I would suggest many card counters that master their game and become either serious amateurs or professionals end up “throwing the baby out with the bath water” by not fully utilizing their efforts. I continue to profess that becoming an AP is 25% technical and 75% art and street smarts. I have no empirical way to measure, but the statement makes my point.


Folks, trying to use AP Blackjack as a means to earn a living or provide a serious supplemental income need to re-evaluate their overall objective. I suggest your objective is to understand and legally exploit those games where you can acquire an advantage.


There are several other AP opportunities. Without exposing playing details let’s identify.

1.
1. Travel. There are over 750 casinos in the US.
2. Learn other games - An AP should have a full arsenal of skills when entering a casino. They are not looking for the best blackjack game, but rather the best advantage opportunity available.
3. Arm yourself with knowledge about which side bets can be beaten and maintain a “where it is” knowledge about how to exploit. You do not have to know everything, but you should know where to find the information.
4. While I advise avoiding players cards and rewards systems for blackjack, they are many ways to acquire an advantage with these. Develop a means to give the casino some play at low cost but high rewards. They are always casino specific and time dependent and as a result require a extended time commitment.

a. Video Poker
b. Various machines / progressives, vulturing, etc.

c. Carnival games with weak dealers 3-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud Ultimate Texas Hold’em, etc


You will be amazed at how accretive these can be to a well-rounded AP. While I have not attempted to mathematically define it, the co variance effect on your bankroll is marvelous. Raising the probability of positive cash flow when entering a casino may be the biggest gain in EV you can get. Especially, those with modest bankrolls.


As an example, one team I was involved with had a three prong attack, BP blackjack, hole carding and rewards harvesting (mostly with video poker). Each of these areas provided almost equal revenues to the team bank. A low variance highly productive structure.


Part of this success was a choice of games by the players, as it is attractive to seek out games with 35% edge when you are getting paid on EV. Additionally, there is little risk (variance?) when cashing out free play tickets. Team play, while exciting and rewarding, is also filled with many unintended consequences, like pay structures, player motivations and integrity to name just a few.


I share this to encourage the new AP to consider how to improve their chances of success and I am certain that others on this forum can add to the list for consideration without disclosing sensitive information.