New To BlackJack Betting with Basic Alone

**Meistro123** · 07-22-2017, 12:37 PM

no worries. the most important thing to do to succeed at blackjack is to practice the strategy (counting) until you can implement it flawlessly. So to do this you need to play blackjack at home. Buy a six deck shoe, a discard tray and six decks of cards. Once you have mastered basic strategy and learned how to count you then deal blackjack to yourself (or get a wife or friend or w/e to deal to you) and count cards at home until you are perfect. Practice practice practice. And you implement everything in your at home practice sessions. You count, make betting decisions based on the count, deviate from basic strategy based on the count, convert to the true count and even correct dealer errors. A lot of people do it half assed, they think they know how to count cards but actually don't even know basic strategy perfectly and make a ton of mistakes. That is a good way to lose a lot of money and so you should really iron out all the kinks in your system at home. You'll even want to practice optimal betting.

What I recommend is once you have done the 70-100 hours or practice, or however long it takes for you to become proficient, record a video of your play and then upload it so the posters here can critique it and tell you whether or not you are casino ready. Of course make sure there is nothing to identify you in the video just keep the camera over the shoe so we can see the decisions that you are making.

Another good idea is to 'rig' each shoe with a +10 or +15 slug at the start. So you take your normal 6 deck 312 card shoe, but remove 15 low cards and put them at the start. This means you always start with a TC of +5. So you want to get as much experience in high count situations as quickly as possible, because that is where you will be betting the most money. Eventually learning how to play negative counts is also important because usually the most lucrative opportunities are play all heads up games but it is important to prioritize what you study because there is a lot of material to cover.

But the first step is to perfectly memorize basic strategy.

**bsngraduate32** · 07-22-2017, 02:03 PM

Wow. Man. Thanks for that this is the intensity and level of the game I want and desire to learn to beat it. So very much appreciate your support in the detail. I will take all of this and do what you've said here. Yes I'll start with full memory of basic. I have it down for the most part except still mis a few when doubling and or splitting. And as far as the "slug" concept. At our local card room here they pull out a card and then discard the same number of cards dependent on whatever it was they'd pulled. So yes I was curious how to make an accurate count based on that as well. Of course I'm also reading material now provided by you all and I've downloaded the software for that trainer. I'm very grateful to you all most certainly. And yes once I get it all down I'll upload a video for sure. Thanks again I'm pleased Id stumbled upon this app and especially this forum.

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**Meistro123** · 07-22-2017, 07:05 PM

At our local card room here they pull out a card and then discard the same number of cards dependent on whatever it was they'd pulled. So yes I was curious how to make an accurate count based on that as well.

They are basically irrelevant. Unseen cards are unseen cards. For practical purposes you can ignore them but technically you are supposed to mentally put them behind the cut card or subtract them from the discard tray when you are estimating how many decks have been dealt (so that you can figure out how many decks remain).

**BoSox** · 07-23-2017, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Meistro123

Another good idea is to 'rig' each shoe with a +10 or +15 slug at the start. So you take your normal 6 deck 312 card shoe, but remove 15 low cards and put them at the start. This means you always start with a TC of +5.

Meistro123, could you explain this further, as I do not see how this gets you started with a TC of +5. Something is just not right in the "rather confusing" quote.

**ZeeBabar** · 07-23-2017, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by BoSox

Meistro123, could you explain this further, as I do not see how this gets you started with a TC of +5. Something is just not right in the "rather confusing" quote.

I dont get it either but I think he means putting 15 low cards behind the cut card and out of play.

**ZeeBabar** · 07-23-2017, 06:41 AM

"no worries. the most important thing to do to succeed at blackjack is to practice the strategy (counting) until you can implement it flawlessly. So to do this you need to play blackjack at home. Buy a six deck shoe, a discard tray and six decks of cards. Once you have mastered basic strategy and learned how to count you then deal blackjack to yourself (or get a wife or friend or w/e to deal to you) and count cards at home until you are perfect. Practice practice practice. And you implement everything in your at home practice sessions. You count, make betting decisions based on the count, deviate from basic strategy based on the count, convert to the true count and even correct dealer errors. A lot of people do it half assed, they think they know how to count cards but actually don't even know basic strategy perfectly and make a ton of mistakes. That is a good way to lose a lot of money and so you should really iron out all the kinks in your system at home. You'll even want to practice optimal betting."

