Any playable Blackjack near Grand Rapids, Michigan?

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I didn't think Gun Lake was bad. And Firekeepers is very nice. 6d with a .6% or so HE would be as bad as I'd expect at either place, with plenty of $10 games ($5 likely). Not sure about hand shuffling or CSM. But, CSM is good for the basic strategy player.

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Firekeepers had a real nice 2D game in high limit for a while. Nice casino, too.

Quote: Amlee

Thanks for this info. CSM would work for BS, but I'd be doing a bit more than that. ;)

Need to figure out if it's hand-shuffle or not. I wonder if it's too obvious to call them and ask. Ha!

Not at all. I can't tell you how many times I've called places and asked them about their rules in a way made me just sound like another ploppy. It's the same thing as if you're at a table... Just call up and be like:

(Implied ploppy voice/excitement/etc)

"Hey you guys gotz blackjack, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you got $5 and $10 tables?"
"Yes, sir. We do."
"Are they on those damn automatic things? I lose my ass on those every time I play them. I think they're rigged!"
"We have regular shoe games too, sir."
"And those still be $10??"
"Yes, sir."

*click*

If you're really paranoid, call from a number that's not associated to you (in case you think they have caller id, then run that through their rewards system to see if it matches a player, etc).

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Soaring Eagle has decent shoe games with low stakes. You should be able to find a $5-$15 table ( that's what I assume your preferred stakes are from your post ) that is non-CSM and their deck pen is ok from what I have seen if that matters to you. Although Mt. Pleasant might be a bit of trek from Grand Rapids.

Their good tables are intermixed with their sucker tables to just be mindful before sitting down. Stay away from their pitch games, they are all 6:5.

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Quote: Amlee

...I gotta chill out for a bit, as I really need to build a sufficient bankroll. But clearly, the power of counting is there. There is skill in this sort of play. But it's elusive and you can dive fast. Everyone around me was getting their ass handed to them. And eventually, so did I. ;)

This tricky game.

Sounds like at least you might be aware of your problem? You can count all you want, be really good at it, etc... but when you jump limits like that on a bankroll that no doubt can't handle it, you're skyrocketing your RoR and you will go bust. Do you normally jump limits like that? It's a really rare thing to jump like that for most counters, as once you define a unit, spread, and bankroll... it gets ruined by jumping limits without first resizing your bankroll (i.e. you only jump limits after big swings in your bankroll in which you re-define your spread and then start playing other limits).

Romes,

Great advice, which I definitely take to heart. I really don't jump limits. Just wanted to try it out yesterday. Definitely understand the RoR issues.

I am a $10 guy, but wanted to play the $25 action. Lesson learned. :)

Quote: Amlee

Hit up Gun Lake for about 5 hours last night. All CSMs at the $5 table. $10, $15 and $25 tables deal from a shoe. All games are 6D, H17, DAS, 3:2, & No Surrender.

Jumped in at the $10 table and got up $100. Transitioned to $15 table and won another $150.

Then moved to $25 table, hit a hot shoe and went up between $600-800 total.

Then flatted out at +$600 and stayed there for a while. I should have f-ing left! But I didn't because I wanted to test those waters. Wonged out a bit here and there, didn't spread too hard (pit was watching, but friendly).

Slowly lost all $600 back. Not even on big hands. Just got freakin' killed in one shoe and probably lost 70% of the hands. Count was average...but bleeding green. When count necessitated 2 units, I upped and lost, 3 units the same, and so on. Was back down to what I walked in with.

Tried to get it going again and left down -$400.

Nothing burns more than going up that much and then walking out in the red.

I'm around -$1350 career (1.5 year of counting). Honestly not all that much when I think about how much and how hard I've played. I honestly feel like the average player playing the hands I have might be down $10k (or more). But that still doesn't help. I haven't made money doing this. My original idea was to work it as a part-time job and slowly pay off the last $15k of my student loans. So far, that's not working out too well.

I gotta chill out for a bit, as I really need to build a sufficient bankroll. But clearly, the power of counting is there. There is skill in this sort of play. But it's elusive and you can dive fast. Everyone around me was getting their ass handed to them. And eventually, so did I. ;)

This tricky game.

You've given out a lot of identifying information, name of casino, when you played, hours played, tables played, the fact that you count and the amount you lost. It may not matter now but could someday so be aware. You wouldn't believe who reads this forum. Friendly pit? Aren't they all - until they're not?

Why didn't you stick with $10 tables? You could have still bet $25 anytime you wanted while having the option of lowering the bet.

Quote: Amlee

Romes,

Great advice, which I definitely take to heart. I really don't jump limits. Just wanted to try it out yesterday. Definitely understand the RoR issues.

I am a $10 guy, but wanted to play the $25 action. Lesson learned. :)

Us $10 guys always want to play the $25 action =p... We must respect the math though =(. One day, one day...