Blackjack vs Poker

[HammerinHank]

Your analysis is right, but I doubt he consistently getting penetration that good. Most good counters play two hands so if that is the case probably is playing at expectation. However, if he has won the vast majority of his sessions he has been getting lucky (uh, had a positive statistical fluctuation) and is for a rude awakening when he take a 100BB down turn.

To answer the original question, poker is easier to beat than blackjack. Poker players don't have to deal with heat, back off's, (flat betting, reduced pen in AC), obnoxious security guards, and all the other hassles that black jack players do. Plus there are very few good games in AC. ,

[KingDan]

Can someone give me a few examples where a 'good' blackjack player would do something different than I would (just following my basic strategy).

Yeah, but there is no end play in BJ anymore so who cares if you can count? Poker is way better. I rather bet on greyhound racing than play BJ anymore.

[cardcounter0]

The most obvious would be that a 'good' player would be standing on 16 vs T about half the time, while basic strategy always says to hit.

sometimes 5,4 vs 7 double down, sometimes 6,4 vs T double down, etc.

I guess the mark of a 'good' player would be that he doesn't always play the hand the same way or according to basic strategy, sometimes it is more profitable to do something else.

Also, a 'good' player might walk away from a table even after a 'hot' streak, or actually increase his bet after getting continually beat by a 'hot' dealer, as the winning or losing of previous hands actually has little to do with the remaining composition of the shoe.

[HammerinHank]

When I said a "good" blackjack player I meant a card counter.

[charlie_t_jr]

[ QUOTE ]
Your analysis is right, but I doubt he consistently getting penetration that good.........To answer the original question, poker is easier to beat than blackjack.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was the whole point of the post, some hard facts...and that to obtain those BJ results long term, you'd have to play in near perfect conditions...constantly.

OP just seemed to think his buddy had found a golden goose in BJ. Not dispute the fact that his buddy might very well be a good informed player, but with the sketchy details his friend seems to be playing a marginal game well above his BR and has gotten lucky.

[IaHawk]

Black jack is one on one, poker is one vs how many sit at the table.

Black Jack is beatable, if you can get the dealer 1 on 1, you can rack it up, if you follow the cards. I used to think playing 1 deck was the answer, not anymore. With all the rule changes and only 6/5, it's a house game, now.

It's all about ev -/+

[CORed]

[ QUOTE ]
Can someone give me a few examples where a 'good' blackjack player would do something different than I would (just following my basic strategy).

[/ QUOTE ]

Cardcounting, especially in multi-deck games, is primarily about identifying when you have an advantage and getting your money in then. Basicaly, aces and tens (tens includes face cards, becuase they are valued at ten) help the player, small cards (2-6) help the dealer. When the deck is rich in tens and aces, you bet more. When the deck is rich in small cards, you bet less. Bet variation is essential to gaining an edge by card counting. There are also some strategy variations, but they will not allow you to beat a blackjack game if you are flat betting, except in a deeply dealt single deck game with favorable rules, which don't exist any more. So, the main thing a 'good player' would do that a basic strategy player wouldn't is to make big bets when the count is favorable, and small ones when it isn't. He might also stand on 15 or 16vs. dealer 10 at times, or hit 12 against 4. He might also take insurance when the count is high. There are several more strategy changes, but they are not essential to getting an edge; they just improve the edge he gets from varying his bets a little bit. The two main problems with card counting are the high variance relative to the edge, and the fact that the casinos will throw you out if they know what you are doing.

[wickss]

[ QUOTE ]
$100/hr at a $25 table is an expectation of over 6%.

[/ QUOTE ]

In BJ you expect to make about 1 big bet per hour. If you are using a spread of $25 to $100 or $125 you could make $100 an hour and take home $1000 in a weekend.

[mike4bmp]

Has your friend ever tried "Wonging" (table hopping)....or counting 2 or 3 tables at a time for game selection is just as key as counting...counting is only half the battle...you can run and count an 8 deck shoe for 3 to 4 hours on a negative count. Also if your friend is just starting out then I have to believe that he has not had time enough at the tables to develop skills for anti-detection....I've been working on camoflauge for 2 years...and can still sense heat once in awhile...math whizz or not these kinds of things take alot of time and practice to develop....so I wouldn't believe what your friend is telling you....