I remember playing when the dealer peeked at the hole card with a ten up. The dealer did the "double look", which meant that the hold card was a 4 (the tip of the "4" appears to be "A"). The ENTIRE TABLE (all strangers) immediately stood pat. The dealer busted and we all slyly grinned at each other.
@@iamjakevrtv5782 when you peel back a 4 a lot of the time it can be mistaken for an Ace. Him double checking basically told the table he thought it was an ace, so it has to be a 4. I'm guessing Edit: idk why I explained all that, you definitely got that part. I'm assuming he was at a smaller casino where the dealer actually folds back the card to check instead of having a prism
What is the difference between the soft 17 rule at a blackjack table? Are you more likely to win at a blackjack table that forces the dealer to hit on a soft 17 or less likely? How does the math play out? Thanks in advance, love the channel
Dealer standing on soft 17 is better to the tune of 0.2% with basic strategy. There are several minor alterations to basic strategy/surrender between the games
I won $26k off $138 while I was in post grad, playing online roulette. Finished school (aerospace), was one of the only people in my class to get a job. -> six months. Covid. Used 15k of the 26k for a down payment on a truck and started a business that does deliveries. I make 6 figures a year. Here I am boys. I got time.
Great video Colin. On #3, 100% agree protect your identity. To all new players. Don't use a "player's cards" if at all possible. You can flash your ID at the table (keep it in your hand), even cover your name with a finger just show the DOB, but say you don't want a player's card. Most of the time you are not considered a "Refusal" and you can keep playing. My advice also is if you are backed off, leave and come back another time. Cages do not really care about "card counters", they care about Title 31. As long as you aren't sketchy and just come back in a few days with an ID and possibly SSN (if you won over 10k) they will cash out any amount of cheques every time without saving any information or giving your info to Surveillance. Quickest way to get backed off is if you are in a database as a "card counter". Even a local casino database if they see your remarks as "Card Counter" they back you off immediately. If you land in a national database with photo, ID, date of birth, any time you are backed off other clubs will put out an alert on you. Every club in town will then be watching out for you. Not worth whatever comps you might make as a bonus for using players card. Not if you're serious about card counting.
In a german casino they want your data when you enter the casino. They say they "keep it private" and its just for covid but do you think they will save all this data in a national data base?
@@86kickass card counting isn't illegal. Winning money under a fake identity is illegal, hell even losing money under a fake identity is illegal. It's fraud
i ran into a HardRock Casino in northern California that requires you to make a player card just to cash out chips, that's BS. the cashier could be lying though
I’ve been watching the channel for a long time, and this was a great video because honestly I always wondered why you stopped counting if you were making so much money… thanks for everything you do, also your app is dope
@Rob Rochon I mean I hear what you’re saying. I do hope that he just did it for long enough that he wanted to do something else cause he didn’t want to be traveling all the time with his family. But shit idk man
I have a friend who was a pro poker player and had to quit. His reason for quitting is because, in his words, he was making money but he wasn’t providing anything to anybody and had nothing to show for his work (other than money). That eventually wore him down. I imagine being a pro blackjack player is similar… fun for a while but not for a long term career.
Sounds like most jobs honestly. I've been a stagehand for 20 years and have been backstage at just about every touring act in the US. It has it's down days but is a very fun job which I love, but it's not as if I'm providing much for anyone other than pushing a case from A-B, coiling a cable, or switching out bands for a set change. I also don't have much to show for it except money, fond memories, and fun times with co-workers. The money ain't that great for everything involved so like most jobs the only reason a person would do it as long as I is because you love the gig. That's why I think one of the keys to happiness in life is enjoying whatcha do for a living regardless of pay. If you have that you truly are one of the lucky few because most people in any given profession end up not liking what they do, often to the point of resentment. It sounds like that's what happened to your poker player friend, and that's not unusual or abnormal. At least he was bright enough to quit. Many aren't.
The other problem with being a blackjack AP is that the more you play, the more casinos you get backed off or trespassed. That's not a problem with poker as you are not taking the house's money.
Most Las Vegas casinos have bad deck penetration. They now hit soft 17. When I played, the Strip casinos stood on all 17s. The rules were great. Double on any 2 cards, double after splits, surrender and insurance even on single deck games. Single deck games were dealt more than half way down. Usually 2/3 to 3/4 depending on the dealer. And the dealers did peak in those days for blackjack.
Some of my older blackjack books refer to S17 as "Vegas strip rules" and H17 as "Downtown Vegas rules", because the Strip was all or nearly all S17 and downtown H17. OTHO, downtown had mostly single deck and double deck games at least as late as the late '90's.
Don't encourage card-counting! People will lose their money! These casinos have changed the rules. 6/5 BJ, shuffle machines, limiting Splits. You have to have a HUGE bankrolll to try this. Probably only 1/10 of 1% will come out ahead.
Does counting cards work? Yes. But 10% of all counters will end up making 90% of thr money. Counting cards is 4th grade math but calculating EV, bankroll, rounds per hour, variance, are much more difficult. If you like gambling then counting cards wont hurt but if you're in it for the money you really would have to dedicate years to master the craft before you start counting because you'll end up getting backed off casinos before you're in your prime. You also are probably competing against counters more experienced and more educated than you. Its a young persons game. Learn, study, put the time in, make a run and get out before you burn out. Sounds like what he did. You're fighting for a 1 to 2% advantage to be in the bottom 90% of low earners. You may make it into the upper distribution but you have to enjoy doing it wven on a losing streak and have a level of dedication that most sinply will never have.
