vpFREE2 Forums

XVP: BJ tournaments and card counting

#1

I've already got a pretty good notion of how I'm going to handle myself
during the entire 3 days that I'm there, but sure ain't gonna let that cat out of
the bag here. Who knows who might be reading vpFREE!

I did enjoy your comments, Harry, especially the part about how playing the
fool comes naturally. You and I apparently share some traits other than a
passion for VP.

I'll do a bang-up trip report - when I can. It's my understanding that I may
be required to keep the results secret until after the show is broadcast,
although some details can be revealed since UBT tells some things right on their
own website.

- "Wild Card" in MI

In a message dated 12/21/2006 9:08:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,
harry.porter@verizon.net writes:

Something to consider, Brian: Food for thought; you decide whether
the comments have applicability.

In that particular deck, you're definitely the wild card. I can see
considerable temptation to try to maintain a cool and rational posture
to set yourself on par with the pros.

However, in your shoes, my inkling would be to take advantage of the
fact that they have almost no idea of what to expect out of you, and
play that wild card up a bit in an attempt to put them off balance.

Speaking personally, one of my pet negotiating postures is to play the
fool. (And I expect I'm rather good at it ... it comes to me pretty
naturally :wink: It doesn't do much for my off-the-cuff reputation in
some quarters. But it serves as apt misdirection for a bit of sleight
of hand.

------

You damn well better offer up a play-by-play on this, Brian!! We're
all going to be pulling for you. Good Luck :slight_smile:

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#2

Brian, Good luck in LA! For tournament strategy, we discuss this
stuff in minute detail over at http://www.blackjacktournaments.com

As Bob indicated already, card counting matters very little in
tournament play. But there's a whole set of tournament skills that
may be more disturbing to you. :slight_smile:

The good news is that anyone, regardless of skill level, has an
excellent chance of winning if they have some good cards at key
points. And, as others have pointed out, you worked hard to get this
far. Go in with the certainty that you have a good chance of succeeding.

For more study, there are 3 more UBT TV shows coming up right away on
CBS...
Dec 23rd at 1 PM EST (Episode 8)
Dec 25th at 3 PM EST (Championship round)
Dec 30th at 2 PM EST (Legends of Blackjack)

#3

Marksalot300 wrote:

I did enjoy your comments, Harry, especially the part about how
playing the fool comes naturally. You and I apparently share some
traits other than a passion for VP.

Thanks, Brian. There's a perverse pleasure to be found in keeping
others guessing where the "playing" stops and the real fool begins :wink:

- H.