3. #3


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Casino Verite is a great test of technical ability but is not much help on measuring your ability to play in a casino environment.

    Before CV, remove two cards from a deck and then count it down in under 30 seconds without an error for five consecutive times. This is a test of your ability to count, playing and keeping the count come later in CV and simulation plays.

    Now, you need some help from a knowledgeable player.

    First you should have two shoes dealt to you while keeping a running count and playing basic strategy with flat bets and make no more than one error per shoe (two errors = fail, go practice and repeat from beginning). The dealer should stop and verify your running count about ever two rounds.

    Now, set up CV with your count, departures and bet ramps and select the game you play most often. Be sure the option to log your play is on and notification of playing or betting errors is off.

    Play 3 shoes per session (longer if you like) and then review the playing log in detail which will show you the exact play you made and tell you of any error. The log is time stamped so that you can also see how fast your were playing and does that meet casino speed (100hph or more).

    When all of the above are working then have someone deal three shoes playing your entire game, count, TC conversions, departures, Bet ramp with no more than one error. It is advantageous if the dealer has the ability to mix in wrong pays, wrong hand resolutions, cheating, noise, distractions, etc. Set the shoe up so that positive counts come early and fluctuate through the shoe. We want lots of changes in the play.

    Do not be discouraged if you can not complete the first time, very rare for a new AP to do this without fail.

    While others may offer different means that are equally effective, I have used these and found them to be effective.

    Good luck.
    Luck is nothing more than probability taken personally!

  4. #4


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Thank you
    I made leaps and bounds with cv especially turning up the speed
    I do have trouble estimating the discard tray though. I am much better in real play doing it than in the computer screen

    any changes or tips if I have a non player dealing me for the real play?

  5. #5
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Eastern U S A
    Posts
    6,830


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No

    For a complete beginner, there are a few things to consider before
    you have so much as reached the amateur level of blackjack play:

    Learn to count-down a decks of cards. Face up as Stealth suggests.
    Memorize the correct basic strategies for your local game(s).
    You need to be able to INSTANTLY utter the correct B.S. play if awakened.

    Consider beginning with an advanced count e.g. Hi-Opt II, if, and only if,
    you have good study skills, and the patient determination needed to succeed.


  6. #6


    1 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Dealing to yourself is an effective use of time. The key is to practice making the decisions that you will be making in the casino. And all of that you can do at home. Keeping the running count, converting to the true count making the betting decisions, using basic strategy and deviating from it as the situation warrants. Better to make mistakes at home than at the casino when real money is in play. Practicing at home can also help prepare you for the swings of blackjack and give you an appreciation of what you will experience at the casino.

  7. #7


    1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    CVBJ is definitely needed IMO for practicing and staying sharp.

    But nothing beats good ol' fashioned playing on the kitchen table with your wife dealing. Don't burn a card at beginning of play. Play through a shoe and see if you have the count at the end. Checking the count every few rounds is good, in a way, to make sure you're still accurate all through out, but I've noticed it helps you remember the count better, something that doesn't happen in the casino. Use chips, a bet ramp, indices, small talk, the whole shabang. Makes it a bit tougher and more realistic to live play where you need to also concentrate on betting, indices, and talking to players if that's what you do.


    I don't think estimating discard rack is something you need to do with a high degree of precision. If you can do everything else, you're probably smart enough to be able to estimate the discard rack within a half deck or so.
    "Everyone wants to be rich, but nobody wants to work for it." -Ryan Howard [The Office]

Similar Threads

  1. Dealer Skills
    By FerrisB in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: 01-13-2016, 10:54 AM
  2. Certifying Players: Skills Requirement
    By greg16394 in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-13-2012, 11:46 PM
  3. Norm Wattenberger: Standards for the measurement of skills
    By Norm Wattenberger in forum Blackjack Main
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 09-21-2003, 10:09 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

About Blackjack: The Forum

BJTF is an advantage player site based on the principles of comity. That is, civil and considerate behavior for the mutual benefit of all involved. The goal of advantage play is the legal extraction of funds from gaming establishments by gaining a mathematic advantage and developing the skills required to use that advantage. To maximize our success, it is important to understand that we are all on the same side. Personal conflicts simply get in the way of our goals.