Anyone who'd ask, "if you're so good at counting cards, why aren't you still doing it?", is only displaying how little they understand it. Eg, I would think many people who watch Steven Bridges' videos would conclude that the stress isn't worth it, regardless of the end result.
I've been a low stakes recreational counter for a long time, mostly playing in the same area. I've had a few backoffs and one trespass (more due to video poker play than blackjack), but I'm playing low enough stakes that some casinos don't seem to care if I count. It's always been more for entertainment than income for me. But gambling is a whole lot more entertaining when you win.
Love the videos Colin, just started getting into it my mom is a blackjack dealer never really looked into her work and this is the first thing I stumbled upon find it pretty interesting. I guess she's never seen it from this type of perspective but love how you explained it. I've never really thought about anything like this before besides seeing it in movies etc. Pretty interesting and something i'd like to learn.
Im definitely getting better. im using a msn game that lets you choose how big the deck is and, although i will obviously have to learn how to look at a deck myself and know how much is less, it tells you how many cards are left in the shoe and I can get a true count from that. My problem is when the count gets to true 3 and higher I get so excited i lose count.
I have a quick question!!! I love watching your videos very informative and to the point. I have memorized perfect basic strategy from your website. But some of my local casinos have a 3 to 2 single deck game. But you can't double down on aces. Is it still worth counting at those casinos with the same bet spred. Sorry for the long comment... thank you.
I assume you are saying you can’t double down on Soft hands where an ace is one of your cards in the initial deal. Not being able to double, does remove increase the house edge slightly against you, but if you have good penetration and can do a reasonable bet spread without attracting heat, then the game could still be profitable.
Wizard of Odds blackjack house edge calculator says that a 3:2 SD game where you can only double on 9-11 (and I'm presuming you can't double after split) has a house edge of about 0.3% assuming perfect basic strategy. For comparison, a 6-deck game with H17, DOA, DAS, and hit/re-split Aces has a house edge of about 0.37% assuming perfect basic strategy. So your SD game is perfectly viable. The only real problem is that you'll more than likely only get 2-3 hands dealt per shuffle unless you're playing heads up, but that's still a decent trade
Double only 9-11, NDAS, NRSA, etc etc... ALL of those rules are anti counter... But they don't make a game unbeatable. There's basically two things that make a game unbeatable or unplayable: first you have bad penetration. Secondly but more importantly almost, is 6-5 blackjack. Any other anti-counter rules just suck but unless you have all of them together in combination with bad penetration and a slow game, the game is still probably playable and beatable.
Yes, you have to wait for the count to go rich but the count can hover nowhere for a long time. So to be at that rate you have to put in the work. It’s not a vacation. It’s natural to want to vacation, it takes a baller to stay on point. Colin knows his stuff.
Never did it make a killing. Just for the fun of it. Treading water as you said was fine by me. Usually ended the year up a little, a few thousand. Was not easy and don;t do it any more. Had all the strategy down perfect but the speed of play sometimes was too much.
The speed was too much… as in too fast? I just started playing and my experience has been that it’s very slow! The side bets really slow things down. But I don’t really mind… since I’m new and I use that extra time to double check my count.
It depends on your comfort level. Personally I feel that getting backed off is inevitable if you’re a truly winning player so I play rated all the time so I can get any comps, especially if it’s a casino near you and visit often. the comps can be nice especially if you’re having negative variance. But there are some out there that don’t play rated and I believe they go a little longer before getting barred from play.
If you're playing at a Caesars Entertainment property, they have a long history of banning you from all their properties and arresting you/refusing to pay if you go to one of their sister properties that you've never been to before. Those people are BRUTAL and have a long history of abusing players, hiding behind their billions of dollars to fight lawsuits (they have lost a few big lawsuits, but not enough to change for the better. In my experience Caesars Entertainment is more brutal than most if not all Indian casinos.
@@fakerererererer counters stick out based on unit spread alone. There is no way to hide. Changing appearance doesn’t change facial recognition. A large buy with no ID or players card gets you instantly noticed anyway. Maybe this worked 20 years ago.
@@mrbuddah1741 you can still get your ass kicked even though you play a perfect game. You can go on losing streaks which tear into your bankroll and take months to recover from. This is something you just have to live with. It can sometimes feel like the casino in somehow cheating you. But after a long run of getting beat, you can then win the six months worth of ev in a couple of weeks. Then the cycle can happen again. This is the main reason to record your results in a spread sheet and look carefully at the worm line graph of your results. The maths predict that you will be within plus or minus 1 standard deviation 68% of the time and within 2 standard deviations 95% of the time. Rarely do you have streaks of nice and steady winnings.
Hello, what is your opinion on tables that start appearing in Europe? The dealer gets only 1 card and gets the second card after all players have played. If you are the last player, the card you will not draw will be the card the dealer gets.
Interestingly it doesn’t matter at all if the dealer get‘s to draw his 2. card after all the players or if it‘s already face down! Sure, the last player might „mess up“ the hand every now and then by playing „stupid“ but it will also be the other way around every now and then. It has no effect whatsoever on the odds of the game. It doesn’t even matter how the last player plays his cards.
