Blackjack Making a Comeback?

[spyu]

What do you guys think of Semyon Dukach?
I used to play blackjack religiously about 8 yrs ago because I thought the game was beatable in the long run. I got disillusioned because I ended up reading book after book, many of which said different and almost conflicting things.
I used to up my bets w/ the count and after I got cleaned out a few times doing this I gave up. Anyone think the game is still beatable or have beaten the game? I've seen so many variations on basic strategy I hardly know what to believe. Same thing on numbers variation.

[wsock23]

Basic Strategy should only differ in regards to the number of decks in the shoe. When you were upping your bets, did you do it with the true count (fractioning the count by how far the shoe has gone through)? Blackjack is totally beatable with practice. Also, try to only play one-on-one vs the dealer. You have more control over the cards, and can keep an easier count.

[jba]

blackjack is getting worse and worse, but it is still beatable.

[Homer]

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Basic Strategy should only differ in regards to the number of decks in the shoe. When you were upping your bets, did you do it with the true count (fractioning the count by how far the shoe has gone through)? Blackjack is totally beatable with practice. Also, try to only play one-on-one vs the dealer. You have more control over the cards, and can keep an easier count.

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groan

[SheetWise]

Most floormen believe that they have a handle on the game -- and that they have it under control. Almost all of them are wrong, of course -- so management is redefining the game -- and trying to create a game you can't win with the illusion that you can.

Casino mid-level management is hired on trust, not skill. Trust is valued so much higher than skill, that most managers would let their retarded son manage the floor in favor of a turncoat veteran counter. When you're dealing inside a casino -- the currency is trust, not dollars.

Back to your question. When I was managing the store, I used to negotiate games with counters. I would watch them play, analyze their strategy, watch their reactions to their BB losses, talk to the cage about their credit lines, monitor their out-of-pocket play ... get reports from Central Credit, and eventually apply SWAG methodology to estimate their bankroll. Once I knew that ... I would give them the decks they wanted, the cutoff they wanted, the rules they wanted, and my spread.

Almost all of them were too arrogant, and took the deal. They were good players -- but didn't get the game. They were overbetting their bank by our design -- and when the game turned south -- they abandoned their strategy, and I accomodated them by raising their limits. They chased -- we won.

I've got to admit that while I was inside, I set up a few games where we got beat -- but overall, beating counters is pretty easy.

There's your advantage. If you really understand the game -- don't play cat and mouse with the casino. Go to the shift manager or casino manager and negotiate a private game, with set rules, spread, decks, cutoff, and time they will allow you to play. You renogotiate when the time runs it's course.

It's in your interest to negotiate a $100-$500 game when you know your BR will support 10x that. Go low -- appear to sweat your losses -- and negotiate a good game.

The inside people really think they're smart - they're not going to admit -- even to themselves -- when they're wrong. Use that to your advantage.

[spyu]

When I upped my bets it was basic spread on the conservtive side.
TC>=2-1unit, 3-2units, 4-3units, 5-4units, 6or higher - 5 units capped.

The best thing I have come across as of late is the Hi-Opt II system. If you can implement all the number variations(which is quite a mental feat) and use a 1,2,5,10,15 spread 1-5TC betting progression. You can beat the shoe games like the 6 deck at the Bellagio by quite a margin. But again the thing is being able to play perfect and bet perfect.

[Blue Lagoon]

Basic strategy differs with game rules.

You also need to use a big spread, 1-12 at least, and pit criter could see that.

I think that, practically, you absolutely need to find a very good game to beat it.

[NajdorfDefense]

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Basic Strategy should only differ in regards to the number of decks in the shoe. When you were upping your bets, did you do it with the true count (fractioning the count by how far the shoe has gone through)? Blackjack is totally beatable with practice. Also, try to only play one-on-one vs the dealer. You have more control over the cards, and can keep an easier count.

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groan

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