MAC: I want to learn how to count!

[MAC]

I'm a 31 y.o. female, and I want to learn how to count cards.

Is it hard? Can someone teach me? Is there a good book out there anyone knows of?? Any suggestions?? Does it work??

[Parker]

> I'm a 31 y.o. female, and I want to learn
> how to count cards.

> Is it hard?

No. Card counting is not difficult, and can be learned by anyone of average intelligence.

However, it is not a license to print money. Your edge will be small, and variance is high. You will need a substantial bankroll and will endure occasional losing streaks. If the casinos suspect that you are a counter, they will ask you to leave.

> Can someone teach me? Is there a
> good book out there anyone knows of??

All of the books in our Online Store are good. I suggest starting with Blackjack Bluebook II, by Fred Renzey. It is not expensive, and it will answer all of your questions.

> Any suggestions??

Note that we have a Blackjack Beginners page for people such as you. Set your preferences to display several month's posts and start reading. You will learn a great deal.

> Does it work??

It will allow you to play with a slight edge over the casino. As I stated earlier, it is not a quick way to easy money.

In fact, if you have accumulated the bankroll necessary to play for serious stakes, you probably already have an easier way in which to make money.

[SOTSOG]

Is it hard?

Not really. All it takes is Patience, Practice, and some Effort. Not very many people have Patience. They don't want to spend the time to practice, they would rather have fun then expend effort.

Can someone teach me?

Sure. You can also teach yourself with a good book and a deck of cards for practice.

Is there a good book out there anyone knows of??

Available at this site. Blackjack Bluebook is good. A book on the KO Blackjack system is great for beginners also.

Any suggestions??

First step: Learn Basic Strategy cold. Know it so you can see it in your sleep, makes the rest of the process easy.

Does it work??

If you play for high stakes (or not even high in some places), and the casino realizes you are counting cards, they will bar you or not let you play anymore blackjack. Does that tell you anything?

[Ouchez]

> I'm a 31 y.o. female, and I want to learn
> how to count cards.

> Is it hard? Can someone teach me? Is there a
> good book out there anyone knows of?? Any
> suggestions?? Does it work??

there are 3 female counters, good too, so don't let being female hold you back. I think it is an asset.

What part of the country do you play in?

As SOTSOG says, all the books you need are for sale on this site. Learn Hi-LO after you master basic strategy. Read some good books and then get CV software.

"Can you hear the thunder"?
Ouchez.

[ES]

> Does it work??

It works. Having a slight edge in a game subject to wild, random fluctuations is NOT a guarantee that you will win.

> If you play for high stakes (or not even
> high in some places), and the casino
> realizes you are counting cards, they will
> bar you or not let you play anymore
> blackjack. Does that tell you anything?

That the casinos are greedy bastards.

[ES]

Avoid books by John Patrick or John Scarne. They have INCORRECT basic strategies, which will cost you money!

Avoid games with 6:5 payoff for a blackjack!

No betting system that varies the player's bets according to whether the prior hand(s) were won, lost or pushed, or in accordance with a predetermined sequence, e.g. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ... can overcome the casino's edge in a game in which the player has a negative expected value to give the player a positive expected value!

Explanation of expected value: Double Zero roulette in Las Vegas. 18 odd numbers, 18 even numbers and 2 zeroes, i.e. 0 and 00, neither of which counts as an even number, for a total of 38 numbers. A winning bet on odd or even is paid even money. Probability of winning is 18/38; probability of losing is 20/38.

EV = 1 X (18/38) + (-1) X (20/38) = -0.05263..., or -5.263...%.

Casinos win because each game has a negaive EV for the player, NOT because the casinos cheat.

Read Basic Blackjack and also Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong. Then read Don Schlesinger's Blackjack Attack, 3rd edition.

Visit www.qfit.com for infor on practice and simulation software.

Play for fun, NOT as a professional!

Go forth and learn!

[DD']

very tough to make much money. Just don't get your hopes up too high. I'd guess that over 90% of all card counters have never made more than $10,000 in a year. Most have probably not made that much in their life times.