I think they need your Id if you win over a certain amount because they report to IRS for taxes. If I give my chips on counter for cage cash out I can’t leave without money. I also think a players card is needed for the comps
But here is one thing - be a card counter but don't end up on the Griffin Book because of this. If you do end up on this "blacklisting" book - don't card count any more and do something else besides doing it. Every casino will back you off if you try to card count if you are in that scary book!!!!
i never clicked so fast. thanks colin for everything you do for the ap community i never would have had the courage to keep learning and making mistakes if it wernt for you. thank you colin
I have been reading your book and slowly ingesting all the content on this page. I’m still quite a ways off from hitting the casinos, but I am fairly confident I will be successful at this if I take my time. I’m in the Portland/ Vancouver area... so not too far from you. Maybe we might meet someday. Thanks for sharing all of this valuable information! 👍
@@thomasr1051 Read & Perfectly Learn 100%, PERFECT Basic Strategy for the House Rules and the particular table you may play at. (Yes - The rules Player options) can vary in a Casino depending on the table you are playing at. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER vary from "Basic Strategy". And NEVER bet 1 Cent more than you can comfortably afford to lose. BTW - Leaning how to play Perfect Basic Strategy (for the Table you are playing at) is an Absolute Minimum. In fact it is an ABSOLUTE MUST! BTW - If you don't know the Basic Strategy, it is possible to learn it relatively quickly. 1 day or less! It can be daunting at first but WILL Make Sense after a short while. And if you do - You will NEVER sit at a table where anyone, even the 40 Year Old BJ Vet is a better player than you! Opps! Almost forgot - There ARE Many variations of Basic Strategies - depending on the House Rules for the table(s) you play at. Do not get discouraged. They are similar enough that modifying your play due to the table / game / house rules is not hard to adjust to once you ”Learn BASIC”
Hi, i'm new to actually playing proper blackjack (basic strategy) and i was wondering is there anyone out there who can help with tips on how to stay motivated? like getting over you have to loose money to gain money. i know its a weird one but intrigued to see if anyone has any advice.
No matter what business venture you go into you risk losing fixed cost of starting. Look at a starting bankroll as fixed cost. Money fluctuates constantly in any business a bankroll would the same. Some months make money some months are a negative. Look at macro outcomes instead of micro. If a business can even last the first year let alone make money that’s a good thing. If you think of the bankroll the same it makes the ease of the up and downs calmer to me. Also I recommend trying to detach from what money is and not putting it on a importance that takes from everything else.
I love listening to these videos. I'm a terrible player and would just like to be competent enough to be able to sit down for 30-60 minutes and not lose my entire buy-in amount. I remember about a year ago, I got dealt 7 hands in a row of 14. I was hitting on some staying on others with no rhyme or reason. Dreadful experience.
If you're just looking to make the money stretch and to enjoy yourself improving basic strategy is the ticket. With perfect strategy and no counting the house is reduced a .5% edge and you ought to get some play out your buy-in
How do you cash out the chips of their “standard” protocols is asking for ID ? they always ask for my ID when playing slots even the winnings 1k ? can somebody cash out the chips for me the next day ?
The house always wins, and the only way to win is by not playing. I'm happy to hear that you've done well, but there is no way to beat the house's institutional advantage in the long run. These casinos make money from people who watch your videos and think they're slick; they aren't. Most people lose, and that is how the rich make their $.
Non pitch double deck is considerably easier to count. Of course, pitch is still very countable. Both of them are hawked more than 6/8 deck, but non pitch probably the most with floors and surveillance sometimes giving the pass a little to pitch, errantly thinking that it's not very easy to count. As with any form of BJ, there are shops which think that card counting isn't really a thing with six or eight deck. And they're wrong. But Double deck is far easier to count, and therefore is watched far more.
Every game has variance. Video Poker typically cannot be beaten though. Stanford Wong has a couple good Video Poker books but Slot AP's arent really after that.
Factor in the thousands of hours it takes to train as well as the back offs and travel expenses and the finite lifetime of a card counter. And you're basically at a $40 to $50 an hour gig job
#1 is a treasure. I’m so grateful for You Colin for your honesty, help and empathy in the last “reason” too. You’re 100% right, life is much more than just money
7th thing you should wish to know, is that you can literally learn everything about card counting for free!!! Blackjack Army does it best. This shit is overpriced.
Trying to charge people 2500$ is ridiculous and people pay. Time to let them all know where they can go for free. Blackjack army baby and we're coming for ya
I watched the documentary, and now I understand what your T-shirt means. Sometimes the lambs (of Christ) do slaughter the butcher. Keep up the great work!
@@thisismytruckinglife.akaba8112 wait for a negative going shoe then excuse yourself to go pee. That way all of the civilian players get all the small cards and you avoid playing these hands
It's been my experience and also that of other counters I have talked to that these tables offer pretty bad rules and mostly bad penetration. Not really the best tables to be trying your hand at. Additionally Caesars in general has a pretty high minimum bet on all of its beatable tables. The non-beatable tables are the ones you'll find minimum bets being lower than $25 per hand and the reason why they are that low traditionally, is that they are six to five blackjack payout tables. If I'm not mistaken, this would include the swim up tables as well. It's been a long time since I've visited any of those tables due to the poor playability or lack of playability altogether. If you have the bank roll to play $25 or even $50 minimum bet per hand at the big boy tables inside, by all means play them but know that there are many other shops in town which are probably far better for profitability and cost you less on the minimum bet which means less hit to your roll if things aren't going your way.
