Greetings from the Southern Cape, South Africa
October 15th, 2019 at 4:36:02 AM
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Greetings, everybody
A big thank you to Wizard and all assisting him for their effort in bringing us The Wizard of Odds and this forum. Coming from a professional mathematician, the content provided is of inexpressible value to a newbie (and absolute math donk) like me and is very much appreciated.
I have decided to learn BlackJack. After ascertaining our local casino's rules and consulting The Wizard of Odds I still have a lot of questions, some of which I guess will be really stupid to seasoned players and math buffs. So, I beg your audience, guidance and advice, if you would, please. Introducing myself first seems to be the right thing to do, though.
I am a 56 year old male living on the southern coast of the Western Cape province in the Republic of South Africa. We have one small casino in town, offering slots, roulette, Rais'em Poker (Let it Ride wagered in reverse) and, of course, the big BJ. All card tables use continuous shuffling machines and on BlackJack the table limits are ZAR50/1,000. At today's FX rate that equates to about $US3/65; cheep compared to Vegas, from what I've read, but quite expensive here. We have only one employer paying decent wages, the rest are really low.
And that's it, folks. Thank you for having me and may love, joy, peace and prosperity be your constant companions.
A big thank you to Wizard and all assisting him for their effort in bringing us The Wizard of Odds and this forum. Coming from a professional mathematician, the content provided is of inexpressible value to a newbie (and absolute math donk) like me and is very much appreciated.
I have decided to learn BlackJack. After ascertaining our local casino's rules and consulting The Wizard of Odds I still have a lot of questions, some of which I guess will be really stupid to seasoned players and math buffs. So, I beg your audience, guidance and advice, if you would, please. Introducing myself first seems to be the right thing to do, though.
I am a 56 year old male living on the southern coast of the Western Cape province in the Republic of South Africa. We have one small casino in town, offering slots, roulette, Rais'em Poker (Let it Ride wagered in reverse) and, of course, the big BJ. All card tables use continuous shuffling machines and on BlackJack the table limits are ZAR50/1,000. At today's FX rate that equates to about $US3/65; cheep compared to Vegas, from what I've read, but quite expensive here. We have only one employer paying decent wages, the rest are really low.
And that's it, folks. Thank you for having me and may love, joy, peace and prosperity be your constant companions.
October 15th, 2019 at 5:30:03 AM
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Welcome to the forum, BJDonk!
I am not a blackjack counter, myself. It's my understanding that, with CSMs used, counting is mostly useless. That doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how, just that it may do you no good at your local casino.
I think you should he able to ask your questions without too much flak here, since you've made it clear you're just starting out.
If you haven't already, you might start by reading the series of 3 A-Z blackjack articles by Romes, a member here who has made a living counting. Here's the first one:
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack/
You might also read the Wizard's blackjack perfect strategy articles on the WizardofOdds website, and generate a strategy chart for your particular game there. You'll need to know things like what values you can double down on, whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, whether the dealer peeks for blackjack, in order to calculate the strategy chart. You'll plug those answers into the calculator. Then memorize the chart it generates for THAT game.
In order to be an effective card counter, you'll have to first know how to play that perfect (also known as optimum) strategy for your game. Then the count will tell you when to deviate from that strategy.
I do suggest you read Romes' articles before you start asking questions, because many of them are answered there.
I am not a blackjack counter, myself. It's my understanding that, with CSMs used, counting is mostly useless. That doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how, just that it may do you no good at your local casino.
I think you should he able to ask your questions without too much flak here, since you've made it clear you're just starting out.
If you haven't already, you might start by reading the series of 3 A-Z blackjack articles by Romes, a member here who has made a living counting. Here's the first one:
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/A-to-Z-Counting-Cards-in-Blackjack/
You might also read the Wizard's blackjack perfect strategy articles on the WizardofOdds website, and generate a strategy chart for your particular game there. You'll need to know things like what values you can double down on, whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, whether the dealer peeks for blackjack, in order to calculate the strategy chart. You'll plug those answers into the calculator. Then memorize the chart it generates for THAT game.
In order to be an effective card counter, you'll have to first know how to play that perfect (also known as optimum) strategy for your game. Then the count will tell you when to deviate from that strategy.
I do suggest you read Romes' articles before you start asking questions, because many of them are answered there.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
October 15th, 2019 at 5:34:00 AM
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I am not too familiar with the geography there. Always thought only the Wild Coast had casinos.
Welcome to the forum and feel free to ask whatever questions you want to.
ALL blackjack is a negative expectation game but with knowledge and skill you can whittle the house edge down to rather low cost.
Does your local casino serve alcohol, food? Do you know if they have any 'comp' programs such as are popular here in the USA
Welcome to the forum and feel free to ask whatever questions you want to.
ALL blackjack is a negative expectation game but with knowledge and skill you can whittle the house edge down to rather low cost.
Does your local casino serve alcohol, food? Do you know if they have any 'comp' programs such as are popular here in the USA
October 15th, 2019 at 5:18:07 PM
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Welcome!
Hope you enjoy the forum. You might possibly learn more about blackjack than you care to know!
And you might have already inspired one or two of the forum members’ next casino visit in search of chips!
Hope you enjoy the forum. You might possibly learn more about blackjack than you care to know!
And you might have already inspired one or two of the forum members’ next casino visit in search of chips!
October 28th, 2019 at 1:18:01 AM
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Thank you all for the friendly welcome, suggestions and pointers; it is very much appreciated.
With card counting being neutralised by CSM's, I'll just have to accept the house's remaining edge (after Wizard's perfect strategy) as entertainment cost for a night out. Hope it's not too expensive!
Gambling (excluding betting on horse races) was illegal in the "old" (pre-1994) South Africa, but not in the homelands (established by the 1983 Constitution). Entrepreneur Sol Kerzner built a couple of hotels and casinos in the homelands. The Wild Coast Sun in the Transkei was his second project in this regard (the first was the famous Sun City in Bophuthatswana). The homelands were reincorporated into the Republic after '94 and the new government legalised gambling within a very strict regulatory framework. Today, we have a large number of casinos in the country divided among three operators.
Yes; to both questions, although the comps are not even close to what you guys enjoy.
Thank you all again for having me. I'm off to formulate some pressing questions and finding appropriate places to post them. In the meantime, may the felt be kind to you and the chips keep on rolling in your direction.
With card counting being neutralised by CSM's, I'll just have to accept the house's remaining edge (after Wizard's perfect strategy) as entertainment cost for a night out. Hope it's not too expensive!
Quote: FleaStiff... Always thought only the Wild Coast had casinos.
Gambling (excluding betting on horse races) was illegal in the "old" (pre-1994) South Africa, but not in the homelands (established by the 1983 Constitution). Entrepreneur Sol Kerzner built a couple of hotels and casinos in the homelands. The Wild Coast Sun in the Transkei was his second project in this regard (the first was the famous Sun City in Bophuthatswana). The homelands were reincorporated into the Republic after '94 and the new government legalised gambling within a very strict regulatory framework. Today, we have a large number of casinos in the country divided among three operators.
Quote: FleaStiffDoes your local casino serve alcohol, food? Do you know if they have any 'comp' programs such as are popular here in the USA
Yes; to both questions, although the comps are not even close to what you guys enjoy.
Thank you all again for having me. I'm off to formulate some pressing questions and finding appropriate places to post them. In the meantime, may the felt be kind to you and the chips keep on rolling in your direction.
