The only thing that I completely disagree with you on is back counting. There is only one way that I can see getting away with it. Look social. Two young guys with drinks in their hand on a busy Friday night standing behind a table while counting can be done much more effectively than one guy with his arms crossed back counting on a slow Tuesday night. The former can work if they are talking to each other constantly while laughing and looking like they are just shooting the breeze and maybe looking a little drunk. I just do not see how a lone wolf can get away with it under any circumstances.[/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree MORE with this... I do this a few times when I can convince my wife to join me at the casino. We walk around with drinks in hand.. and then when we get to the black jack tables I switch over to my "I am the font of all blackjack wisdom" and talk loud enough so the table can hear me.. She asks questions and we laugh about a joke I make and we play the slightly drunk couple then when the shoe is above a TC of 3 I tell her I am going to jump in and play a few rounds and ask her to give me some money. So far, it works really well and I have been very profitable in doing it and a few times the cards didn't land my way. If you are in Vegas or Reno or Tahoe and it's a BIG casino and you are walking around and stopping and watching then moving off again maybe it would work but in the midwest, when you have 4 tables running at a time (1 $15-4deck, 2 $10 -6 decks and maybe a $5 8 deck ) there is just not enough camo to go around. It's why I play all because even if you CAN count and the pit doesn't think you are some creeper instead of a counter, good luck finding an open seat when that shoe DOES go hot. It's all about WHERE you play, Table rules, Deck penetration and if the pit is not on it's toes or if they are looking to bust anyone that wins.