I was gonna add 1 that I wish I would have never got a player's card or Admitted my identity... They can find out who you are pretty easy but why let them know. If also rat hole as many chips as you can. And whatever you do at the cage do not show them ID.
I just turned 18 and my dad recommended your channel I started off low using my money from my offering and these tips + the other videos I've been watching helped my a lot with making a bit of cash. Thankb you for making these.
The major downside of this is that you have to go into casinos to play. Casinos are giant gold-plated ashtrays full of unhappy, stupid, naive people. Except for the chain smoking old ladies with the beehive hairdos and quart cups full of coins or tokens, a a cigarette hanging out of their mouths and one hand punching buttons. It's a literal hell. It's a toss up if it doesn't make gambling a less desirable occupation than prison guard.
So no giving Id means no giving a players card yes, and also how do you continue finding casinos to play at? There’s only a couple casinos by me to play part time at
It's best that way more most people. To do it full time requires a lot of travel and commitment but it's a great side hustle if you have a good selection of casinos nearby.
Made 100$ today off 60$ and gave it right back. Than played another 100 and lost it. Im sad man :( but I got counting down but I, didn't know about variations and etc. Also blackjack is one of my favorite passion I litterally no life practice everyday with my own cards and chips. And friends and family. Just practicing and I feel like I hit a wall because I'm, just not successful in, casinos as I'd want to be.
Wait so what really happens when they get your ID & put it in their data base? I thought that got you Blacklisted from most or all major casinos, how’d you get to keep to playing?
I remember playing when the dealer peeked at the hole card with a ten up.
The dealer did the "double look", which meant that the hold card was a 4 (the tip of the "4" appears to be "A").
The ENTIRE TABLE (all strangers) immediately stood pat.
The dealer busted and we all slyly grinned at each other.
cool
I hate to be that guy. But when a 10 is showing and dealer checks all they see is white or an ace. They don’t see any other cards
@@iamjakevrtv5782 when you peel back a 4 a lot of the time it can be mistaken for an Ace. Him double checking basically told the table he thought it was an ace, so it has to be a 4. I'm guessing
Edit: idk why I explained all that, you definitely got that part. I'm assuming he was at a smaller casino where the dealer actually folds back the card to check instead of having a prism
Cool story incel.
@@afrochickenboy that could have meant it was an ace - maybe he wasn’t sure when he checked, but it still wasn’t a 4!
What is the difference between the soft 17 rule at a blackjack table? Are you more likely to win at a blackjack table that forces the dealer to hit on a soft 17 or less likely? How does the math play out? Thanks in advance, love the channel
Dealer standing on soft 17 is better to the tune of 0.2% with basic strategy. There are several minor alterations to basic strategy/surrender between the games
@@stevenhelgason8190 thanks appreciate it :)
love the shirt
I won $26k off $138 while I was in post grad, playing online roulette.
Finished school (aerospace), was one of the only people in my class to get a job. -> six months. Covid.
Used 15k of the 26k for a down payment on a truck and started a business that does deliveries.
I make 6 figures a year.
Here I am boys. I got time.
P.s. I am used to winning. I am used to losing. Put in the hours to whatever floats your boat and odds are…
I lost a couple of hundred hours playing Apex Legends, and I still suck.
It do b like that
im literally playing it rn xD
That game sucks not you lol
@@josoveys649 YOUR grammar, SUCKS ! 💀
Great video Colin. On #3, 100% agree protect your identity. To all new players. Don't use a "player's cards" if at all possible. You can flash your ID at the table (keep it in your hand), even cover your name with a finger just show the DOB, but say you don't want a player's card. Most of the time you are not considered a "Refusal" and you can keep playing.
My advice also is if you are backed off, leave and come back another time. Cages do not really care about "card counters", they care about Title 31. As long as you aren't sketchy and just come back in a few days with an ID and possibly SSN (if you won over 10k) they will cash out any amount of cheques every time without saving any information or giving your info to Surveillance.
Quickest way to get backed off is if you are in a database as a "card counter". Even a local casino database if they see your remarks as "Card Counter" they back you off immediately. If you land in a national database with photo, ID, date of birth, any time you are backed off other clubs will put out an alert on you. Every club in town will then be watching out for you. Not worth whatever comps you might make as a bonus for using players card. Not if you're serious about card counting.
In a german casino they want your data when you enter the casino. They say they "keep it private" and its just for covid but do you think they will save all this data in a national data base?
@@infairverona7792 Yes 100%
Why not get a fake ID
@@86kickass card counting isn't illegal. Winning money under a fake identity is illegal, hell even losing money under a fake identity is illegal. It's fraud
i ran into a HardRock Casino in northern California that requires you to make a player card just to cash out chips, that's BS. the cashier could be lying though
Thanks for posting Colin, discovered the channel a month ago
I’ve been watching the channel for a long time, and this was a great video because honestly I always wondered why you stopped counting if you were making so much money… thanks for everything you do, also your app is dope
@Rob Rochon I didn’t get that impression
@Rob Rochon I mean I hear what you’re saying. I do hope that he just did it for long enough that he wanted to do something else cause he didn’t want to be traveling all the time with his family. But shit idk man
He still does it from time to time in disguise .
