Any Advice

**archangelmike** · 03-25-2022, 06:32 PM

A little background. This is my fourth attempt at card counting. The first 2 times I mainly used the running count. I don't even remember how I bet, it was at least few years ago. Those first 2 times needless to say did not go so well. The third time I was about 117 hours in and up $2,320. I use high low, 17 deviations and the fab 4. My bet spread is true count 1 or lower $15, 2 $25, 3 $50, 4 or higher $75. The game is 8 decks, DAS, DOA, SUR, S17 and H17, about 6.5 deck pen, 3:2. I had to stop for awhile. I'm trying again and so far I'm about 45 hours in and down about $430. At this moment my bankroll is $3,000. So if you combine my last attempt and my current one I'm 167 hours in and up $1890. Just recently I'm making much fewer mistakes at home with the QFIT software and someone dealing to me once in awhile. I struggle with adding up my hand and trying to keep the count in the casino setting. The third attempt I relied a lot on the dealer for my hand total when I had multi card hands and when they added up their hand. This time I'm trying to do it all myself. I can do it fairly easy at home but at the casino I'm not as relaxed and I feel more pressure. I find myself this time being less confident in the running count as well. It really is slow going to try and improve in the casino setting. I know when I practice at home i'm getting better. I wanted to make it at least to the 200 hour mark to see where I stand. Even if I'm where I'm suppose to be at the end of the 200 hour mark and I still can't add up my hand all the time and the dealer's hand where does that even leave me? This is more recreational for me but I am trying to do it well. Thank you for reading this and any advice you might have.

**LoKee** · 03-25-2022, 06:46 PM

I was having problems with adding my hand and counting also. Found that out my first try in vegas. I've found turning off the dealer telling me the total in the cvbj software. I;m not perfect at it now but much much better counting my hand and others. So I say just turn that feature off. Hope this helps.

**Green21** · 03-26-2022, 08:06 AM

Hey Mike, first of all if you don’t have cvcx that would be my first suggestion. Your 1-5 bet spread is not gonna cut the mustard. This definitely seems to be a good game you’re playing but you are severely under bankrolled. I’m assuming you work and can replenish the bankroll as needed. With this being said you need to bet as if you have say a $6000 br and replenish as needed. Realize you may bust out a couple times before you hit a nice winning streak to get off the ground running. If this idea doesn’t appeal to you I would say just don’t play at the casino until you’ve built it up more. Take this time to practice, practice, practice! Blackjack Apprenticeship has a nice mobile training app that doesn’t add your hand total for you which you will probably find very helpful. Good luck

**archangelmike** · 03-26-2022, 05:15 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I do have cvcx, cvblackjack, and cvdata, although some of it is a little confusing. Arn't I betting already like I had a $6000 bankroll? I thought you should have at least 100 times your big bet. In that case I should have $7500, no?

**Green21** · 03-26-2022, 10:20 PM

For your 8 deck shoe you probably want to use at minimum a 1-12 bet spread. A smaller spread is ok with very aggressive wonging. So $15 minimum your max bet should be $180 (or $175 for simplicity). Ideally you want to go to 2 hands of 75% of your max bet unless heads up.

**Sharky** · 03-27-2022, 01:28 AM

No offense, but save your $....maybe try BINGO instead

**archangelmike** · 03-27-2022, 08:04 AM

Thanks for your advice Green 21 and taking me seriously. And sharky, "no offense," LOL.

**Overkill** · 03-28-2022, 07:46 AM

archangelmike,

Perhaps try practicing at home under uncomfortable conditions, like loud music that you find annoying, clingy pets, unpredictable interruptions. Make the conditions worse than those of the casino.

Regarding the count, maybe try adjusting a casino chip after each round to reflect the running count by picturing a clock face with numbers on the chip.

**archangelmike** · 03-28-2022, 05:19 PM

I think I will try to practice more and save up, when I feel like I am ready should I still have my max bet out at 4 with the 1 to 12 bet spread?

**highrollerjw** · 03-28-2022, 05:20 PM

work on it but carry it forward as a part of your cover, if you cant even add up your own hand, its hard to imagine a dealer would suspect you of counting.

**archangelmike** · 03-28-2022, 07:08 PM

Sorry, should I still have my max bet out at a true count of 4 with the 1 to 12 bet spread? CVCX says at a true count at 6.

**Green21** · 03-28-2022, 10:39 PM

Yes true plus 4 max bet. You can’t really wait for it to be higher it just doesn’t get that high often enough.

**Mr. Ed** · 03-29-2022, 06:22 AM

“I can’t add” cover.

Sometimes, when I am just making sure the count is high enough to stand on 15v10, or hit 12v2, I will ask the dealer, “How much is that?”, just to give me a few more seconds to be sure. I guess it provides cover as well.

P.s. I would advice against moving a chip around “on the face of a clock” to keep track of the count - Surveillance can see exactly what you are doing.