Hello,

my name's Andrea, from Italy. 30yo
I am an ex texas hold'em NL pro player ( cash game 6-max, nl100 and nl200). I've stopped playing Hold'em in 2013 (was bored about it, and my edge still decreasing)
I'm a psychologist.

Some days ago, I've decided to study BJ. I read about it in some sites, and after some lurking, I bought a book, that I've studied (John Bukofsky, play Lke the pros, a complete guide).
I don't know if it's the best book to begin, but reviews seemed good

I had to adjust book basic strategy, 'cause the book talks about european BJ with some rules, but some are wrong (for ex, it's not true that here it can be double down only 9, T, A)

Now, I know hi low method, I count a deck in 20 second, I went to casino to test, with minimum bet, my skill counting, and I'm able.

But I'm afraid, and I'm not sure I'm not wasting my time studying a game unbeatable (in my country).

In my 2 nearest casino, rules are:

6 decks
double down always allowed
not early surrender (in one casino not surrender at all)
dealer stand on S17
dealer doesn't check with T and A until the end of the hand

first 5 card in a new shoe are burned and players can't see them.
the worst (in my newbie opinion): Cutting card is placed in THE MIDDLE, sometimes in 4/6, but it's rare.

I studied how penetretion is important. And in my country it seems impossibile getting a good depth.

So, I'm asking to you, if this kind of game is beatable, or if it's a suicide game.

In my opinion it can be done, 'cause a positive true count anyway predicts high cards, althought the cut card is in the middle).
The other obvious flip is that I know that deep penetretion allows more accuracy and more advantage.

Thanks for reading.

Ps.

I'm new to the forum, and if this post already exists, I apologize