I have a friend who was a pro poker player and had to quit. His reason for quitting is because, in his words, he was making money but he wasn’t providing anything to anybody and had nothing to show for his work (other than money). That eventually wore him down. I imagine being a pro blackjack player is similar… fun for a while but not for a long term career.
Sounds like most jobs honestly. I've been a stagehand for 20 years and have been backstage at just about every touring act in the US. It has it's down days but is a very fun job which I love, but it's not as if I'm providing much for anyone other than pushing a case from A-B, coiling a cable, or switching out bands for a set change. I also don't have much to show for it except money, fond memories, and fun times with co-workers. The money ain't that great for everything involved so like most jobs the only reason a person would do it as long as I is because you love the gig. That's why I think one of the keys to happiness in life is enjoying whatcha do for a living regardless of pay. If you have that you truly are one of the lucky few because most people in any given profession end up not liking what they do, often to the point of resentment. It sounds like that's what happened to your poker player friend, and that's not unusual or abnormal. At least he was bright enough to quit. Many aren't.
The other problem with being a blackjack AP is that the more you play, the more casinos you get backed off or trespassed. That's not a problem with poker as you are not taking the house's money.
I really do appreciate your work here sir, thank you.
Jeez...1 year ago this comment that THOUSANDS of people agree to, and I'm only the 13th "like"?
Most Las Vegas casinos have bad deck penetration. They now hit soft 17. When I played, the Strip casinos stood on all 17s. The rules were great. Double on any 2 cards, double after splits, surrender and insurance even on single deck games. Single deck games were dealt more than half way down. Usually 2/3 to 3/4 depending on the dealer. And the dealers did peak in those days for blackjack.
Some of my older blackjack books refer to S17 as "Vegas strip rules" and H17 as "Downtown Vegas rules", because the Strip was all or nearly all S17 and downtown H17. OTHO, downtown had mostly single deck and double deck games at least as late as the late '90's.
I would love to hear more about other AP opportunities in casinos
Don't encourage card-counting! People will lose their money! These casinos have changed the rules. 6/5 BJ, shuffle machines, limiting Splits. You have to have a HUGE bankrolll to try this. Probably only 1/10 of 1% will come out ahead.
Does counting cards work?
Yes.
But 10% of all counters will end up making 90% of thr money. Counting cards is 4th grade math but calculating EV, bankroll, rounds per hour, variance, are much more difficult.
If you like gambling then counting cards wont hurt but if you're in it for the money you really would have to dedicate years to master the craft before you start counting because you'll end up getting backed off casinos before you're in your prime.
You also are probably competing against counters more experienced and more educated than you.
Its a young persons game. Learn, study, put the time in, make a run and get out before you burn out.
Sounds like what he did. You're fighting for a 1 to 2% advantage to be in the bottom 90% of low earners. You may make it into the upper distribution but you have to enjoy doing it wven on a losing streak and have a level of dedication that most sinply will never have.
Anyone who'd ask, "if you're so good at counting cards, why aren't you still doing it?", is only displaying how little they understand it. Eg, I would think many people who watch Steven Bridges' videos would conclude that the stress isn't worth it, regardless of the end result.
I've been a low stakes recreational counter for a long time, mostly playing in the same area. I've had a few backoffs and one trespass (more due to video poker play than blackjack), but I'm playing low enough stakes that some casinos don't seem to care if I count. It's always been more for entertainment than income for me. But gambling is a whole lot more entertaining when you win.
Love the videos Colin, just started getting into it my mom is a blackjack dealer never really looked into her work and this is the first thing I stumbled upon find it pretty interesting. I guess she's never seen it from this type of perspective but love how you explained it. I've never really thought about anything like this before besides seeing it in movies etc. Pretty interesting and something i'd like to learn.
You are uniquely blessed
Im definitely getting better. im using a msn game that lets you choose how big the deck is and, although i will obviously have to learn how to look at a deck myself and know how much is less, it tells you how many cards are left in the shoe and I can get a true count from that. My problem is when the count gets to true 3 and higher I get so excited i lose count.
Blackjack apprenticeship has an app already
I have a quick question!!! I love watching your videos very informative and to the point. I have memorized perfect basic strategy from your website. But some of my local casinos have a 3 to 2 single deck game. But you can't double down on aces. Is it still worth counting at those casinos with the same bet spred. Sorry for the long comment... thank you.
What do you mean you can't double down on aces?
I assume you are saying you can’t double down on Soft hands where an ace is one of your cards in the initial deal. Not being able to double, does remove increase the house edge slightly against you, but if you have good penetration and can do a reasonable bet spread without attracting heat, then the game could still be profitable.
