Question on Blackjack

Sir Jecht · #1 06-21-2005, 07:11 PM

Is blackjack still a profitable game? I have been playing poker only for a short time, and I'm starting to do well in it. Usually while sitting at the tables in Windsor I hear a lot of people talk about blackjack, and the amount of money these people make is a lot (one guy won $340,000 in one week). So, I was interested in reading Slkansky on Blackjack and Blackjack Essays, but before I order them I'm wondering if it is worth it. Right now I can only play in Windsor, as I am 20. Thanks in advance.

playersare · #2 06-21-2005, 07:48 PM

b&m blackjack is a pretty marginal +EV play nowadays, especially compared to the opportunities in poker. not to say that people can't make money doing it, but on an hourly basis and the variance of finding and exploiting good conditions, it's a tossup at best.

$340K sounds like an extremely inflated number (especially for just one week) which owes a lot more to luck than actual skill. without knowing the average bet size used to achieve this profit, or the number of hours played, any random dollar amounts quoted are virtually useless in determining what actually happened in terms of long-term mathematical soundness of strategy.

outside of card counting, you can make a decent amount of auxiliary profit working off deposit bonuses at online casinos which allow blackjack for clearing. the 0.5% house edge is small enough that you will theoretically have an ample amount of most bonuses still left over when you're done with the wagering requirement for withdrawal.

the 2+2 books on blackjack should be informative and have sound strategy, but I don't believe Sklansky and Malmuth are considered the leading authors in this particular game. you won't need to buy a book to learn basic BJ strategy - this is available for free online on many reputable sites (www.blackjackinfo.com would be my personal recommendation). when and if you decide that you want to try AP tactics, this archive thread might be useful to you:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...Number=2482687

Sir Jecht · #3 06-21-2005, 08:11 PM

I'm not sure what the betting was when he played. I heard that he lost it the next week playing non-blackjack things... I see him in the poker room once in a while, he's not a very nice person, as he tends to get angry when he loses a big hand. Anyway, I think the VIP room has Blackjack with a minimum $100 bet, I don't know if that helps you any with that.

Thanks for the information.

Sir Jecht · #4 06-21-2005, 08:22 PM

So it seems that I would want to read:
Blackjack Bluebook II
Knock-Out Blackjack
Professional Blackjack
Blackjack Attack

Any other good suggestions, and which should I read first, etc.?

other1 · #5 06-21-2005, 08:51 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Usually while sitting at the tables in Windsor I hear a lot of people talk about blackjack, and the amount of money these people make is a lot (one guy won $340,000 in one week).

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, and you shoulda seen the fish I caught this one time. I only wish I'd had my camera...

I'm gonna call BS on this. Unless you saw him win 340k in a week don't believe it. On the very off chance this is true it almost certainly had more to do with a very large bankroll and a very good streak of luck than skill or counting.

playersare · #6 06-21-2005, 10:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So it seems that I would want to read:
Blackjack Bluebook II
Knock-Out Blackjack
Professional Blackjack
Blackjack Attack

[/ QUOTE ]
if you are a rank beginner than the ONLY book I would read for now is Blackjack Bluebook II. the other three books are great but they are primarily focused on card counting systems, which you should not involve yourself with in the early goings. your priority would be to learn basic strategy down pat, play breakeven w/comps in the b&m casinos for a while, milk some online bonuses, and then see where you want to go from there.

BlueBear · #7 06-22-2005, 10:10 AM

Playing winning blackjack by card counting is incredibly hard work, much harder than playing winning poker. Don't get the idea that just because you heard somebody win big, then it must be easy game. Purely +EV oppurtunities are not plentiful and being back-off by the pit is common if you're caught counting, and also you'll need a huge bankroll.

There are many authoritative blackjack books out there, perhaps you're would like to give them a look. Also, there is a forum/website that may be worth taking a look, http://www.bj21.com, they hav a free forum there.

PennyAnte · #8 06-23-2005, 07:34 AM

Take Knock-Out Blackjack off the list. It's crap.

Ogre · #9 06-23-2005, 03:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Usually while sitting at the tables in Windsor I hear a lot of people talk about blackjack, and the amount of money these people make is a lot (one guy won $340,000 in one week).

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, and you shoulda seen the fish I caught this one time. I only wish I'd had my camera...

I'm gonna call BS on this. Unless you saw him win 340k in a week don't believe it. On the very off chance this is true it almost certainly had more to do with a very large bankroll and a very good streak of luck than skill or counting.

[/ QUOTE ]

maybe they all just read the book Bringing Down the House

Sir Jecht · #10 06-24-2005, 02:48 PM

I just hear a lot of people make different amounts of money. A few people seem to believe that guy made money, but they could all just be buying in to his story. I figured it was more believable since he lost the money the next week (though not playing blackjack, I think). Anyway, I wanna play also because at least my friends can watch me... I go up to Windsor a lot and I end up saying "you wouldn't want to go, me and jeff just play poker, and you can't watch."