Blackjack Basic Strategy Deviation and the Count

I look at winning blackjack as a 3 phase process: Step #1: Learn basic strategy; Step #2: Learn how to count; Step #3: Learn how to deviate from basic strategy based upon the count. I believe that I've mastered Steps #1 and #2; I'm working on Step #3. Love the ability to plug in the casino rules (surrender or no surrender; dealer hits or stays on soft 17; etc.) on your Wizard of Odds site to determine basic strategy; can I do the same to determine all of the basic strategy deviations based upon the count? NOTE: About to make my way into a casino that has removed me 3 times with a disguise for the first time. Wondering if I should or should not get a player card using my disguise to acquire a fake photo ID (easy to do online) and then use that to acquire my player card. I'm worried that sitting at a table with a couple thousands of dollars raises flags if I don't have a player card. Got the fake ID ready head to the casino in the name of Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man - I'm even using Hoffman's bithdate a mine and the address of a real Raymond Babbitt).

Quote: RaymondBabbitt

Wondering if I should or should not get a player card using my disguise to acquire a fake photo ID (easy to do online) and then use that to acquire my player card. I'm worried that sitting at a table with a couple thousands of dollars raises flags if I don't have a player card. Got the fake ID ready head to the casino in the name of Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man - I'm even using Hoffman's bithdate a mine and the address of a real Raymond Babbitt).

Your idea for the fake Id strikes me as absurd. Do you think casinos don't have google, don't have any clue as to who and what 'rainman' was? And you think a guy at a BlackJack table with some cash is a red flag?
Isn't 'Ramping your bets in a useful but discreet way' part of your plan?

Thanks for the quick response OnceDear. First of all - the first part of my post was completely ignored - the second part about my fake ID was strictly for entertainment. If you're truly an administrator I certainly hope that you're not encouraged to suggest ideas and thoughts posted are "absurd". Certainly not a way to encourage engagement and participation.

If you believe all of casino management knows who Rainman was why would they need to refer to google? And when you ask the question "Don't you think casinos have google?" - are you suggesting that they google the name of every new member?

If you don't believe someone sitting at a table with a couple of thousand dollars in cash without a player card you're obviously the one that's absurd not to mention condensending when you ask "Ramping your bets in a useful but discreet way part of your plan?"

Quote: RaymondBabbitt

Thanks for the quick response OnceDear. First of all - the first part of my post was completely ignored - the second part about my fake ID was strictly for entertainment. If you're truly an administrator I certainly hope that you're not encouraged to suggest ideas and thoughts posted are "absurd". Certainly not a way to encourage engagement and participation.

If you believe all of casino management knows who Rainman was why would they need to refer to google? And when you ask the question "Don't you think casinos have google?" - are you suggesting that they google the name of every new member?

If you don't believe someone sitting at a table with a couple of thousand dollars in cash without a player card you're obviously the one that's absurd not to mention condensending when you ask "Ramping your bets in a useful but discreet way part of your plan?"

Let's try again :o)

Welcome to the forum. If you were previously a lurker, welcome into the daylight.

I don't have anything to say about the question raised in the first part of your post. You raised a technical question. Maybe someone else will respond usefully to that.

As I read forward from the word 'NOTE', I did not see any smiley face: I had no hint that you were being anything other than serious. I did not intend to be condescending, so please accept my apology for appearing so.

I did find it remarkable that you have already been ejected from one casino multiple times but were advocating returning in disguise with fake Id. I could only take your plan as you had written it. If that was a serious plan, It still strikes me as absurd. If it was humour on your part, then it was successfully amusing. Success. I seriously suspect that using that Id would trigger some reaction pretty quickly. It only takes one employee to have a half recollection of 'Rainman' ( just as I did when I saw your user ID here.) Incidentally, if your plan was for real, maybe posting it here was unwise?

Might I ask which of your comments were serious? Have you really been ejected 3 times from one venue? If so, for what behaviour? You may have good knowledge of what are considered red flags. A few thousand dollars in the hands of a blackjack player does not strike me as a very red flag.

And yes, I thought that step 3 of your easily and succinctly summarized strategy should really have been something about figuring out what betting ramp to use. Certainly more important than learning lots of strategy variations.

I've been ejected from the same casino 3 times for counting. The last time they told me I would be arrested for trespassing. Problem is - my office is celebrating their 15 year anniversary at the convention center the casino just completed. I'd love to attend and hit the casino floor but will only be able to do so with a disguise.

If you look at winning BJ as a three step process, I'd say you are maybe at step one. You don't know indices but have already been ejected three times. Does that sound like someone who is ready to conquer the casino to you?
Best of luck, but remember fortune favors the prepared.

Quote: RaymondBabbitt

I've been ejected from the same casino 3 times for counting. The last time they told me I would be arrested for trespassing. Problem is - my office is celebrating their 15 year anniversary at the convention center the casino just completed. I'd love to attend and hit the casino floor but will only be able to do so with a disguise.

Hmmmmm Ejected for counting 3 times. That does make me suspect that you were pretty conspicuous? Is that a reasonable assumption?
Ejected 3 times over what timescale?
Were you ramping overly aggressively and then min betting on the new shoe?
Were you wonging in and out aggressively?
Were you playing in a counter trap game?
Were you counting out loud :o)

I think you might see how I thought you might have, to some extent, have got your priorities a bit wrong on that step 3.
Assessing ramp tolerance is massively importance. Surely you know that.

Did you not learn to count first and once you've mastered that learn the indices of when to deviate from basic stategy?

Quote: RaymondBabbitt

Did you not learn to count first and once you've mastered that learn the indices of when to deviate from basic stategy?

Nope.
I learned Basic strategy.
I learned to count (just Hi-lo), though I'm no pro card counter.
Then I had a stab at back-counting/wonging, coupled with a bit of trivial ramping.
I know very few indices... But then I'm not a card counter of your calibre and I don't claim or aspire to be.

Maybe a few serious card counters will be along to comment with greater authority, shortly.

I've been counting for about 5 years at a relatively high level I believe. Played hundreds of times in AC and never approached. Caught in a small casino north of Baltimore (Hollywood in Perryville) two years ago and then recently 3 times in the last 6 months in the same casino (Maryland Live) just outside of Baltimore. Once I got caught the first time there I think they just recognized me because I had only played for about 30 minutes when I was approached. I don't think I'm conspicuous - only increase 1 unit at a time.