As a professional advantage player you not only need to calculate the odds of the game but also need to calculate "people" (e.g. Casinos). You need to determine what type of enemy the casinos are and develop a plan to beat them. I learn that through life experience dealing with some uncompromising and intimidating people.
"The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand." Sun Tuz, The Art of War.
"You [have to] know what the opponents can do, what their strengths and weaknesses are ... [and] what to do in every situation.” Sun Tuz, Art of War.
Opponent in this case is the casino.
Last edited by seriousplayer; 05-30-2021 at 08:08 PM.
Absolutely. Lots of bored donks. You pay the rake when you buy upfront.
Card counting still works. It's not going to be a life. You can actually make more money Ubering, especially these days.
Casino music, the noise, the ploppies, the snarky dealer, the drive to the casino... That'll burn you out.
I only still count a few hours a month, because it's an itch I still like to scratch and overall have been profitable.
I played full time blackjack for more than 10 years, essentially part time for many years prior to that. I've taken a few years off, and there's no way I wish to keep that sort of full time schedule ever again, but I look forward to once again being able to get out there and play at my leisure with the pandemic subsiding.
I've never played full time professionally - I guess you might say a lot of part time professional level, and for quite a few years (started playing around 2007, 2008. There’s no way I could handle a full time gig as a card counter, but like you, look forward to some part time play.
I did play for around 5-6 weeks around Sept Oct before things closed up again. Things are opening up again, just had my 2nd shot and am considering some play again in the next couple of weeks. Mostly but not 100% retired and am considering a number of driving possibilities. Still don’t want to fly yet.
Full time play at this stage and I might lose my love of the game.
https://youtu.be/FnPk9sBfGzc
Last edited by Freightman; 06-13-2021 at 05:47 PM. Reason: Add last line and link
Trying combing pro level blackjack and other AP endeavors.
I know that some here play blackjack and craps for cruise ship comps. Not significant heat, but, you can easily get comped free or significantly discounted cruises. Makes our better halves happy, albeit casino widows during the evening hours of the sailings.
Just some insight into how CC can be used as a means to an end, and not merely considered as an end in and of itself, which most CC'ers are hyperfixated upon. So, less pit crew heat and who can say that they grind on the high seas. Beats the road anyday!
"Your honor, with all due respect: if you're going to try my case for me, I wish you wouldn't lose it."
Fictitious Boston Attorney Frank Galvin (Paul Newman - January 26, 1925 - September 26, 2008) in The Verdict, 1982, lambasting Trial Judge Hoyle (Milo Donal O'Shea - June 2, 1926 - April 2, 2013) - http://imdb.com/title/tt0084855/
Playing full time would be too much of a grind for me. Playing for cruises and other comps plus a small supplement to retirement works for me. I havn't seen much opportunity on cruise ship casinos except for a certain VP opportunity that is worth a couple hundred bucks per cruise.
huh this is a pretty interesting thread, I'm just a college student and yeah there are lots of other things I do like coding apps, etc. but idk personally for me it's just I get tired of being behind a screen all the time and sometimes it's nice to take a break and do something else and blackjack is pretty fun. Plus the idea of beating the house is cool and also a lot of those counting drills w/ things like CV are great, especially when you're waiting for code to compile, etc. so you have a minute and you don't know what to do -- just do a counting drill!
So I am not now, nor ever have been, a full time counter.
I think I could be a full time AP, however. My part time shenanigans has put three kids through college, and one almost through medical school. (He got his white coat in May, so we’re close.) Some years I made more on AP than my job, and I have a very good job.
The truth is that I love my full time gig. I feel like I add value. When I’m doing AP, I don’t feel that way. I do enjoy card counting, because I like to win. Other AP exploits get me the $$$, but not necessarily the satisfaction of card counting. And nothing AP gives me the satisfaction of my job.
Plus the job has the benefits, the car, the retirement, etc. So it’s nice to have AP as the side gig.
Casinos just don’t hit the same as the job. The ploppies, the other APs vying for the same opportunities, the pseudo AP/degenerates who lack the discipline to be effective, they all annoy me. I’m not saying I’m all sunshine and roses, but people tend to behave at work. Not so much at a casino.
I think for the right person, it could be done.
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