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Thread: Routine before you play

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    Routine before you play

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I believe that was the approach Smallcapgrowth used, right? Slash and burn was his method. He's pretty much burnt out everywhere. But he earned 7 figures in just a few years. How long do you think it would take you to earn a mil playing 4:1 on a Reno SD game?
    Doesn't matter because I don't need the money. The game gives me all I want and more than I need.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I'm not sure about you Moses, but I network with many people and we exchange information on various games across the country. I have a few friends (who travel regularly) that I speak with over the phone frequently. I also have many contacts that I exchange emails with every so often as well.

    The point is, this is how you get information on games outside of Reno.
    Dip stick!
    Quote Originally Posted by Banker View Post
    Ryemo
    I know you mean very well but it is probably not a good idea to copy posts from BJ21 to this forum. This forum is searchable by Google but BJ21 is not. People post there with the expectation that their posts will not be seen on the entire web. Unless of course you took permission from the author.
    Proves it!
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    Do you really think the results of playing out 10,000 hands will have any meaningful value? Assuming you're getting dealt 100/hpr on average, that's only 100 hours worth of play. ANYTHING can happen within 100 hrs of play. Maybe 100,000 hands, and you're on to something...
    Hmmm. According to your numbers. You played 2.5 years and got booted before you ever got onto something.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    The bubble you live in is nonsense.
    Risks of carrying money? I manage those risks just fine. I conceal the money on my body when I'm traveling around, so It's not just in my pocket or just laying around in my car.

    End of story.
    Oh brother! What an idiot. Criminals understand R&R. For them, it's a business. For you? Easy prey. End of Story.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    Reno? I've never been, but I've heard countless reports that Reno is just as sweaty, if not worse, than Vegas. At least Vegas has a wide variety of casinos concentrated in one area.
    You will fail because your need more brain to gain.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    Absolutely!

    A photo of my license plate is actually attached to my OSN profile. I plan on requesting a new license plate when I go to the DMV soon. It may cost you $100-150 for a new plate, but if it even prevents one back off, that might save you hundreds in +EV. If you wait to change your plates right around the time for a tag renewal, then the difference in cost is actually very minuscule.
    Man. You are really issing some people off. Seriously, folks can find out a bunch of info from a license plate.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I think I prefer shoe DD vs pitch. It gives you the ability to count all the cards right away if you're sitting with any other patrons (assuming you can't see their cards). It speeds the game up tremendously if there are side bets, as the dealer won't have to wait for each patron to individually notify him/her that they won/lost the side bet.

    And while this may not be true in all cases; I know of one Vegas casino that offers both pitch and shoe DD games. From my experience, you'll find much better pen on their shoe game compared to their pitch. So I always gravitate to their shoe DD first if the option is available and conditions are right.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I wouldn't say GSR is unfriendly, but they backed me off quick. I played one fairly short session and got backed off on my next visit by the 2nd shuffle. I never played rated or showed ID ANYWHERE in town and they addressed me by name. It's apparent GSR is a database participant.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I've gotten accustomed to this, especially in stores that are within a 4 to 8 hr radius of my house. But I was caught off guard in Reno, considering my distance away from home and the fact that I was driving a rental. But I've also encountered similar occurrences in Vegas strip casinos as well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I thought the idiot sitting next to me wanted to punch me in the face when I split my 10s and the dealer pulled a 21. Then he went on and on about how I need to learn how to play this game and blah blah blah. Ugh
    Those idiots have cell phones. Many ploppies have relatives that work in casinos. The person you think you are messing with won't be the same one you "accidentaly" come across later. Man, your instincts must be atrocious or your inexperience is showing.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryemo View Post
    I have to disagree regarding spreads. This is certainly not a “one size fits all” answer. Example: I’ve been playing a pretty good DD game over the last few trips, spreading 1x25 to 2x500. Mediocre rules, but good pen. Not only was spreading 1-40, but I was also spitting tens (and re-splitting if given the chance). My EV was north of $300/hr and probably closer to $400/hr with some of the dealers who were cutting really good (75% or better). This is only one example of many.

