The game of blackjack isn’t what it used to be

[Wave Function]

The game of blackjack isn’t what it used to be, and because of the reduced gain, there’s very little research anymore.
It can be a very profitable game (and rewarding), but you must play at a high level (black/purple), which most beginners aren’t willing to do.
The small stakes that beginners are willing to risk isn’t worth playing, and the high stakes that make it worthwhile is beyond the reach of beginners, so fewer and fewer new players come into the scene. Ironically, the blackjack market is growing as laws allow new casinos to be built, but fewer and fewer newcomers enter the scene while old-timers leave the scene.
Foxwoods recently made the game unbelievable, and the new casinos in PA are just absolute money-makers. Regardless of what some people say, Taj Mahal high-limit is the best in Atlantic City. And NY is in the process of opening new casinos.
The fertile field is upon us, but alas only a few of us to harvest the riches.

[greg16394]

The game of blackjack isn’t what it used to be, and because of the reduced gain, there’s very little research anymore.
It can be a very profitable game (and rewarding), but you must play at a high level (black/purple), which most beginners aren’t willing to do.
The small stakes that beginners are willing to risk isn’t worth playing, and the high stakes that make it worthwhile is beyond the reach of beginners, so fewer and fewer new players come into the scene. Ironically, the blackjack market is growing as laws allow new casinos to be built, but fewer and fewer newcomers enter the scene while old-timers leave the scene.
Foxwoods recently made the game unbelievable, and the new casinos in PA are just absolute money-makers. Regardless of what some people say, Taj Mahal high-limit is the best in Atlantic City. And NY is in the process of opening new casinos.
The fertile field is upon us, but alas only a few of us to harvest the riches.

How much BR need to play at a high level (Black/Purple) ? I play Red for experiment. If I could gain experience and money (win), I'd like to go Green, and black.
I maintain positive balance, though, in 2 1/2 years. I won $1000 in Feb. 2012. $1500 in March.
Wanted to raise initial bet size to $10 from $5 (From April). Wiped out almost of those 2 months gain in a month (April).
Losing Streak !! Frustration !!

Table conditions are not great, but not too bad. (-0.375%)
Last Sumer, I was playing spread of 1-15. Results was good.
When I met situation with hiden clumps of tens behind cut card, I lost $1200 in 10 minutes. Count went up high, no tens came out. Same experience twice in two months.
I was in panic. After that, I reduced spread to 1-4, 1-8,...

I need advice. (I keep practice counting. Speedy enough in the table. I want to win even small amount everyday, or mostly.)

[FinanceGhost]

I also have a small BR at the moment and a few nights ago I had the same thing happen. Count just kept going up but all the Tens and Aces were behind the cut card. I came out ahead because of the last round but it could have beaten me down bad just as easy.

Something I have found that works well is playing 2 hands when the count gets high. I do this regularly and it has kept the fluctuations of my bankroll down. (I either win both hands or I will win one and lose one making for essentially a push) if it wasn't for this tactic my BR would fluctuate much more to the downside. May not be a bad idea for you to try.

Anyone have more info on the math behind this? I heard it was from a 50% linkage between the two hands and the dealers hole card but no one really described why it words.

[PinkChip]

There is a strong codependence between your two hands played at a high count... You become twice as likely as the dealer to get a BJ at a time when they are more likely to occur.

The dependency between several hands played at a time is called "covariance" and described e.g. by Stanford Wong in Professional Blackjack and by Don Schlesinger in Blackjack Attack. But in principle, the probability of getting a blackjack is the same for you and the dealer, even at higher counts. Did you mean that by spreading to two hands, your chance of getting a blackjack is doubled?

[Chip Hoarder]

Foxwoods recently made the game unbelievable

How so?

[Baberuth]

Tthree, Perfect advice and explanation of the advantage of playing 2 hands in a positive count. Question ...How much of a red flag does it throw going to 2 hands in positive counts? I understand this may vary by location, but it seems that you are asking the pit to check you out.

[mjbballar23]

The game of blackjack isn’t what it used to be, and because of the reduced gain, there’s very little research anymore.
It can be a very profitable game (and rewarding), but you must play at a high level (black/purple), which most beginners aren’t willing to do.
The small stakes that beginners are willing to risk isn’t worth playing, and the high stakes that make it worthwhile is beyond the reach of beginners, so fewer and fewer new players come into the scene. Ironically, the blackjack market is growing as laws allow new casinos to be built, but fewer and fewer newcomers enter the scene while old-timers leave the scene.
Foxwoods recently made the game unbelievable, and the new casinos in PA are just absolute money-makers. Regardless of what some people say, Taj Mahal high-limit is the best in Atlantic City. And NY is in the process of opening new casinos.
The fertile field is upon us, but alas only a few of us to harvest the riches.

Maybe the old timers have found something more lucrative?

[bigplayer]

No red flag at all if you also play two hands in an equal number of negative and neutral counts. Spread to two hands when losing in a neutral count to change the flow...tie your spot spreading to the win/loss rather than the count. Heads up play two hands in neutral counts and one hand in both positive and negative counts, use your imagination. Play zero hands in negative counts then the casino has no way to correlate your big plus and big minus spot choices.

[Al Mucous]

Maybe the old timers have found something more lucrative?

A lot of the oldtimers can't think of anything better. They mill around whatever town they're in, they try to read, they find themselves confounded and careerless, then organize another blackjack trip. The trip either loses or wins.

[Blackriver]

A lot of the oldtimers can't think of anything better. They mill around whatever town they're in, they try to read, they find themselves confounded and careerless, then organize another blackjack trip. The trip either loses or wins.

You make it seem so glamorous

[AP360]

How so?

Any news on this? How did Foxwoods recently make their game unbelievable?

[AP360]

The CBJN lists their pen on 6 and 8 deck games as 1.3 decks. That is pretty good.

True, except I haven't seen a 6 decker in months. Also, haven't seen a S17 game in just as long.

[Hsiaodi]

MGM HL has 6 decks with six spots. But NMSE. I believe at least 50 min. S17 not sure if they have any left....