When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.
When do you jump onto a table? If people are playing and winning, do you jump in immediately or allow them to run the hot streak?
When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.
My rules are simple. If i walk up to a table with 1 or 2 players i always ask if they mind if i sit down. If 3 or more players at a table, i do not feel obligated to ask...i just enter the game. My thinking is that, for some, superstition is a big part of the game and i should show some respect. It is not my responsibility, however, to "poll" the table every time i walk up
I sometimes sit out till newbies lose asap
When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.
It's an attempt to prevent card-counters from jumping into a table on a positive (favors the players) count, and then leaving when the count turns negative (neutral and/or favors the house).
If there is no mid-shoe entry prohibition, I might very well take advantage of that by sitting down mid-shoe on a good count, and waiting on a a bad one. For sure, if I'm the already-seated player and someone else approaches asking if it's ok if he sits down, I'll say "Sure," if I'm dealing with a bad count, but ask him to wait if the count is good.
"Newbies come into play and are easily recognizable"? Are we talking about a "hunch" player who makes "bad plays" and "takes the dealer's bust card", and similar stuff? All of that is a bunch of BS. This kind of mindset is just a case of gambler superstition. For every time the "clueless player at third base" does the "wrong thing" and "kills the table", there will be some other occasion upon which he will do the wrong thing and "save the table".
Fresh decks: A little tricky and controversial. Depends on whether we're talking about double-deck vs 6 or 8 deck shoe, whether the cards are shuffled by hand or by machine, etc.
Then again, this is all more an academic situation for me than anything else; there are so few places in Vegas that are willing to take my action...
None of the items mentioned are anything more than superstition. None of them matter except for your second paragraph (if you're a counter). Like you, anywhere with conditions favorable enough to play will not allow me to play.
I'm talking double deck because that is the only one I play. Don't play single deck because bjs are mainly paid off6/5.
You can find a newbie easily by how they touch the cards (two hands) or how they use the hit sign or put their cards down to stay.
I don't understand players who at a bj table will lay down $50 on a $25 table. Do they expect to make a run on 2 chips?
When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.
When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.
Just hit it...I know they say always split 8's but I don't against a 10. Too big a chance of losing both hands.
I also hate to get 2 aces...Rarely get 2 10's...Against a dealer's 10 I just hit the 2 aces. I have better luck doubling down with 2 aces than I do splitting them.
Yep, it seems I get my pair of aces, and the dealer is showing a ten and then turns over another 10. I am then hoping to get one 10 so I can at least push. I very rarely get a pair of aces when the dealer is showing cards 2-7.
I also hate to get 2 aces...Rarely get 2 10's...Against a dealer's 10 I just hit the 2 aces. I have better luck doubling down with 2 aces than I do splitting them.
You will lose less than if you hit.
The next best strategy would be to surrender.
All true except surrender is not often allowed.
It's a race you will often win when you don't want to.
Depending on the deck, and whether I am chasing, pressing, or simply hanging on. A better play is most like to simply stand on your sixteen, hoping the dealer will break. If the dealer is "stiff" you're probably dead anyhow, and if the dealer has to hit, your odds of the dealer busting are better than your odds of filling your 16.
In my opinion momentum is more important that whether or not the deck is positive or negative. The plus/minus system of counting is quite overrated IMO. A much better strategy is to maximize your runs, and try to weather your storms. Another VERY good piece of advice is if Mari recommends that you do something either at a card table or in the market, do the exact opposite and you should be ok.
This is never a good strategy as it completely ignores the realities of the game
I certainly hope that you are agreeing that one of the house's biggest advantages is that the player has to play first and the house often wins with nothing as the player has already busted before the house has to act.
One of the realities of the game is that if you have already busted, you have ZERO chance of winning the hand. I know a LOT of players who refuse to ever even hit hard 12, much less a hard 16. I will confess I have hit both a hard 18 AND a hard 19, but my excuse is that the dealer accidently showed her hole card revealing a 20, so I had nothing to lose, amazingly enough I hit a 3 to the 18 resulting in a win and I hit an act to the 19 resulting in a tie. I guess there is no substitute for plain dumbass luck, right?
To play solo against the dealer?
To play high limits? I get intimidated.
To play on the strip or downtown?
To play at the big time casinos (bellagio, Cosmo, Aria or the local dives (Tuscany, the casino where OJ was arrested, etc.)?
Would love to hear anyone's most memorable run and where?
I like playing solo, I like playing high limits, I had preferred to play at the nice places like Bellagio, etc, however:
All of those things tend to make me too much of a target. High limit heads-up play automatically triggers surveillance from the eye in the sky, and the eventual tap on the shoulder, where I am told that I am welcome to play any other game, just not blackjack.
Only places left for me in Vegas are Caesar's properties, Hard Rock, Red Rock, the Boyd properties, and probably the low-roller places downtown. Even there, if I play too long, I'll be "invited to leave". No matter how much camouflage I throw into my play, I'm just not able to shake 'em off the trail for long.
