I've been trying out a system (on practice) whereby I bet really big after losing three hands in a row. Otherwise, I don't change my bet.

 

Can anyone tell me how stupid this idea is?

 

This strategy is usually not good. I actually knew a serious woman gambler who's personal rule was to get up and walk after 3 straight losses. In a crowded casino that may be hard to do if you can not find another seat easily. But it points out what others have said - BJ can be streaky. And betting into a losing streak is just not good. As a player and a dealer for local charity games I have seen the 'typical' environment to be about 25% winning streaks, 25% losing streaks and around 50% of the time you run 'choppy' - win 1, lose 1, win 2, lose 2, etc. The money management strategy of BJ is to hang around through the down streaks and the choppy streaks to get to the winning streaks. Sometimes the whole table goes hot and everyone is winning (those are the loud, fun tables) but usually there are couple of hot seats and the rest of the table is even or losing.

 

I like the progressive increase approach already mentioned here. Up your bet after a couple of wins, keep upping it as long as the win streak is running. Level out if the bets are getting big and unfortable, especially if doubling it will make you nervous - your money is made on splits and double downs so stay in your comfort zone. After a loss, just restart. WHEN you win 9 out of 10 hands with this approach you will make your money. If the streak does not start back up - take a break. But if you have their money on the table leave with their money. The cardinal sin is to give it back. Set a 'stopper' value when you have house money and leave with that. Nothing better than coloring up and tipping the dealer with house money as the pit boss smirks about your 'luck'.

 

There is an excellent book on gambling that covers not only the mechanical stragegies but also the money management described above and other elements like deflecting the 'heat' when you are winning - The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling. Highly recommended. Link here.

There are 5 good cards the dealer could have and 2 decent cards the dealer could have to go with their 10. There are 6 cards you wouldn't want the dealer to have. That's why you split 8's. Just b/c you play as if though the dealer has a 10 buried doesn't mean it's there.

 

Yep. Every basic strategy card says split them. That is because that is what the computer simulations say to do. And a quote from the book I just referenced in the other post - "The computer calculates the odds - coldly."

 

That is the beauty of BJ (the card game). Your moves are preprogrammed. Its easier to sip on bourbon when you have no real decisions to make. Watching people angst over a hitting a 16 against dealers 10 drives me nuts.

 

I love surrender. They never post it and you have to ask. But its worth asking. Once you do the dealer then knows you know something and they can be helpful to knowledgeable players when the pit boss is not looking over their shoulder.

 

I have not seen any discussion on soft-17s.

 

I assume the house is hitting soft 17s since that has been the trend. Even on the strip they were starting to hit soft-17s a few years back. And its because its in the house's favor to do so. But that is another area many do not know what to do. The rule is to always hit or double down soft-17s. Seeing people stand on soft-17s is another pet peeve.

I've been trying out a system (on practice) whereby I bet really big after losing three hands in a row. Otherwise, I don't change my bet.

 

Can anyone tell me how stupid this idea is?

 

I know nothing about cards and have never played in a casino but by the Math it is not a good idea or a stupid idea. It provides you no edge but does not put you at a disadvantage either.

I know nothing about cards and have never played in a casino but by the Math it is not a good idea or a stupid idea. It provides you no edge but does not put you at a disadvantage either.

It was just something I was playing around with on the simulators. I'm also trying a sort of modified version of what Bluegrasscard suggested. I start with a middle amount -- say $50. Each time you win, you go one step up the scale (only as far as $100) and each time you lose, you go down a step (as low as $25). I'm going to practice that system a few times and see if it gets me anywhere.

It was just something I was playing around with on the simulators. I'm also trying a sort of modified version of what Bluegrasscard suggested. I start with a middle amount -- say $50. Each time you win, you go one step up the scale (only as far as $100) and each time you lose, you go down a step (as low as $25). I'm going to practice that system a few times and see if it gets me anywhere.

 

That book: "The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling" can be found at Barnes and Noble right next to the "Book of Even Prime Numbers".