    Now did I get backed off from that property? Yes. But ask me how many hours I got... 45 (cumulative). I easily generated over 15K in EV there and when you add in the machine stuff I did as well, I’m sure my EV was a little closer to 17K. Now it’s time to move on to the next joint.

    For me, using 1-20 or 1-40 spread is my M.O. You’d be surprised how places allowed me to get 20, 30, 40+ hrs while utilizing these aggressive spreads. Eventually they will back you off and there’s no denying that. But I can assure you that almost no one is going to give a shit about a 1-15 spread in red chips. If your casino is sweating that action, then you need to find a new casino.
    Bull shit meter going ding ding ding ding.
    Last edited by moses; 03-09-2018 at 01:08 AM.

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    I did something remarkably similar in preparation for my major university wrestling tournaments.

    For blackjack, especially when travelling, I like to be casually, but cleanly dressed and well rested. Being clean equates to comfort and relaxed manner. Being well rested equates to sharp mental focus. Nothing worse than playing with a fatigue headache and body odor - equates to a losing session.

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    Senior Member Joe Mama's Avatar
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    I practice basic strategy on BJ apprentice at 1.5 seconds per hand until I get 100 in a row with my morning coffee. Then flashcards on deviations until 100 in a row correct. If playing VP that day, I'll run through 200 or so hands of VP on the computer. I think even Calvin Murphy practiced free throws every day.

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    Quote Originally Posted by moses View Post
    Okay. This is going to sound weird. But there is something about an odor in competition. No it doesn't stink or smell like flowers. It's what you get by spending 3 hours in an empty gym on a Satuday morning and comes back on a Saturday night in a packed house. I think it's a confidence of knowing you will win when everyone around you is uncertain. Even your teammates. You know, because your opponent didn't prepare quite as well as you. So you deserve it more.

    Does that make sense? I can't smell it anymore.
    I'm eager to start the hunt and engulf my prey. I am the matador, the casino is the bull. Sometimes, the bull does not lose, and the culinary sweetbreads are a little smaller than usual.

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    Usually, I park my car, take a deep breath, look at indexes, walk in and check out what is available. In some casinos, there might be just a single DD game and 3 folks might be playing. A quick look to see if any of them might be leaving, no chips in front maybe. Sometimes it's apparent that I cannot get into the DD game, check out the 6 deck games, the openings, the pit folks and what's available. If a heads up or a decent game is available, I just play. HiLo s too easy and like riding a bike. You don't forget how to.

    Someimes I head to the john, sit down, check indexes, how much I have in my wallet, how much and where the rest of the BR is and just go play.

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    I sleep in until I wake up naturally. I am usually an early riser anyway. I take my blood sugar to see how long I can go before I eat. I eat a breakfast bar then if I think its necessary. I count through a deck or two of cards and continue if my brain is not sharp yet. Then I go and find the conditions I am looking for and play. If those conditions aren't available I may go get something to eat. I have several times a day when my scouting says good conditions are fairly certain. There are a couple more times a day when I can find what I am looking for some of the time. I schedule all my breaks and meals so I can hit those optimal times to play. If there isn't anything worth my time I play another AP opportunity or just scout. I find I get in a lot more rounds per day that way than those overeager to play get in with a lot more time playing whatever they happen to find.

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    That was me with blackjack. I'd take my laptop on road trips. Practice at the airport. Couldn't wait to get back to my room after a game and play some more. I'd order in and play some more in the morning before heading to the next game. But you couldn't talk about the game to anyone. At least without getting strange looks.