@@geoffpearce889 yeah thats what I meant, you can't double on soft hands. Thanks for some info :)
Wizard of Odds blackjack house edge calculator says that a 3:2 SD game where you can only double on 9-11 (and I'm presuming you can't double after split) has a house edge of about 0.3% assuming perfect basic strategy. For comparison, a 6-deck game with H17, DOA, DAS, and hit/re-split Aces has a house edge of about 0.37% assuming perfect basic strategy. So your SD game is perfectly viable. The only real problem is that you'll more than likely only get 2-3 hands dealt per shuffle unless you're playing heads up, but that's still a decent trade
Double only 9-11, NDAS, NRSA, etc etc... ALL of those rules are anti counter... But they don't make a game unbeatable. There's basically two things that make a game unbeatable or unplayable: first you have bad penetration. Secondly but more importantly almost, is 6-5 blackjack. Any other anti-counter rules just suck but unless you have all of them together in combination with bad penetration and a slow game, the game is still probably playable and beatable.
“I crush blackjack 400$ per hour but got bored. So I decide to run business teaching instead”
Yes, you have to wait for the count to go rich but the count can hover nowhere for a long time. So to be at that rate you have to put in the work. It’s not a vacation. It’s natural to want to vacation, it takes a baller to stay on point. Colin knows his stuff.
He can’t walk into a casino anymore because he wasn’t a smart card counter
You can make a lot more as a business btw lol
Don't bee jelly
If it’s grueling work, it’s grueling work. Knowing when to cash out, if you know what I mean, is part of being a good gambler.
Never did it make a killing. Just for the fun of it. Treading water as you said was fine by me. Usually ended the year up a little, a few thousand. Was not easy and don;t do it any more. Had all the strategy down perfect but the speed of play sometimes was too much.
The speed was too much… as in too fast? I just started playing and my experience has been that it’s very slow! The side bets really slow things down. But I don’t really mind… since I’m new and I use that extra time to double check my count.
im not sure if blackjack or roulette is more profitable
I love you Colin. You are a cool dude. I’m just about to start learning for myself. And I hope to be joining you in teaching one day!
I’m sorry, I think he’s married. You probably shouldn’t love him
@@CleverMonster101 whut...
@@CleverMonster101 You knob
HI so im fairly new at counting cards... one questionn tho... should i play with my players card or no? i live in vegas
Yes you count their cards too
@@betcjay243 what
It depends on your comfort level. Personally I feel that getting backed off is inevitable if you’re a truly winning player so I play rated all the time so I can get any comps, especially if it’s a casino near you and visit often. the comps can be nice especially if you’re having negative variance. But there are some out there that don’t play rated and I believe they go a little longer before getting barred from play.
If you're playing at a Caesars Entertainment property, they have a long history of banning you from all their properties and arresting you/refusing to pay if you go to one of their sister properties that you've never been to before. Those people are BRUTAL and have a long history of abusing players, hiding behind their billions of dollars to fight lawsuits (they have lost a few big lawsuits, but not enough to change for the better.
In my experience Caesars Entertainment is more brutal than most if not all Indian casinos.
@@fakerererererer counters stick out based on unit spread alone. There is no way to hide. Changing appearance doesn’t change facial recognition. A large buy with no ID or players card gets you instantly noticed anyway. Maybe this worked 20 years ago.
I rarely find actual blackjack tables. They are always double deck
PS. I found this channel after getting my ass kicked on the tables in Vegas😂
@@mrbuddah1741 you can still get your ass kicked even though you play a perfect game. You can go on losing streaks which tear into your bankroll and take months to recover from. This is something you just have to live with. It can sometimes feel like the casino in somehow cheating you. But after a long run of getting beat, you can then win the six months worth of ev in a couple of weeks. Then the cycle can happen again. This is the main reason to record your results in a spread sheet and look carefully at the worm line graph of your results. The maths predict that you will be within plus or minus 1 standard deviation 68% of the time and within 2 standard deviations 95% of the time. Rarely do you have streaks of nice and steady winnings.
I did it fulltime for over three years in the late 90's. The one thing I wish I had known is that it's no way to live.
4:24 Variance is a 4 letter word- I was thinking that ment "win/loss" but win only has 3 letters so what's the 4 letter word/s?
(W)in
(L)ose
(B)reak (E)ven?
What if the casino refuses to cash you out without ID, even when you come back later to do it?
I don't even play blackjack but these are so interesting!
Dude! So good to see you posting more content. You helped me get through quarantine.
Until you play at a casino you don't realize how brutal this game is
How do you avoid showing ID when they are required to issue a 1044G for any payouts above $5,000?
Hello, what is your opinion on tables that start appearing in Europe? The dealer gets only 1 card and gets the second card after all players have played. If you are the last player, the card you will not draw will be the card the dealer gets.
Interestingly it doesn’t matter at all if the dealer get‘s to draw his 2. card after all the players or if it‘s already face down!
Sure, the last player might „mess up“ the hand every now and then by playing „stupid“ but it will also be the other way around every now and then. It has no effect whatsoever on the odds of the game. It doesn’t even matter how the last player plays his cards.
when you get backed off, can you cash out before leaving, or do they just force you out the door with your chips?
I think they need your Id if you win over a certain amount because they report to IRS for taxes. If I give my chips on counter for cage cash out I can’t leave without money.
I also think a players card is needed for the comps
"holy smokes", this guy is a dead ringer for Dominic Cruz
don't see it
But here is one thing - be a card counter but don't end up on the Griffin Book because of this. If you do end up on this "blacklisting" book - don't card count any more and do something else besides doing it.
