Vegas blackjack

[kewlJ]

JackSpade over at WoV linked to the above video by Colin about "how Vegas sucks for card counting.

I am not going to issue much commentary other than to say he starts out listing 5 really bad (sucky) things about Vegas card counting and then at the end, two professional card counters, opine that Vegas is still fine as long as you adjust your game for the current conditions.

You will notice that almost all of Colin's 5 really bad things, relate to the strip. As a matter of fact, other than one half second shot of an Arizona Charlies sign, you wouldn't know that there are any casinos in Vegas that aren't on the strip.

Anyway, that is all. Vegas sucks for blackjack.....any remaining card counters and there aren't many, should stay away.

[jdaewoo]

But the strip does suck for card counting. And it wasn't that long ago that it didn't. It's gone from hundreds of playable games to what, a dozen outside of high limit rooms? Fewer playable tables in fewer pits and it's far easier for the casinos to keep an eye on those. Not to mention that the strip was the place you could get down action.

There's no reason to think that the plague isn't going to spread past the strip in LV. It's spreading everywhere in the country except for a few states that have legislated good rules.

[jbjb]

Colin is just a "Johnny Come Lately" in the card counting world. He and his opinions are irrelevant and outdated.

[kewlJ]

I haven't met Colin, but am not a fan of his because of the whole BJ apprentice thing. I didn't and still don't like the idea of "churning out" card counters for profit. THAT just is not good for anybody, except of course him.

As for the strip, in regards to card counting, when I moved to Vegas in 2009, I spend a couple years mostly playing the strip. I didn't drive my first couple years, lived a block off the strip, so I played the strip and some downtown (via bus). Also a few just off strip places like Palms, Terribles (now Silver Sevens), Hooters (OYO), ect. Once I began driving, it opened up a whole "other" Las Vegas of local type places that I concentrated on for about 8 years.

I always had a couple strip properties in my rotation, but went back to heavier strip play after covid. Masks, and new responsibilities for pit folk, and several other considerations, made strip play more inviting to me. I wanted to play less, but higher stakes and the strip was the place to do that, rather than the local places in my rotation. I found myself playing the busier times, weekends, holidays that I used to avoid, playing in the shadow of other higher betting players.

The strip casinos do have the best surveillance equipment, no question about that. But that technology is only as good as the surveillance crew operating it and most locations skimp on that, and they are especially under-maned during those busier times mentioned. I could bet bigger (for me), but still be far down on the priority list. Card counters in general are down the list now a days, but i and my limits are far down on that card counter subsection.

Now this year, because of my circumstances which I won't go into and I think everyone knows, I have played far less BJ that usual. Far less than I ever have. Card counting currently accounts for just about half my year's EV and earnings, and most of that has been on the strip. And despite those circumstances that lead to me playing less and differently this year, I have experienced almost zero heat.

You have to tailor your game, approach and playing style to the conditions and circumstances of where you are playing. I did that when I moved to Vegas and started playing the local type casinos and again when I started playing more of the bigger strip locations. You HAVE to figure out what you can and can't do. What is tolerated and what isn't. And you have to play shorter sessions, so as to create fewer problems for anyone. I don't think someone like Colin has done any of that. They march in with their big bankroll that supports their big spread, drawing attention from the second they buy in and then wonder why they can't play.

Anyway, I think I have said more than enough. I didn't intend to get into all this.

But one other thing: There is a guy on a couple of these forums, not this one any longer, who's story is that he plays higher limit blackjack (among other games) on the strip, in the high limit rooms no less, at private tables no less, and wins, wins, wins...or so he says. Again, that story just don't square with any of the reality that is the Las Vegas strip.

[kewlJ]

Oh by the way, I don't disagree that there are far better locations throughout the US for card counting. I have always done a bit of traveling, but for the most part, I prefer to play my home base and return to my home every night. I am not a big Hotel guy. Vegas is the place for that. There is a quote from a longtime member of Tommy Hylands team that I have used frequently and still holds true today. "The advantage of Las Vegas is many playable games in close proximity". Not the best game, but playable with minimal travel time and expense.

Personally, I have run into more problems, heat and backoffs when playing outside of Las Vegas. I think I just have figured out what is and isn't tolerated and accepted and what casinos to avoid altogether and when I play out of town, I lose all that. And the real problem is that some of those out-of-town backoffs, have followed me home. Again, only speaking for myself, but I am better off playing Vegas than other places that might have better "conditions".

[coach belly]

the reality that is the Las Vegas strip.

Have the high limit rooms at Cosmo, Venetian or Wynn ever been in your rotation?

[kewlJ]

the reality that is the Las Vegas strip.

Have the high limit rooms at Cosmo, Venetian or Wynn ever been in your rotation?

I have you on ignore and had to click to view your post. I am sorry I did. When will I ever learn.

