Starting First Blackjack Team - Questions and Advice Loved!

[20 to 1 Spread]

Premise: 1 super trust worthy friend, 2 reasonably seemingly trust worthy people (one guy owns a % of a popular poker training site, straight arrow it appears). We are going to implement the BP strat. 3 spotters, 1 BP. We are using a level two count. All of us are poker pros who are emotionally numb to the swings.

Our first test run trip bankroll is $40K ($10K from each).
We'll be using a 2:1 spread of $500 to $1000 for the BP.
Thoughts on the spread?

If things run okay for a few trips, our first real bankroll will be $100K ($25K each)

For the BP, when asked for a player's card, should he give up his ID. Or NEVER EVER? At all cost never?
I assume the spotters should give up player ID? Or no as well? Comps cant be that much for min bet.

How long should we lurk around in the casino for? What's pushing our limits?

[Meistro123]

For the BP, when asked for a player's card, should he give up his ID. Or NEVER EVER? At all cost never?

Never ever. Also you should start your first test session much smaller in case of miscommunication between spotter and big player. work out the kinks in the system before u go full out.

[20 to 1 Spread]

Yeah good point, a truly dry test run where the spotters can see if the BP got the action correct (the designated BP has the act and casual drunk/carefree vibe, though is the least experienced). I just assumed we won't make any mistakes after 1-2 weeks of training together (but that's not a live casino setting to be fair)

Do you think all the spotters should not show ID as well? Or is that a red flag. I assume none of us wants to get pegged together, this way we can rotate BPs in the future if needed. Comps cant be great for min betting. We are all affiliated with each other through facebook and other social medias. So if they looked us up (not sure if they would, or that's just a movie thing), but then they can tag all of us in one swoop.

Lastly, of course at our discretion, but what you say is the time limit of a BP bouncing around 3-4 tables in and out, in and out at a single property? If you had to make a guess. Or even perhaps from experience/hearsay?

[Meistro123]

Do you think all the spotters should not show ID as well?

Nobody at any time should show ID. They shouldn't ask anyway, the idea behind the spotters is that they are invisible because they are just playing basic strategy and betting the minimum.


Instead of a level 2 system you guys should be using hi lo.

[Joe Mama]

We are all affiliated with each other through facebook and other social medias. So if they looked us up (not sure if they would, or that's just a movie thing), but then they can tag all of us in one swoop.

Social media for a team doesn't sound like +EV

[BoSox]

We'll be using a 2:1 spread of $500 to $1000 for the BP.
Thoughts on the spread?

Sounds rather strange to me, as I am wondering at what true count is the BP going to be called in. I would rather see you use a 1 to 4 spread for the BP starting with something around $200 at a lower count when he is called in, and let the BP have a little more room to move on their own as the hands are played. Of course, I think it is a horrible idea to form a blackjack team comprised of four poker pros to begin with!

[20 to 1 Spread]

Nobody at any time should show ID. They shouldn't ask anyway, the idea behind the spotters is that they are invisible because they are just playing basic strategy and betting the minimum.


Instead of a level 2 system you guys should be using hi lo.

Figured we should use a stronger count and learn all the deviations since we don't plan on expanding the team or having exchanges of team members. Trust issues.

Assuming we can use a Lvl 2 just as smoothly, don't see a reason why not.

[20 to 1 Spread]

Social media for a team doesn't sound like +EV

No I meant, if let's say they get my name off my ID. And looked me up facebook and went through my friends. They can find the faces, thus names, of all my other friends and thus the team. Not sure if this is a real thing, but it's a possibility nonetheless.

[20 to 1 Spread]

Sounds rather strange to me, as I am wondering at what true count is the BP going to be called in. I would rather see you use a 1 to 4 spread for the BP starting with something around $200 at a lower count when he is called in, and let the BP have a little more room to move on their own as the hands are played. Of course, I think it is a horrible idea to form a blackjack team comprised of four poker pros to begin with!

I think we ran a quick sim and the hourly seemed okay with the 2:1 spread. Prob will have to do some team thinking. I'm curious as to why you think it's a bad idea to start the team with 4 poker pros?

[Joe Mama]

AP's shouldn't have a social media presence.

I believe it's a generational thing, but it could sabotage the operation. If potential employers check social media before hiring, it wouldn't be a big surprise for a casino to do so after a back off to ID your compatriots.

[RCJH]

A friend of mine is in OSN. They used a picture from their Facebook page as one of the OSN photos.

[Midwest Player]

I'm curious as to why you think it's a bad idea to start the team with 4 poker pros?

I have to agree. I have yet to see a poker player who was a good blackjack player.

[20 to 1 Spread]

I have to agree. I have yet to see a poker player who was a good blackjack player.

That's weird if you think about it. Being a good poker player is significantly harder than being a good blackjack player. It's not even a comparison imo. If you can beat poker, you have pretty much all the skills to beat blackjack (besides just getting caught 24/7 counting, so you do need a little act somewhat - after all, getting away with it is the hard part).

I feel having a bunch of poker pros is an advantage - they are all numb to the swings (whoever is the BP), no one is going to lose control, and generally as crushers, they will put in the time and discipline to learn all the appropriate things each one of us needs to know.

A friend of mine is in OSN. They used a picture from their Facebook page as one of the OSN photos.

Hmmmmm.... To delete myself off facebook and other social media platforms. Well this is a problem!