Casino Cash Cow

Does card counting work? Yes. In the nine years I worked as a blackjack dealer, I saw a lot of hopeful schemes and ideas, and while many failed, some of them really worked. Card counting, in particular, has a proven track-record of making money for those who are willing to do it right.

Card counting is a little too involved to teach in a short article, but that’s okay. Before you learn the specific skills, you need to know what it will involve to really do it right, so you can decide if it is worth the effort. That’s what this article is about.

Card Counting 101

In the game of blackjack, card counting is a technique for “beating the house.” This means you make more money than you lose in the long run, but not necessarily on any given day. You beat the house by playing in such a way that the odds are in your favor. How do you get the odds in your favor?

You watch and wait. When the deck is “rich” enough in high-value cards (10,J,Q,K,A), the odds tilt slightly in favor of the player. This has been proven statistically, although how much the odds favor you depends on the “house rules,” meaning the exact rules of the game in that particular casino. The odds also depend on the number of decks that the dealer deals from, and how far into the “card shoe” (the holder that the cards are dealt from) the dealer deals before re-shuffling.

The basic idea is to monitor the cards as they come out, and when the deck has more high-value cards than normal in it, bet more. Bet less when the house has the edge, more when you have the edge, and the odds are in your favor. In other words, you should make money in the long run.

The above is a simple explanation, and you need to study a good counting book to make this work. You need to know “basic strategy,” meaning you need to know when to take a “hit” and when to “stand.” Your play has to be precise to really have the edge. You also need to practice at home for hours. It can be tough at first to keep track of all those cards flying out of that shoe, while the other players talk and waitresses interrupt you.

The “counting” part is essentially assigning a value to the cards and tracking them. This is done more easily at tables where the cards are dealt face up (except the dealer’s “hole card”). In one system. Aces and face cards are given a value of -1, two through six are valued at +1, and seven, eight and nine are considered neutral.

Watching the cards, you add and subtract their values, betting the table minimum all the while. When you arrive at a predetermined count, let’s say +7, you raise your bet. The high count means that there are a higher percentage of high-value cards left in the deck than normal. The odds are in your favor.

One card counter I dealt to for years would sit at the table for most of an evening, almost always betting the $2 minimum. He shifted chips from one hand to another, his own way of tracking the “plus or minus count.” When the shoe (five decks of cards in this case) was rich enough in high-value cards, he would suddenly be betting two hands at $20 each.

He made money, but not much. Do this well, and you may still only get a 1.5% edge on the casino. If, between your minimum bets and the others you average $8 per hand, and 75 hands per hour are dealt, you’ll make about $9 per hour. This assumes you can tolerate alternating losing and winning days and hours of concentration. Betting more brings that hourly rate up, of course, along with the risk of bigger losing days. Card counting is definitely not for everyone.

Steve Gillman has been hunting down obscure knowledge and useful secrets for years. Learn more, and get a free gift at: http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com.

Have you ever dreamed of playing poker with the professionals you see on TV? Maybe your wish is to learn absolutely everything about poker but you simply don’t know where to get instructions from. It’s best if you consider taking some poker lessons. Not only would it be a fun experience, but it will also provide you with all the information you might need about poker – the rules of the game, how to win, some strategies and methods, as well.

Poker is learned best at an actual casino, as this is the place where the action is. There are quite many casinos in Las Vegas that offer free poker lessons in the morning. It is always a bright idea to call the casino and ask if they have this service before you actually make a trip.

If you don’t feel like going to Las Vegas to get free poker lessons, then you should better visit some sites offering poker lessons that might be bought and used in your home. Another option you have is try the online professional poker schools. They have all that is needed to teach you the bases of the poker game.

In case you don’t care about the high price, then why not consider “Poker Fantasy Camps”? These are special camps where you can learn a lot about playing poker for a weekend out. These camps in particular are famous for their seminars, workshops, and tournaments. Furthermore, when taking part in a “Poker Fantasy Camp” you will have the unique opportunity to meet some of the most famous players in the history of poker. This would be a weekend you would never forget.

Another way to learn how to play poker is to call a professional tutor. Many professional players might come to your home and give you poker lessons. If you call all your friends that are interested in poker, then this whole poker lesson might turn to be a wonderful experience for all. In case you are not able to find a professional player by yourself, you should contact any popular casino and they will get you a pro.

It doesn’t matter if you want to learn how to play poker just for fun or you’d like to make some money of it, taking poker lessons is the right thing to do. Playing poker is a wonderful way to make friends and get to know other people. A night of poker is much better than watching others play poker on television, so consider taking poker lessons. All you have to do is get the bases and start practicing.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning gambling. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.gamblingpokerguide.com/poker-information/poker–gambling/high-quality-poker-lessons.html

If you’re a regular at casinos or are planning your first trip, check out this list of the top six things you should never do at an offline casino.

I never thought gambling could be so fun. The first time I ever went to a casino, the whole thing seemed a little intimidating. But, I soon found the thrill. I’m by no means a gambling addict, but I have come to love the “sport” and I’ve learn a bit about playing in a Casino along the way. Read on for a list of the top ten things you should never do at an offline casino:

1. Don’t ever believe the drinks are free. First, you’re dropping probably 20-50 bucks in the time you wait for the waitress to return. Then add her tip, usually a dollar, or she won’t be returning to see if you need a refill any time soon.

2. Don’t listen to the dealer in most cases unless he precedes his statement with “house rules”. House rules are the rules the casino has to play by (such as you should never split Kings in blackjack) and they’ve spent thousands of dollars deciding what gives them the best edge. So, a house rule is usually a good one. But, dealers are trained to make you have fun and have a good time – and to make sure you keep spending money. They may offer you “friendly advice” – but before you take any of it, ask them what the “house” would do in the same situation. Better yet, look up strategies on games like blackjack and roulette before going (You’ll find a great interactive one here for online blackjack).

3. If you’re a woman, never carry a purse. Nothing brings a fanny pack back in style faster than sitting in front of a slot machine looking for somewhere to stick your purse.

4. Don’t stick around at a cold craps table. Call it superstition, call it whatever you like, but I’ve tried various craps strategies and the only sure fire thing I’ve seen happen every time I’ve played is that when the table goes “cold” (a term used to mean it starts losing a lot), it stays cold. If a craps table has a hot run and a few sevens in a row come out afterwards, pick up your chips and find a new table or grab some lunch.

5. Don’t play without your player’s card. Remember that almost all Casino’s have players cards which keep track of how much you gamble. A variation of things such as money spent per hand, time spent gambling throughout a day, etc. contribute to gaining points, but even smaller gamblers can usually score a “free” lunch after a weekend of gambling (see #1).

6. Don’t play if you’ve been drinking. By far, some of the biggest losses I’ve seen (and incurred myself) were after the player had downed a few drinks. Granted, the casinos aren’t supposed to allow obviously intoxicated customers play – but your definition or drunk and they’re definition of “obviously intoxicated” may not be the same. Gambling is like any other sport – best done when sober, possibly dangerous when not.

Jeff Albert is an avid gambler and contrubting writer for http://www.ace-ten.com/ – a site that offers information about strategies for blackjack, blackjack strategy and more.