It's mostly poker for me in Vegas. I may start to play some more video poker for when I want to do something mindless (full pay Jacks or better is extremely close to break-even, and will get me some comps and stuff).
Hi Krinn,
What you said has got me to thinking about my situation. I have been doing quite well in Vegas and the Indian casinos in California. I don't count cards and I keep my bets consistent, not progressive betting. I just use basic strategy and hunches. How much money wise do you need to start winning before they start telling you you can no longer play?
All of those things tend to make me too much of a target. High limit heads-up play automatically triggers surveillance from the eye in the sky, and the eventual tap on the shoulder, where I am told that I am welcome to play any other game, just not blackjack.
Only places left for me in Vegas are Caesar's properties, Hard Rock, Red Rock, the Boyd properties, and probably the low-roller places downtown. Even there, if I play too long, I'll be "invited to leave". No matter how much camouflage I throw into my play, I'm just not able to shake 'em off the trail for long.
It's mostly poker for me in Vegas. I may start to play some more video poker for when I want to do something mindless (full pay Jacks or better is extremely close to break-even, and will get me some comps and stuff).
I mean, if you're betting red chips at the Bellagio, they probably won't waste too much time surveilling you. OTOH, if you're playing black chips in some low-roller casino, you'll definitely get attention, whether you're counting or not--but black chip action will always draw attention even at Aria, Wynn, etc--especially if you're winning (or counting).
Having said that, I have been barred even while losing. Over the long haul, typical counter behavior (increasing betting size as, in a shocking coincidence, lots of Tens and Aces come flying out of the deck) will inevitably result in being given the hook.
The only way to achieve any longevity as a counter is to play for very brief intervals, on different shifts, at different casinos, etc. IOW, never too long at any one place. Even then, being barred is the inevitable long-term result.
The best counters I know are expert at camouflage. They not only vary their bets, but their play as well. They are so good, in fact, their play can often be confused with that of a newbie with no idea of basic strategy. They tend to play at crowded tables (which brings less attention) and are not greedy when it comes to the size of their bets when the shoe is favorable. There is a range, in terms of multiples of your "basic" bet, that will keep from bringing attention. They are expert in this as well. In terms of splitting 8's, a good counter will often surrender this hand. Thus, showing knowledge of the game (that surrender is available) but seeming a bit rookie- esque by overplaying that option (as basic strategy tells you to always split 8s).In short, don't try to be a card counter unless you have considered all dimensions of the process
-- Modified on 8/22/2015 6:56:19 AM
Play the way you think is best for you, but I think that playing the way you describe (especially the playing hunches part) winning long term and getting barred will not be a problem for you.
What you said has got me to thinking about my situation. I have been doing quite well in Vegas and the Indian casinos in California. I don't count cards and I keep my bets consistent, not progressive betting. I just use basic strategy and hunches. How much money wise do you need to start winning before they start telling you you can no longer play?
You are asking questions that are in the etiquette area and the superstition area.
I almost only play 2 deck games. So it is not a long wait for me to just wait till the next shuffle. Besides, I like to watch a bit to "practice/warm-up" in my mind and to get the feel of the game. I don't ask, I just join.
BJ is a game of math. As pointed out earlier, the thing about newbies making bad choices and ruining the table is just nonsense. It goes both ways. The only thing about any player bothering you at a table is, if you are bothered and it affects your game, then just leave and find another table.
I read today that MGM is standardizing all their BJ games on the Strip to 6:5 payouts and eliminating all 3:2 payouts on BJ.
This quote from lvablog:
"MGM taketh away, planning to eradicate any remaining 3:2 blackjack from its Strip casinos, as well as trying to “capture” more resort fees."
30 years ago, basic strategy reduced the house edge to about .5%, so Blackjack gave me a decent chance to make a little money betting up the hot streaks but keeping losses down at minimum bets.
Small rule changes were not noticeable but combined with the shoe, the hotels knew players would complain & even leave the game, which I did in 2010 when the 6:5 payoff was introduced.
Customers will continue playing Blackjack because they believe it is a game of skill and casinos will keep adjusting the rules to up the house edge. Imagine player's natural 21 "losing if no insurance taken" and dealer also hits blackjack. Players will get accustomed to this rule also.
Casinos will continue to make the games more painful for the player as long as the players still come. Of course now, the casinos are making their money on the clubs and shopping and not relying as much on the gamblers
when not sure if to join a table.....just ask the players that are there....do you mind if I join in now, or wait til a new shoe...they will all appreciate you asking...some will ask that you wait, some will say join in now.........you will be a friend at the table, just for asking
When newbies come into play and they are easily recognizable, do you play the next hand or do you wait until they leave?
Lastly, just curiously how well do you do with a fresh deck of cards? I usually wait a couple of shuffles because the cards are not mixed. I see a lot of times with a new deck that you have a lousy hand, the dealer will pull a 6 card 18 or so because all the low cards are still bunched together.
Just interested to see the blackjack players on this board feel.