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Thread: Quality of hours vs Quantity of hours - Perspectives

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    Quality of hours vs Quantity of hours - Perspectives

    Really, it depends on goals.

    Gruelling multi day marathon driving trips are for the younger crowd and for those that are physically fit. The mistake that many of these people make is the desire to cut expenses to the bare bone - which means unhealthy fast food, sleeping in cars without necessarily having access to shower or laundry facilities. That might be the only way to go for the red chip crowd etc., However, if you’re into healthy black chip area, looking and smelling like a grinding card counter intent on absolutely maximizing revenue at the expense of the house, the house will quickly make the decision to accept your action thinking they can beat you through variance, or boot you if they evaluate you as a real threat, assuming of course you’re not playing a shit hole frightened of bet variance.

    I’ve flouted my own philosophies with regards to profits - that being not trying to knock it out of the park every time at bat, rather maximizing revenue over x number of sessions. Notwithstanding resistance to certain ideas, the base idea is longevity by deception. I can’t hide the fact of counting - what I can hide are certain skills pertaining to ramping, deck estimation and optimal play (because, theoretically, I’m not playing optimally). Therefore I’m not a threat until cumulative catches up to me.

    These philosophies (for out of town play) among other things include being well rested, accommodation central to play area where I can go for a mid day nap - a decent hotel keeping in mind that I’m not carrying around chump change - being not necessarily well dressed rather comfortably dressed and always clean. It also means a persona of being able to afford that I’m playing - which I can. It means bringing my A game to the table.

    Again, bypassing personal theories such as QTC, I think it’s easy enough to beat simulations. I do it all the time. In terms of dollars, I have a low bar desire to hit 1k per day, mid bar desire to hit 2k per day and a high bar average of 3k per day and um really hot - more. My most recent trip has a disappointing 1st day revenue of a paltry $400 after experiencing a disappointing first session quick fair sized loss. Also, let it be known that average out of town trip are shorter than they used to be - fatigue becoming a serious factor on longer trips even with mid day naps. In town, I happily settle for a lesser amount. My goals this year is basically to drum up an extra 25k without going into the kitty to pay for wife, kids, their wives, grandchildren for a nice winter vacation - I have seconded my youngest son to negotiate with his brother the when and where - my wife and will simply follow the crowd. Additional dollars to generate are funding rather wife's secret stash to fund the birthday presents, gifts etc. that I don’t know about and of course my own philosophy if turning wants into needs

    Now, analyzing a recent closed thread based by inference not withstanding the crushing 6 hours per day of driving along with an implied 15 hours per week of play time, sleeping, shitting, showering and presumably shaving, a max bet of 2 x 600 was mentioned with implied EV of $400 per hour which, given factors, I deem as being reasonable. Now, let me state categorically that this number can easily be beaten, or matched with far less exposure simply by utilizing well known established strategies and with far less effort.

    Goals to achieve are reducing average loss to the inverse of the average win, increasing win percentage and executing advanced strategies at the proper time which assist - my favourite being a form of opposition betting. None of this includes QTC which is another issue.

    There is more, but enough for now.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Gramazeka's Avatar
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    Good post +1. Thank you for your active participation in the life of the forum.
    "Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine" (Jesus)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gramazeka View Post
    Good post +1. Thank you for your active participation in the life of the forum.
    Appreciate the thought. Honestly, don’t know why I even bother. Mind you, the fan base has been quiet lately, excepting of course the Bugatti driver. .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Freightman View Post
    The house will quickly make the decision to accept your action thinking they can beat you through variance, or boot you if they evaluate you as a real threat.
    This is precisely the attitude of Australian casinos regarding Blackjack. They know it's not great and a counter will often be playing a low SCORE game undercapitalised. This can eventually lead to frustration which is a short step away from progression betting in an attempt to recover short term losses due to variance. It almost always ends in tears and I've seen far too much of it. Most of these players would be better off learning proper basic strategy, flat betting and just enjoying the game.
    Casino Enemy No.1

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    Quote Originally Posted by davethebuilder View Post
    This is precisely the attitude of Australian casinos regarding Blackjack. They know it's not great and a counter will often be playing a low SCORE game undercapitalised. This can eventually lead to frustration which is a short step away from progression betting in an attempt to recover short term losses due to variance. It almost always ends in tears and I've seen far too much of it. Most of these players would be better off learning proper basic strategy, flat betting and just enjoying the game.
    On your vein and to more clearly define (excluding shit holes), the house will come to 1 of 4 (main) conclusions.

    1. The counter is not good enough and under capitalized to beat the house - let him play
    2. The counter is good enough but undercapitalized - let him play
    3. The counter is capitalized but not good enough - let him play
    4. The counter is both good enough and capitalized - boot him

    I fall under item 3, until cumulative gets me. I also had had an unexpected back off a year or two ago where I was reevaluated from point 3 to point 4. I was told that I had an unacceptable win rate of $25 an hour at a $50 min game - something I did scared them??? I also had both a 3k and 7k loss which was looked at heavily.

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    Casino management has to answer to company shareholders so long term winning players are not desirable. How much they will tolerate depends on the house but it sounds like you use dual ramps and other methods to confuse the issue, which are useful tools until surveillance works it out, usually with the help of software. The key is to keep changing the ramps and the betting amounts which displays inconsistency but it takes time and practice to master. The trade off is sub optimal play which lowers your win rate. Playing two hands from time to time may also help but it gets noticed.