I am not going to play your games. You may be the one person dumber than Alan.

While no, I do not play high-limit rooms, I network with numerous players and even several high level, high end casino, pit folks as the base of my knowledge. You cannot get away with what that person has claimed in high limit rooms in general, let alone, the single sweatiest, casino, known to have top surveillance in Vegas. You can believe and support this guy's fantasy, but it is simply not reality.

Not to mention, as I stated at the time, I have seen this guy's actual casino records and they did not match his claims at the time. He was 6 figures in the red at a time he was claiming to be half a million in the black.

And I will not unblock again, to read your nonsense.

[coach belly]

I network with numerous players and even several high level, high end casino, pit folks as the base of my knowledge.

And I will not unblock again

You are a proven and admitted liar, incapable of posting truthfully.

None of your copy and paste drivel should be believed.

[jdaewoo]

I network with numerous players and even several high level, high end casino, pit folks as the base of my knowledge.

And I will not unblock again

You are a proven and admitted liar, incapable of posting truthfully.

None of your copy and paste drivel should be believed.

This conversation has nothing to do with you cunt. You know nothing about gambling, and less about card counting.

[coach belly]

You know nothing about gambling, and less about card counting.

I know everything about everything, you worthless skell.

I am permitted to ask a question on any topic here,
the answering insult shows that I hit another skell's nerve.

I was counting cards when you were fondling your daddy's balls.

[Midwest Player]

Now this year, because of my circumstances which I won't go into and I think everyone knows, I have played far less BJ that usual. Far less than I ever have. Card counting currently accounts for just about half my year's EV and earnings, and most of that has been on the strip. And despite those circumstances that lead to me playing less and differently this year, I have experienced almost zero heat.

I don't know why you have played less blackjack this year. Can you mention or at least hint at the circumstances around this. I don't follow this board daily so I'm not up to speed on what's going on.

[monet]

No offense meant to coach belly but I just seen this and thought it was funny.
Not hilarious kind of funny but worth a grin and a mention.

[coach belly]

No offense meant to coach belly

I took $200 from shylocks for the down payment on that time share
...it was 2 units over from Tony Bennett.

That's success.

[redietz]

No offense meant to coach belly

I took $200 from shylocks for the down payment on that time share
...it was 2 units over from Tony Bennett.

That's success.

I spend some time in Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area, so this is spot on. Think Branson with more complicated, basically unfathomable, liquor laws. Lots of mini-golf in Gatlinsburg and Pigeon Forge. I presume coach likes mini-golf. I do. Especially the ones with the dinosaurs.

Not too far from Cherokee, actually, if you go the back way. Get drunk if you can figure out the rules in Pigeon Forge, play mini-golf for money, then take a drunken ride to Cherokee on the back roads, seeing if you can survive driving drunk through the mountains with the hairpins and no guard rails. Fun times. I like doing it at night, after Billy Idol concerts.

[monet]

No offense meant to coach belly

I took $200 from shylocks for the down payment on that time share
...it was 2 units over from Tony Bennett.

That's success.

I spend some time in Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area, so this is spot on. Think Branson with more complicated, basically unfathomable, liquor laws. Lots of mini-golf in Gatlinsburg and Pigeon Forge. I presume coach likes mini-golf. I do. Especially the ones with the dinosaurs.

Not too far from Cherokee, actually, if you go the back way. Get drunk if you can figure out the rules in Pigeon Forge, play mini-golf for money, then take a drunken ride to Cherokee on the back roads, seeing if you can survive driving drunk through the mountains with the hairpins and no guard rails. Fun times. I like doing it at night, after Billy Idol concerts.

I don't think you are allowed to use the word Drunken and Cherokee in the same paragraph.

[coach belly]

Cherokee on the back roads, seeing if you can survive driving drunk through the mountains

I try not to drive drunk anymore, but I white-knuckled it sober
through the reservation to Cherokee, from Asheville about a year ago.

Beautiful property, a CET jewel judging from what I've experienced.

What route did they use to get construction materials to that location?

Next time I think I'm gonna try that track.

[redietz]

Cherokee on the back roads, seeing if you can survive driving drunk through the mountains

I try not to drive drunk anymore, but I white-knuckled it sober
through the reservation to Cherokee, from Asheville about a year ago.

Beautiful property, a CET jewel judging from what I've experienced.

What route did they use to get construction materials to that location?

Next time I think I'm gonna try that track.

I did the drive through Asheville I think two or three times. I meandered down through the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge route once during a kind of vacation tour drive. I remember doing the Asheville route one time after it snowed an inch or something in Johnson City. Well, it was a few inches on that road. Beautiful but not an easy drive.

I think that property is very similar to Pechanga in California. It's a real nice property. Very spacious. Video poker was okay. Paula Deen had a nice restaurant there before she got canceled.