Every casino will back you off if you try to card count if you are in that scary book!!!!
i never clicked so fast. thanks colin for everything you do for the ap community i never would have had the courage to keep learning and making mistakes if it wernt for you. thank you colin
Goodluck to everyone but blackjack army is killing it right now!
I have been reading your book and slowly ingesting all the content on this page. I’m still quite a ways off from hitting the casinos, but I am fairly confident I will be successful at this if I take my time. I’m in the Portland/ Vancouver area... so not too far from you. Maybe we might meet someday. Thanks for sharing all of this valuable information! 👍
Are you on any forums? I'm curious what it's like starting out here. Been binge watching this stuff and want to know if it's worth it to learn
@@thomasr1051 Read & Perfectly Learn 100%, PERFECT Basic Strategy for the House Rules and the particular table you may play at. (Yes - The rules Player options) can vary in a Casino depending on the table you are playing at. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER vary from "Basic Strategy". And NEVER bet 1 Cent more than you can comfortably afford to lose. BTW - Leaning how to play Perfect Basic Strategy (for the Table you are playing at) is an Absolute Minimum. In fact it is an ABSOLUTE MUST! BTW - If you don't know the Basic Strategy, it is possible to learn it relatively quickly. 1 day or less! It can be daunting at first but WILL Make Sense after a short while. And if you do - You will NEVER sit at a table where anyone, even the 40 Year Old BJ Vet is a better player than you! Opps! Almost forgot - There ARE Many variations of Basic Strategies - depending on the House Rules for the table(s) you play at. Do not get discouraged. They are similar enough that modifying your play due to the table / game / house rules is not hard to adjust to once you ”Learn BASIC”
Hi, i'm new to actually playing proper blackjack (basic strategy) and i was wondering is there anyone out there who can help with tips on how to stay motivated? like getting over you have to loose money to gain money. i know its a weird one but intrigued to see if anyone has any advice.
No matter what business venture you go into you risk losing fixed cost of starting. Look at a starting bankroll as fixed cost. Money fluctuates constantly in any business a bankroll would the same. Some months make money some months are a negative. Look at macro outcomes instead of micro. If a business can even last the first year let alone make money that’s a good thing. If you think of the bankroll the same it makes the ease of the up and downs calmer to me. Also I recommend trying to detach from what money is and not putting it on a importance that takes from everything else.
Can a movie made about your exploits; starring Robert Downey Jr.?
8:49 and on sounds like a sorry excuse tbh
If you are in the military, show you CAC card, they cant photo it or copy it.
I love listening to these videos. I'm a terrible player and would just like to be competent enough to be able to sit down for 30-60 minutes and not lose my entire buy-in amount.
I remember about a year ago, I got dealt 7 hands in a row of 14. I was hitting on some staying on others with no rhyme or reason. Dreadful experience.
If you're just looking to make the money stretch and to enjoy yourself improving basic strategy is the ticket. With perfect strategy and no counting the house is reduced a .5% edge and you ought to get some play out your buy-in
How do you cash out the chips of their “standard” protocols is asking for ID ? they always ask for my ID when playing slots even the winnings 1k ? can somebody cash out the chips for me the next day ?
The house always wins, and the only way to win is by not playing. I'm happy to hear that you've done well, but there is no way to beat the house's institutional advantage in the long run.
These casinos make money from people who watch your videos and think they're slick; they aren't. Most people lose, and that is how the rich make their $.
Sounds like u tried and failed 😂😭😭😭
Did you ever get beat up by the casino or is that just a movie thing
Will be basic strategy work with a 6 deck game
The house will still have an edge using basic strategy but yes it's still better than not using it.
0:20 Colin averaged about $400 per hour playing perfect Basic Strategy and Card Counting.
I have a ton of questions. Anyway of contacting you personally? I'd like to know why does the casino allow us to double down if it's in our favor?
Join BJA you will get everything you need (including a call with Colin).
Because it's an actual game. If it was a toilet to flush money down, real players would never risk their money.
I like double deck pitch. I've never heard your preference?
Non pitch double deck is considerably easier to count. Of course, pitch is still very countable. Both of them are hawked more than 6/8 deck, but non pitch probably the most with floors and surveillance sometimes giving the pass a little to pitch, errantly thinking that it's not very easy to count.
As with any form of BJ, there are shops which think that card counting isn't really a thing with six or eight deck. And they're wrong. But Double deck is far easier to count, and therefore is watched far more.
Which game has more variance...video poker or blackjack with card counting?
Every game has variance. Video Poker typically cannot be beaten though. Stanford Wong has a couple good Video Poker books but Slot AP's arent really after that.
@@skyedge3407 I think you are smart. What are slot APs after?
Factor in the thousands of hours it takes to train as well as the back offs and travel expenses and the finite lifetime of a card counter. And you're basically at a $40 to $50 an hour gig job
the last 2 minutes was the best lesson of all.
#1 is a treasure. I’m so grateful for You Colin for your honesty, help and empathy in the last “reason” too. You’re 100% right, life is much more than just money
7th thing you should wish to know, is that you can literally learn everything about card counting for free!!! Blackjack Army does it best. This shit is overpriced.
