When variance Kills you

[ferenc11]

If they cut off more than 2 decks (out of six) then I run for the hills straightaway.

[mofungoo]

DON"T PLAY IN BAD GAMES!!! If game conditions (penetration, game speed, heat etc.) start to deteriorate, don't play. If you make a 2 hour drive to a casino and find bad conditions, leave. It is better to lose $30 in gas and food expenses than to lose hundreds or thousands playing blackjack in bad conditions.

It helps to have other tricks in your AP arsenal. If I go somewhere and don't find acceptable games, I head to the poker room if there is one at that casino. My EV isn't as high as blackjack, but it's +EV. Sometimes I will leave the poker game and find that blackjack conditions have improved. Then I play blackjack until conditions worsen, then leave the casino. Learn to protect your hard earned bankroll, it's your most valuable weapon as an AP.

[ShipTheCookies]

DON"T PLAY IN BAD GAMES!!! If game conditions (penetration, game speed, heat etc.) start to deteriorate, don't play. If you make a 2 hour drive to a casino and find bad conditions, leave. It is better to lose $30 in gas and food expenses than to lose hundreds or thousands playing blackjack in bad conditions.

It helps to have other tricks in your AP arsenal. If I go somewhere and don't find acceptable games, I head to the poker room if there is one at that casino. My EV isn't as high as blackjack, but it's +EV. Sometimes I will leave the poker game and find that blackjack conditions have improved. Then I play blackjack until conditions worsen, then leave the casino. Learn to protect your hard earned bankroll, it's your best weapon as an AP.

The sentence I bolded can't be stressed enough.

[Stealth]

I was determined and confident. Card counting was my life,my religion. I was ready to go.

As I have stated many times, this means you can count, not that you can win.

As your comments indicate your lack of understanding of the scope of the adventure has bitten you in the ass. You need to get a real job and, if you want to really be an AP, then pursue it parttime while working.

You are definitely not ready for full time. That formula for success is much more complex.

You asked for advice, if you want more then PM me and we can talk.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

"It helps to have other tricks in your AP arsenal"

It more than helps.
Who wants to go to battle with one weapon?
(or even have non-diversified investments.)

It is crucial to a serious A.P.

[ShipTheCookies]

It more than helps.
Who wants to go to battle with one weapon?
(or even have non-diversified investments.)

It is crucial to a serious A.P.

For the record, Mofungoo said this, not me. I just emphasised it.

[Stitch]

Stich, if it`s of any consolation to you at all, I`m in an pretty similar situation as you are. I feel for you. To say that this game can completely devastate you is, I think, an understatement. The good thing is that, if you continue to play, you`ve already seen some rough times which will only make you stronger for downswings in the future. I remember Richard Munchkin saying in a GWAE episode that he thought most of the people that continued on with it (mainly in terms of being full time was what I think he meant) were the ones that ran good in the beginning. You and I fall in the other category, as did Richard in the beginning (he said he lost for the first 200 hours I believe). The edge is very thin and as you know, things can go south in a very short amount of time. It`s not easy to endure these really bad swings by any means.

In terms of going to school, my only advice is to think long and hard about exactly what kind of path you want to take. Don`t rush or force it. It`s not an easy thing to figure it out even if you`re only planning on working full time for a few years before going back to counting full time. So get advice from others, take online personality tests, etc., whatever you can. You really don`t want to spend a bunch of time and money to later find out you`re absolutely miserable with what career path you chose. If possible I say try to do both school and 21 if you can figure out what you want to do. Whatever you end up deciding, good luck!

Thanks for your answer.
I'm very sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation to mine.

I don't know if i'm gonna give up blackjack completely now but as you suggested, i will take some times to "explore myself" and then decide what to do with my life.

I really hope that times will get better one day, for you too.

Thank you very much

[ferenc11]

Thanks for your answer.
I'm very sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation to mine.

I don't know if i'm gonna give up blackjack completely now but as you suggested, i will take some times to "explore myself" and then decide what to do with my life.

I really hope that times will get better one day, for you too.

Thank you very much

Are you not European by any chance?

Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk

[Stitch]

As I have stated many times, this means you can count, not that you can win.

As your comments indicate your lack of understanding of the scope of the adventure has bitten you in the ass. You need to get a real job and, if you want to really be an AP, then pursue it parttime while working.

You are definitely not ready for full time. That formula for success is much more complex.

You asked for advice, if you want more then PM me and we can talk.

I really understand that swings in blackjack can be massive but i really hoped that after almost 1000 of play with those exceptional conditions of playing i could at least win something.

Maybe you are right, maybe full time playing is not for me.
I would really like to understand the scope of this blackjack adventure

[cc12b]

With all good advises given I have to add that "Who do not have good covers/acts is play at his/her own risk". No surprise there are chapters of camouflage in every books. Also many posts regard to casinos' counter measures.

[Stitch]

Some days ago some casinos started to incrase a little the penetration to 4,5/6. Why they did this? For pity? Because i was betting less than usual? I don't know. In any case a still kept losing another 2k.

Indoubetly in blackjack there are a lot of statistics and math involved but i believe like any other thing in the world, you must be a little bit lucky to succed

[ferenc11]

Some days ago some casinos started to incrase a little the penetration to 4,5/6. Why they did this? For pity? Because i was betting less than usual? I don't know. In any case a still kept losing another 2k.

Indoubetly in blackjack there are a lot of statistics and math involved but i believe like any other thing in the world, you must be a little bit lucky to succed

Pity? How long have you been playing BJ?
Casino business has nothing to with "pity".
If you bet your mother on red and the ball landed on black they would take her in without battling an eyelid. (Sorry for the harsh words)
Do you have any software for the game?
Without it I strongly doubt you will get far in this "industry"...
A good skill in money management also helps tremendously...


Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk

[ferenc11]

Pity? How long have you been playing BJ?
Casino business has nothing to with "pity".
If you bet your mother on red and the ball landed on black they would take her in without battling an eyelid. (Sorry for the harsh words)
Do you have any software for the game?
Without it I strongly doubt you will get far in this "industry"...
A good skill in money management also helps tremendously...


Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk

Okay My bad. I've just read your introduction.
What do you consider good rules?

Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk