Your answer won't satisfy the non-blackjack playing know nothings, MrV. Lets leave the ASM out of it for the moment. And let's not even count the tracking a second table, because that is something that conditions have to be just right to pull off and then only an experienced card counter can really do and frankly those opportunities occur far less frequently post covid than pre-covid. So let's not even rehash that again.
But I like to think over the years, in bits and pieces, I have shared
a great many things that I do, techniques I use that lead to
longevity, which is what my game is all about. I think a player could read everything I have written and have a pretty good blue print of how to achieve longevity in Las Vegas. Many of these ideas were in one thread, a thread started by blackhole entitled
"Kewlj's fantasy facts or bullshit", in which he and his accomplices, attempted to tear into my blackjack claims, very unsuccessfully. I answered every single one of his concerns in detail.
At the end of that thread, Axelwolf wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AxelWolf
Come on Rob, even I have had my issues with KJ and some questions regarding a few minor aspects of his blackjack play(I think it was the aspect about him never getting 86ed), but if you actually take the time to read what he writes about blackjack and his style of play, 95% of it makes perfect sense and he seems fairly knowable and logical. It's not as if he is making outrageous claims like some people. If I had a question regarding blackjack in Las Vegas, I would respect his answers and opinions.
Mickeycrimm wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mickeycrimm
Blackhole, I have to hand it to you. Brilliant plan. KJ is most likely the best card counter operating in Las Vegas. Your incessant attacks on him have caused him to release a ton of information on blackjack strategy and longevity tactics in Las Vegas.
Blackhole, you have been absolutely brilliant in your ability to draw the information out of KJ. Now, everyone understands that you don't have the mental ability to learn anything from it, much less make any money from it, but a lot of lurkers that have the ability are soaking it up. I'm sure they appreciate what you have done in coaxing the information out of KJ.
Keep up the good work. Draw some more clinics out of KJ. Those that can use the information appreciate your efforts.
I really don't like to play that quoting game that Mdawg plays, but these are people, real players, real AP's that understand card counting, as opposed to the nit wits that started that thread.
I will do billyung/Garnabby or whatever name he is using today the honor of highlighting, since he seems to be right there with non-blackjack players Rob Singer, Blackhole, Mdawg in his lack of blackjack card counting knowledge.
1.
Short sessions. Once an evaluation is ordered (which takes some time observing) it takes roughly 30 minutes to 45 minutes for the evaluation to determine anything conclusive. This is because they need to see
several high count cycles to see the patterns. And that can take a number of shoes to see. Maybe a little less playing double deck, which is one reason not to play double deck.
2.
Showing bet spread only once (maybe twice with double deck). This is related to short sessions. One of the biggest tells of a card counter is retreating back to the smaller bet at the shuffle. You can avoid that by exiting at that shuffle point instead of retreating back.
3.
Index plays. I actually discussed this on another forum in the past few days. Players playing the same hand differently at different times (and counts) is another of the bigger "tells" of a card counter. In Card counting we have index plays that tell you when it is more advantageous to alter basic strategy plays based on the count. A player can use 100's of index plays. BUT Don Schlesinger, proved that most have or add little value. Most of the advantage of the strategy play deviations comes from the top 18 plays, which he named "the illustrious 18".
So that is a reason to only use fewer plays. But a better reason is because playing hands differently at different times is such a huge "tell" Think about 16 vs 10 or taking insurance, two of the more common ones. very easy for pit to notice a player playing these hands differently. And for the rest, the pit doesn't even have to know the correct play for that count. They don't even have to know basic strategy. All they need to do is see the player playing the same hand differently at different times and it is a "tell"
So I explained how I don't even play the 18 strategy change index play, but play "card counter's basic strategy" instead. This means you never play a hand differently at different counts. Eliminating yet another of the big tells.
So that is two of the biggest "tells of a card counter which I explained how to eliminate. The 3rd tell is the bet spread itself. This one is not quite so easy to eliminate, because a player
must bet bigger in advantageous situation and smaller or not at all in negative situation. THAT is what card counting is!
4.
Spreading both ways. BUT there are things you can do to disguise that. The one I use is spreading both ways. I won't get into details but it disguises the bet spread at a minor cost. Now understand that once you are being evaluated by computer,
nothing you do as disguise will trick the computer. The end results will show higher wagers in more advantageous round and smaller wagers in negative rounds, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO FOR CAMOFLAGE.
BUT, that is once an evaluation is ordered and underway. Evaluations must be ordered by pit. And there are things you can do to disguise your spread with the pit, even if it just buys some time. And you will likely avoid that evaluation all together or end up with a practical evaluation because of the short sessions. And a partial evaluation is trash. It is nothing, unless you play rated (mdawg) and they can string several partials together.
So those are the 3 big tells of a card counter and how you can completely eliminate the first 2 and disguise and buy yourself time on the third, which leads to longevity!
There are other things as well, like what betting levels you are playing and if you play crowded times, and other things, but those are the big 3 tells and how you eliminate and get around them for longevity. there are also some other things I have shared like playing with a chip inventory or if buying in for cash very small buy-ins. No one thing is the secret to longevity, but combined these things lead to longevity, when done correctly.
For me, sharing this is probably something I am most proud of. There aren't a lot of players getting into card counting these days, but if someone is and follows these guidelines, they can still achieve some longevity. I know, because in addition to me hitting 20 years of supporting myself from blackjack play at years end, there is a player in my household that is also, employing these things and he has been at it 6 or 7 years with 1 single backoff (fairly recently). So these techniques still work!!
Now if billyung, or blackhole, or Ron Singer or anyone else doesn't see anything of value it is because they don't want to or don't know anything about card counting.