Trying to charge people 2500$ is ridiculous and people pay. Time to let them all know where they can go for free. Blackjack army baby and we're coming for ya
BJ Army > BJ apprenticeship
If you are talking about Michael Morgenstern, he actually does not give correct advice. I suggest you look elsewhere.
yeah learning via DVD in 2021 is the best way to go!! and its free... plus $70.
LOL troll
I watched the documentary, and now I understand what your T-shirt means. Sometimes the lambs (of Christ) do slaughter the butcher. Keep up the great work!
Real BlackJack tip ask: what considerations for the Swim up tables at Caesar’s? Does being able to pee at any time help for less distractions?
A swim up back off, at least if you pee you won’t be embarrassed!!!! Lol
@@thisismytruckinglife.akaba8112 wait for a negative going shoe then excuse yourself to go pee. That way all of the civilian players get all the small cards and you avoid playing these hands
It's been my experience and also that of other counters I have talked to that these tables offer pretty bad rules and mostly bad penetration. Not really the best tables to be trying your hand at. Additionally Caesars in general has a pretty high minimum bet on all of its beatable tables. The non-beatable tables are the ones you'll find minimum bets being lower than $25 per hand and the reason why they are that low traditionally, is that they are six to five blackjack payout tables. If I'm not mistaken, this would include the swim up tables as well. It's been a long time since I've visited any of those tables due to the poor playability or lack of playability altogether. If you have the bank roll to play $25 or even $50 minimum bet per hand at the big boy tables inside, by all means play them but know that there are many other shops in town which are probably far better for profitability and cost you less on the minimum bet which means less hit to your roll if things aren't going your way.
I was gonna add 1 that I wish I would have never got a player's card or Admitted my identity... They can find out who you are pretty easy but why let them know. If also rat hole as many chips as you can. And whatever you do at the cage do not show them ID.
Well said
Variance is a 5 letter word that starts with a B
I just turned 18 and my dad recommended your channel I started off low using my money from my offering and these tips + the other videos I've been watching helped my a lot with making a bit of cash. Thankb you for making these.
The major downside of this is that you have to go into casinos to play. Casinos are giant gold-plated ashtrays full of unhappy, stupid, naive people. Except for the chain smoking old ladies with the beehive hairdos and quart cups full of coins or tokens, a a cigarette hanging out of their mouths and one hand punching buttons. It's a literal hell. It's a toss up if it doesn't make gambling a less desirable occupation than prison guard.
So no giving Id means no giving a players card yes, and also how do you continue finding casinos to play at? There’s only a couple casinos by me to play part time at
My goals: meeting new people, making money, and being my own boss. Sounds like card counting might be for me.
Wish I knew what EV meant...
If there are versions of bj that even card counters can’t beat, why don’t all casinos adopt them? Why have tables that are beatable?
Should I give the floor boss my player card when playing when I sit down....
If you win a large enough amount (not sure what the minimum large amount would be…), can they force you to show ID when you cash out??
I keep hearing to start off playing online and practice basic strategy online with real money where do I go for that?
Is double deck playing alone or with a buddy better than playing 8deck as a ap?
Hey Colin Jones if you have a chance could you tell everybody what's your thoughts about this cashless wagering at the casinos
I’m learning not so I can make money. Bit more so when I go for fun I don’t lose as badly. I do it for fun
You should’ve said not to play any double deck games like you did when your first started lol
Great Video!
EV?
Could advantage play be a decent hobby or side hustle?
It's best that way more most people. To do it full time requires a lot of travel and commitment but it's a great side hustle if you have a good selection of casinos nearby.
Right now I'm tryna survive a different kind of variant
Anybody questions this man’s credibility is a chad
I went to sign up but it says add a better e-mail, this is the only e-mail I use at the moment
Is giving them your ID and bring put in the database a reason you quit?
Thanks for the lesson!
Any ETA on when the shirt you're wearing in this video will be back in stock in a Large, rather than an XL?
I agree with colin after awhile playing card start to get board.
What’s EV?
Don't know what the hype is, 52 cards in each deck.
Also what are the best black jack books to buy. Thank You.
Sounds more like a sale pitch than anything else
Good info. Nothing to criticize.
Dog gone it anyway...
Colin Is a Great Player And These Videos Really Help. Thnx Colin. May U Continue To Make The Casinos Squeel 😉
The t-shirt is distracting ... I kept reading it!
Made 100$ today off 60$ and gave it right back. Than played another 100 and lost it. Im sad man :( but I got counting down but I, didn't know about variations and etc. Also blackjack is one of my favorite passion I litterally no life practice everyday with my own cards and chips. And friends and family. Just practicing and I feel like I hit a wall because I'm, just not successful in, casinos as I'd want to be.
You should look up the risk of ruin. It will show you why you tend to lose. At a 15 dollar table. You will lose $100 i thnik 92%of the time.
Where can I find the betting software you often reference?
Colin, have you ever been trespassed?
Should you ever get a players card
ALWAYS! Yes at Every Casino! And most important NEVER PLAY WITHOUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you so much, learning here
Wait so what really happens when they get your ID & put it in their data base? I thought that got you Blacklisted from most or all major casinos, how’d you get to keep to playing?
not all casinos are major casinos, and I'm not sure how the casino system works, but there may be tons of people in the database
Probably one of your best videos out there.
I get clapped everytime tho
The audio feels slightly time-shifted off the video
What about fake IDs?