    Now that I have all this time to play, I'm not all that motivated. Zee lives 4 hours from the nearest casino and goes at least twice a month. I live 10 minutes away and have to push myself to play 20 sessions a week. Is this a phase? What the hell is wrong with me?[/QUOTE]

    I do that because I am an introvert, have no friends in this town I moved to about 8 months ago, and want to give my spouse and son a break. They are not used to my being home as much since I used to work full time plus travel overseas 12 weeks a year.

    When you live as nomadic a life as I have, 8 states, 24-25 cities in the past 45 years, you move too much to have developed close friendships. The full time job was my life and without it, there is not much else.

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    When driving to the casino and walking in, sometimes I'll just count from 0 to 20, then down to -20, then back to 0. Then do it again, but by 2's. Then again, but odd 2's. Then again by 3's. Then 4's. I use Zen count, so 2 card combos range from -4 to +4. Will also go over the indices and basic strategy in my head, as well. It helps get the brain going a bit before diving right in and the information is fresh as well.
    "Everyone wants to be rich, but nobody wants to work for it." -Ryan Howard [The Office]

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    Senior Member Tarzan's Avatar
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    The most important thing I do prior to playing has little to do with how I feel one way or the other and everything to do with mapping out exactly what the plan of attack is, based on every bit of information I have or can come up with on where I'm playing. I study and do card counting drills and exercises every day, so the only consideration is am I mentally awake, with it, and prepared to perform properly, very much a yes or no proposition. The playing conditions, which vary from each playing environment are usually what I am focusing on just prior to playing, is there a better shift, specific dealers to be looking for, because these are the things that matter much more than whether I still a little tired from the night before or not. I am contemplating the conditions I will be up against, things like if there's a plan "B" if the game I'm going for is unavailable, etc. more so than anything resembling ritualistic practices trying to tune up any mental preparedness. This is something that's already imbedded in. The conditions I may be facing have an unpredictability factor and can change like the tides, something I have much less control over compared to my mental preparedness to play.

  10. #10


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    Get caffeinated (if early morn / feeling groggy in the evening).
    Meditate / focus on breathing and think through plays and betting.
    Play CV for a bit and check accuracy of counts, deck estimation and calculations.
    If having an issue feeling sharp / waking up, I'll play a musical instrument for 20 mins (Einstein would play his violin when stuck on math problems he was pondering and there is a scientific connection between math and music in the brain).
    If the body's really being stubborn: Juggle for a bit / do some headstands against the wall to Force some blood into the brain :-)

    Although, when I'm playing frequently (~4-5 days per week), the above are less necessary because my facilities are sharp and readily accessible.
    Last edited by Fire Walker; 03-23-2017 at 05:47 PM.

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    Gordie Howe, at 53, played in one of the Canada Russia hockey series. He wasn't all over the ice, but knew where he needed to me. With elbows as good as ever, I recall a ripper of a goal that he made.

    In Rocky 4, Rocky says something about - don't need to spar anymore, preferring a very spartan and rigorous training regimen to focus on conditioning. (Can't find a YouTube link for that.

    Freightman, after about a million hands or so - its automatic - every basic play, every index, every nuance.

    My routine is simply to be clean and well rested, so that I can focus for the task at hand. I have CVCX available nearby should I need to roughly sim a game. My well worn bible, with pages falling out, now occupies a place of honour in my den. I have the digital version on my iPad for reference when needed.

    My bible, with no offence to Don, is Wongs Professional Blackjack. Though there is immense value throuout the book, the hi lo player can take huge solace in the tables starting around page 250. For the halves player, the tables starting around page 275, are a comfort. I will still refer to it on trips. Other systems can use factors of these numbers.

    Wongs Professional BJ privides value in the trenches of battle, while Schlesinger BJA 3 is more appropriate for planning the campaigns of war.

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    Wow - some pretty intense routines -

    I grab a beer, get my energy level up, count a round or two before I sit down and I'm good to go...

  13. #13
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    I usually go for 5 eggs...I play in Philly, mostly....da na na, danana

    link is for Freight

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDaZoh6hGOY

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