    As we age quality play becomes more important than quantity as you describe but speed is also your friend. Still, older folks are sometimes not as sharp as younger people which may lead to unintentional errors and too many of them will see any advantage slip away. So, you’re relying on your years of experience to get across the line but you should also keep your sessions short as this will help you stay under the radar for longer especially if you play on different shifts. Regardless of age, quality and quantity of play what is important is your cumulative overall advantage which is derived from your average bet multiplied by the number of hands played calculated over many sessions.
    Casino Enemy No.1

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    davethebuilder said
    but it sounds like you use dual ramps and other methods to confuse the issue, which are useful tools until surveillance works it out, usually with the help of software. The key is to keep changing the ramps and the betting amounts which displays inconsistency but it takes time and practice to master.
    Also, a variable single ramp

    The trade off is sub optimal play which lowers your win rate.
    Just throw in a bit of that TLC, or is that QTC - results are surprisingly strong

    Still, older folks are sometimes not as sharp as younger people which may lead to unintentional errors and too many of them will see any advantage slip away
    As sharp as ever. Fatigue becomes my enemy - 2 types, one of which I will play through and the other which will destroy my play. I recognize it’s onset and will quickly stop play for that rejuvenating nap

    So, you’re relying on your years of experience to get across the line
    Yes, and as the old bull said to the young bull - let’s walk down the hill and get them all

    especially if you play on different shifts.
    I’ll play 2-3 sessions out of town - never graveyard. At home, I play when I’m strongest

    what is important is your cumulative overall advantage which is derived from your average bet multiplied by the number of hands played calculated over many sessions.
    Yes, and over many posts described many different ways, even within this thread, overall advantage can be improved by developing advanced skill sets - usually not executed during first shoe of hand shuffle or first shoe of alternating shoes from ASM - Pattern recognition.

  8. #8
    Senior Member dalmatian's Avatar
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    @ freightman

    I'm back to working at dominoes. I can't count cards full time on the road. Max 2 weeks. Then 2 weeks delivering pizza. 12 trips a year is about 100k. Plus 26 weeks delivering pizza at 80 hours a week is about 40k.

    150k year.

    And I. Bordrlrinf retarded.

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    Senior Member dalmatian's Avatar
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    Converted my car into a stealth camper. Ripped put all the seats, installed a bed and water system and electric station for power. I live off fast food when imon the road. Don't shower in days, wear wrinkled walmart clothes to high limit. Card counting is literally the worst thing ever.

  10. #10
    Senior Member dalmatian's Avatar
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    I don't have a girlfriend.

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    @Dalmatian

    Some years back, I ran into a friend in Vegas, playing similar stakes to me. He was dressed like a slob. Mind you, it should be clarified that he looked like a clean slob. I still work 4-5 hours a week, mainly for shits and giggles and often appear as a (clean) slob. I sometimes show up at the casino dressed like - you guessed it - a clean slob.

    I also show up well dressed - how I show up is a matter of how the spirit moves me, but I’m always clean. In a couple of weeks, I’ll have lunch with a customer (ownership status), a local rep and her National Sales Director and I’ll show up in shorts and a nice sports shirt. The agenda is set - our out of town guest will be skinned, circumcised and my demands for remedies to deficiencies will be met - guaranteed - I have the natural persona to get away with it all.

    Now, reviewing your 3 prior posts, I glean the following. You sleep in your car then show up in hi limit wearing wrinkled Walmart specials, unwashed likely with hair greasy and unkempt, stained shirts from arm pit sweat and likely smelly - playing up to 2 x 600 questioning why the quick to back off sweat shops. I trust your portable power unit includes the ability to at least brush your teeth.

    I watched an hour long youtube Video a few months back of a real high end player travelling the country in a high end luxury RV with an apparent very significant bankroll, RV equipped with disguises and the whole 9 yards. If I was so inclined, I would bypass the RV route preferring to fly to various destinations, renting cars, staying in very decent accommodation for relaxing monthly 7-10 day trips (adequate rest and days off factored in), eat well and enjoy myself. I would insure adequate available funds to earn the suggested 100k you would make and with a totally different style if play.

    If only knew then what I know now, I could pick a specific local area with good games and no travel, play daily a paltry 2 x 90 or 100 and make that same 100k with no muss no fuss. The worlds greatest blackjack player needs to make some lifestyle decisions -80 hours a week for 2 weeks alternating with 2 week grinfpder trips - even earning your suggested 159k is no life.

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    As long as I’m thinking of it, though not related to the thread - you don’t necessarily need to rent a car (especially with car rental rates really on the rise) to get around a reasonable sized metro area. Last year, I flew to a city with 2 casinos. I took the hotels free airport shuttle and from there, Uber to one casino and to the next and back to the hotel. I’d already factored in the possibility of Uber to casino, return to hotel for nap apwith Uber to second city. The Uber app makes it easy to budget.

    Benefits
    1. No need to let the car warm up in very cold weather
    2. No liability for potential accidents
    3. Pricing not exceeding car rental rates - allowed $75/day for Uber - actual was less.

    Just thinking out loud.

  13. #13
    Senior Member dalmatian's Avatar
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    I use halves, downgrade to hi low when brain is fried. I'm basically a mote advanced version of Zee, lol.

    BTW, whatever ahoped to Zee??

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