As someone who has done it, to some degree of success, I can tell you the straight ups:
1) You need to have a *massive* bankroll and able to sit out bad runs. Yes they happen. And Yes even counting cards you can lose hundreds/thousands on a bit of bad luck. For example, I was sitting down on a £2 a hand table with a £500 bankroll, minimum.
2) The key to counting is to play as many perfect hands in an hour. This means if you sit down on a blackjack table you need to be playing all 6 boxes at once. Playing 1 box will get you nowhere.
3) If someone else sits down who isn't a perfect player, forget it. Stop playing and wait for them to leave.
4) Find a system you are comfortable with using and practise it. There are a lot of free programs which throw cards at you quickly, you need to be able to keep a running count with a lot of distractions going on. The hi-lo system is the simplest and usually easiest to learn, it allows for a good edge allowing you to focus on other things.
5) Playing side games will lose you money. Period.
6) If a casino has CSM's, forget it, if they even get a hint you may be counting they'll bring one onto your table. The moment you stop playing when they do that, expect to be escorted off the premesis.
7) Don't expect to be a millionaire over night. Counting is a long, boring and a hell of a grind. On a £2 table playing 6 boxes at ~50 hands per box per hour I was earning a little above minimum wage.
8) And most importantly, the biggest aspect to counting is not getting caught, you wont get done-over in a back room like in the movies, but you will get banned from the casino (and if part of a chain, all the others). The pit bosses and the croupiers watch for counters. If your new at it, you will get spotted very quickly.
1) You need to have a *massive* bankroll and able to sit out bad runs. Yes they happen. And Yes even counting cards you can lose hundreds/thousands on a bit of bad luck. For example, I was sitting down on a £2 a hand table with a £500 bankroll, minimum.
2) The key to counting is to play as many perfect hands in an hour. This means if you sit down on a blackjack table you need to be playing all 6 boxes at once. Playing 1 box will get you nowhere.
3) If someone else sits down who isn't a perfect player, forget it. Stop playing and wait for them to leave.
4) Find a system you are comfortable with using and practise it. There are a lot of free programs which throw cards at you quickly, you need to be able to keep a running count with a lot of distractions going on. The hi-lo system is the simplest and usually easiest to learn, it allows for a good edge allowing you to focus on other things.
5) Playing side games will lose you money. Period.
6) If a casino has CSM's, forget it, if they even get a hint you may be counting they'll bring one onto your table. The moment you stop playing when they do that, expect to be escorted off the premesis.
7) Don't expect to be a millionaire over night. Counting is a long, boring and a hell of a grind. On a £2 table playing 6 boxes at ~50 hands per box per hour I was earning a little above minimum wage.
8) And most importantly, the biggest aspect to counting is not getting caught, you wont get done-over in a back room like in the movies, but you will get banned from the casino (and if part of a chain, all the others). The pit bosses and the croupiers watch for counters. If your new at it, you will get spotted very quickly.