That book: "The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling" can be found at Barnes and Noble right next to the "Book of Even Prime Numbers".

:hilarious:

That book: "The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling" can be found at Barnes and Noble right next to the "Book of Even Prime Numbers".

 

Well done, Frank.

That book: "The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling" can be found at Barnes and Noble right next to the "Book of Even Prime Numbers".

 

:hilarious:

 

We called it the Sin City Bible. It was before the days of the basic strategy was being sold in every gift shop. I made my wife memorize the basic strategy tables in it. There is no magic system in it. But the money management part is worth the $15. That is were the difference is. It paid for a few trips.

 

Of course there is also the card counting techniques in it. It has the ratio method. I never liked it and its hard to drink bourbon keeping track. Instead, if run simulations you will see that on average the number of cards dealt per player over time is 3. So you can use that gauge the 10s to tell if the deck is heavy or not. It works best on double deck tables. 6 or 8 deck shoes are hard to count into so this technique at least can help let you know if the shoe is heavy or light. For single deck you can just keep a straight up count - especially if its 1 on 1.

 

There is money to be made at BJ. Basic strategy, cash management and either a progressive system that leverages the win streaks or card counting or a combination of both are the keys.

Keep a running plus / minus on the deck and bet heavy when there are more good cards left.

 

Don't jump in mid-shoe.

 

Leave the table if you lose 2 straight after a dealer change. I HATE dealer changes.

 

There is money to be made at BJ. Basic strategy, cash management and either a progressive system

 

I thought we were talking about casinos and cards here but I like this better.:banana:

Horshoe Casino kicks lady out of casino , twice. The local lady shared the same name as woman in Cal., so they tell her she has been banned and to leave. They checked her out then said they were "sorry , case of mistaken identity. A couple days later the lady was in the casino and noticed she was being followed by security. They told the lady she had to go to the interview room. Oops, same mistaken identity. Imagine the embarrasment of this casino patron. For her trouble the casino offered her a free baffet, WHAT a Joke!!! WCPO reported this story, I think I got it right. The woman in California had been banned from all Horshoe owned casinos in Vegas.

^ WOW! A $15 deal (retail). Hate to see what they would do if they really screw up, they would be out $25, retail, lol

 

This strategy is usually not good. I actually knew a serious woman gambler who's personal rule was to get up and walk after 3 straight losses. In a crowded casino that may be hard to do if you can not find another seat easily. But it points out what others have said - BJ can be streaky. And betting into a losing streak is just not good. As a player and a dealer for local charity games I have seen the 'typical' environment to be about 25% winning streaks, 25% losing streaks and around 50% of the time you run 'choppy' - win 1, lose 1, win 2, lose 2, etc. The money management strategy of BJ is to hang around through the down streaks and the choppy streaks to get to the winning streaks. Sometimes the whole table goes hot and everyone is winning (those are the loud, fun tables) but usually there are couple of hot seats and the rest of the table is even or losing.

 

I like the progressive increase approach already mentioned here. Up your bet after a couple of wins, keep upping it as long as the win streak is running. Level out if the bets are getting big and unfortable, especially if doubling it will make you nervous - your money is made on splits and double downs so stay in your comfort zone. After a loss, just restart. WHEN you win 9 out of 10 hands with this approach you will make your money. If the streak does not start back up - take a break. But if you have their money on the table leave with their money. The cardinal sin is to give it back. Set a 'stopper' value when you have house money and leave with that. Nothing better than coloring up and tipping the dealer with house money as the pit boss smirks about your 'luck'.

 

There is an excellent book on gambling that covers not only the mechanical stragegies but also the money management described above and other elements like deflecting the 'heat' when you are winning - The Winners Guide to Casino Gambling. Highly recommended. Link here.

 

What does this book say about when the Asian closer comes out of the bullpen in relief of a more generous dealer?

So a week or so after it opens, any other comments about the casino itself?

Any security issues? food and beverage good?

Any big winners?

BF, I did see at least 1 short blackjack table.