Ask me about playing poker for a part time job

[twesterm]

Emmitt2222 said:
twestern, you seem like a cool guy but coming from the statistical background, I must tear apart your statement. Every time you sit at the table and you aren't counting cards [thus giving you a statistical advantage] you are losing money. Just like every time you buy a lottery ticket you are basically paying $1.00 to win .99cents. Every bet you make is theoretically losing you money. The only time you can beat a casino is when you have the statistical advantage [which is rare]

So, like you, I like to play BJ for fun every once and awhile, but I walk away expecting to lose money because I theoretically should. Please don't mention walking away at the right time when you are actually theoretically losing money every hand. You don't have the edge [I can look up the numbers if you really need them] so its a game you play for entertainment, not for money.

Don't worry, I know the house always wins.  I would have more faith in poker except I'm just bad at it.  With Blackjack, I'm actually decent and have a better chance and can generally figure out the chances of my getting what I need and what the dealer should get (though there's always the chance I'm wrong).  The chances are against you in any game you play at a casino-- that's how they make money.  The worst probably is craps, you start at about a 49% chance of winning and then chances just start going down dramatically with every roll after the first.

 

ssj12 said:

twesterm said:

I know that system is bad, just playing around :-p

Blackjack isn't too bad, just like any other card game-- you just have to know the probabilities and have some luck. Last trip to vegas I came out up about $250 just on Blackjack (and about $40 on video poker). Not saying I was never in the red or that I ended every night in the black, but it's not real hard to come out on top as long as you know when to walk away from a table.

@SSJ12
I'm not sure what kind of Blackjack you're talking about. I've never played any version other than just all the players against only the dealer. True, there's a lot of strategy in there, but the only time you care what the other players have is when you're just figuring out about the probability of what you're going to get. The most important cards you pay attention to (other than your own) is the one card the dealer is showing.

Please watch World Championship Black Jack on ESPN sometime please. You will realize that it is you vs everyone else.

 Ah, that could be why.  Playing card games is good and fun but God, watching them is about as boring as watching baseball.