Meistro, is this how you started? The problem with this approach is that your mental game does not get tested. You can study all you want, go to a casino, play for a while and you get the first monster count, so instead of putting out a $10, you appropriately put out a $100 and you lose that bet. Count remains high, you put out another $100 and you lose that one too and then you place a $10 bet even if the count is high, your belief in card counting shattered.

Sometimes, you have to discover before you get too far into a career whether its what you want to do, whether you can handle it. Some simply do not have it in them. Its like practicing to walk a tight riope 3 feet from the floor in your house and then doing it several hundred feet in the air over a river below.

**bsngraduate32** · 07-23-2017, 05:28 PM

Yeah so they draw a 10 then count 10 cards to discard

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**bsngraduate32** · 07-23-2017, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by ZeeBabar

I dont get it either but I think he means putting 15 low cards behind the cut card and out of play.

Oh nm thought you meant something else. Yeah I think he means basically that. By doing that I believe it would allow one to bet more confidently on a positive true count. As well of course as keeping it accurate and betting accordingly. That's a rly good idea maestro. Thanks!

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**bsngraduate32** · 07-23-2017, 05:32 PM

Fyi I've tried the software from verite or whatever. It's awesome. Kind of complicated to define rules when one doesn't know a ton in the first place. But I did figure it out and it's working well thanks again.

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**BoSox** · 07-24-2017, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by ZeeBabar

I dont get it either but I think he means putting 15 low cards behind the cut card and out of play.

No I do not believe that is what he meant, because your quote if taken as it is written is wrong. Meistro, is a smart person who knows what is required to start a shoe with a TC of +5. Something just got lost in translation.

Originally Posted by bsngraduate32

Yeah I think he means basically that. By doing that I believe it would allow one to bet more confidently on a positive true count. As well of course as keeping it accurate and betting accordingly. That's a rly good idea maestro. Thanks!

I would not use the word confident in the context of your quote, it gives the false impression that you expect to win the majority of the upcoming hands any time you reach that +5 true count, which may or may not happen. I would say it will familiarize, or acclimate yourself with seeing, and practicing the situation, with all the different deviations, and surrender plays that will be needed.

Zee recommended Norm's, and Wong's book to you which I agree with but he left out the title of Wong's book. Stanford Wong has quite a few books, and the first important book you need to read is Professional Blackjack by Wong. After digesting that book, then buy Blackjack Attack 3rd Edition by Don Schlesinger, which is loaded with valuable information.

**bsngraduate32** · 07-24-2017, 06:34 AM

Well. If he'd said it differently then I'd feel differently about its meaning. I'm new here so I do not know people to disseminate potential translation errors. From his meaningful and insightful post I erred to be confident in exactly those words. So my apologies if I'd come across naive and overconfident. And thank you for your valuable information. I've obtained both books so I will start with Wong. And yes otherwise I should've used a word less strongly as confidence in blackjack as I am aware that even at best counting it is still highly risky. Aside the many factors in the game itself (as much so to have books written on from some of the most brilliant minds), human error will always be a factor and you will miscount getting a bad deal and perhaps a big bet loss. I just wanted to acknowledge what you've said as not to make anything light of Maestros post or any others. And that I am and will taking this priceless information to heart and will hopefully be able to translate it to a game. With Maestros suggestions especially making a video I'm glad I am able to get that type of support. Thank you again everyone.

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**BoSox** · 07-24-2017, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by bsngraduate32

I've obtained both books so I will start with Wong. And yes otherwise I should've used a word less strongly as confidence in blackjack as I am aware that even at best counting it is still highly risky.

I am glad you have both books. When you are studying basic strategy charts skip over Wong's and go directly to those in Don's book as they represent the most accurately written charts that are obtainable in any text today.

Depending on the rules, at a + 5 true count you will have in the neighborhood of a 2% advantage. Meaning for every $100 you bet at that time you will have $2 dollars in positive EV, which is good in that you are always looking for positive EV opportunities to bet. Though you need to understand that on any given day, week or month negative variance can, and does often hit you hard right on the jaw. That is why besides learning everything else correctly, and accurately "which includes game selection" you must also possess strong money management skills. When you have all the tools, and can answer all the basic questions from the newer players that come after you, you gain your own confidence after having had some success on your own, then the game will humble you again, and again. If you are a real good player, you will always overcome adversity, and reach new heights.

**Jabberwocky** · 07-24-2017, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by bsngraduate32

I've obtained both books so I will start with Wong. And yes otherwise I should've used a word less strongly as confidence in blackjack as I am aware that even at best counting it is still highly risky.

But far less risky(risque?) than the stock and bread-sticks markets.