Table game limits

[Petersonfcu]

On 6/22/2022 at 12:24 PM, Petersonfcu said:

 

 

I don't think that Carnival allows a double on a double at their version of Fun 21.  But I may try it, like when maybe the dealer is showing a six, and I have an Ace and a four, and then double, and get another Ace.  It doesn't hurt to ask if one can double again!  

On the Carnival Miracle right now.  Many Miracle tables (including Fun21) still  have a $6 min bet.  And I had an opportunity to test out the "double on a double" idea at the Fun21 table.  Guy next to me had a $50 bet out, and dealer dealt him a 9 with the dealer upcard being a 6.  Guy doubled, and then got a 2 for a total of 11.  Glum looks all around.  I said "wait! wait! can he double again?"  Dealer said no way, he can only stay or surrender.  So he stayed of course.  Oh well, worth asking.

[mz-s]

2 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

On the Carnival Miracle right now.  Many Miracle tables (including Fun21) still  have a $6 min bet.  And I had an opportunity to test out the "double on a double" idea at the Fun21 table.  Guy next to me had a $50 bet out, and dealer dealt him a 9 with the dealer upcard being a 6.  Guy doubled, and then got a 2 for a total of 11.  Glum looks all around.  I said "wait! wait! can he double again?"  Dealer said no way, he can only stay or surrender.  So he stayed of course.  Oh well, worth asking.

 

Good to hear Fun21 is still a $6 minimum, at least for the time being on some ships. I often bet more but I like being able to cool off at $6 for a while if need be.

[djcass4199]

What I want to know is if the $25 table attracts mostly folks who know how to truly play Blackjack with proper strategy or if it’s like the $6 table where you get a mix of smart players and also folks who just want to have fun (and will hit on everything regardless of whether the “strategy” would say to stay). I’ve had some incredible playing partners on a few cruises at the $6 tables and we did quite well and then we’ve have some experiences on the $6 tables where we were hemorrhaging chips because our fellow playing partners were hitting on things they shouldn’t and taking dealer bust cards.

[mz-s]

31 minutes ago, djcass4199 said:

What I want to know is if the $25 table attracts mostly folks who know how to truly play Blackjack with proper strategy or if it’s like the $6 table where you get a mix of smart players and also folks who just want to have fun (and will hit on everything regardless of whether the “strategy” would say to stay). I’ve had some incredible playing partners on a few cruises at the $6 tables and we did quite well and then we’ve have some experiences on the $6 tables where we were hemorrhaging chips because our fellow playing partners were hitting on things they shouldn’t and taking dealer bust cards.

 

It's a cruise-by-cruise thing. I'd say your hunch is mostly right. But depending on the cruise the $25 tables can be unpopular so it's tough to get a rhythm going.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

47 minutes ago, djcass4199 said:

What I want to know is if the $25 table attracts mostly folks who know how to truly play Blackjack with proper strategy or if it’s like the $6 table where you get a mix of smart players and also folks who just want to have fun (and will hit on everything regardless of whether the “strategy” would say to stay). I’ve had some incredible playing partners on a few cruises at the $6 tables and we did quite well and then we’ve have some experiences on the $6 tables where we were hemorrhaging chips because our fellow playing partners were hitting on things they shouldn’t and taking dealer bust cards.

Generally the $25 table has players who are more aware. There are always exceptions though - people playing on gut/hunches abound!

[AmazedByCruising]

41 minutes ago, djcass4199 said:

I’ve had some incredible playing partners on a few cruises at the $6 tables and we did quite well and then we’ve have some experiences on the $6 tables where we were hemorrhaging chips because our fellow playing partners were hitting on things they shouldn’t and taking dealer bust cards.

 

Other players doing cringe worthy moves is a nice conversation starter IMHO. That's the fun part of BJ! All against the dealer, and even the dealer wants to lose. 

 

Feeling bad because the player next to you took the 10 that you wanted the dealer to have.. You should know that it doesn't affect your odds whatever the other players do.  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

9 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Other players doing cringe worthy moves is a nice conversation starter IMHO. That's the fun part of BJ! All against the dealer, and even the dealer wants to lose. 

 

Feeling bad because the player next to you took the 10 that you wanted the dealer to have.. You should know that it doesn't affect your odds whatever the other players do.  

 

I fully agree that over time it's basically irrelevant how other individuals play. Having said that, on a hand by hand basis, it can be difficult to ignore a significant loss owing to a "wrong" play.. Of course, those "wrong" plays are just as likely to help as hurt!

 

Tom

[Cruise, J.D.]

Getting off the Horizon today. There was at least one $6 BJ table. I saw other table limits at $6 too. Craps was $5.

[Hoosierpop]

2 minutes ago, Cruise, J.D. said:

Getting off the Horizon today. There was at least one $6 BJ table. I saw other table limits at $6 too. Craps was $5.

Don’t mean to hijack the thread but how busy was the craps table on the Horizon? In my two cruises so far, it’s been hit or miss. On one, table was hopping. The other,  not so much. And I don’t mean was the table winning. I mean people playing. 

[Cruise, J.D.]

55 minutes ago, Hoosierpop said:

Don’t mean to hijack the thread but how busy was the craps table on the Horizon? In my two cruises so far, it’s been hit or miss. On one, table was hopping. The other,  not so much. And I don’t mean was the table winning. I mean people playing. 

I only played twice. On the first elegant night it was hopping and very fun. The second time I went was after midnight second elegant night and there were still people playing. I made a point to check the table when we walked through the casino and I generally saw people playing if the table was open.

[jiggs]

13 hours ago, djcass4199 said:

What I want to know is if the $25 table attracts mostly folks who know how to truly play Blackjack with proper strategy or if it’s like the $6 table where you get a mix of smart players and also folks who just want to have fun (and will hit on everything regardless of whether the “strategy” would say to stay). I’ve had some incredible playing partners on a few cruises at the $6 tables and we did quite well and then we’ve have some experiences on the $6 tables where we were hemorrhaging chips because our fellow playing partners were hitting on things they shouldn’t and taking dealer bust cards.

at many hours you may find yourself alone at the quarter games.  I don't mind playing $25 but if things are not in your favor chips can end up in the rack quite quickly if you are heads up against the dealer.

 

I would say you get less of the 'oh, this is 21' at the $25 table then a $6 table.

 

I do not know if it is still true, but in the past they did not make you double your bet to play two spots.  I was finding a sweet spot at a $10 game playing the last two spot and just $10 per.  Avoiding the bonus games I did okay.

 

[AmazedByCruising]

4 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I fully agree that over time it's basically irrelevant how other individuals play. Having said that, on a hand by hand basis, it can be difficult to ignore a significant loss owing to a "wrong" play.. Of course, those "wrong" plays are just as likely to help as hurt!

 

Agree, but I never see people being thankful for the "wrong" play when it helps 🙂

Last time I found the 6-5 payout vs 3-2 on $6 tables a far bigger problem that does actually hurt consistently. Also game play is often very slow (but that makes it less expensive :)). The "21 people" just try out a new game, expecting to lose their chips, who don't mind if you give a hint ("you can double", "the dealer has a 6"). IMHO it's the best place on the ship to meet new people. 

 

[Petersonfcu]

On 7/3/2022 at 7:50 AM, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Agree, but I never see people being thankful for the "wrong" play when it helps 🙂

 

 

This is true.

 

As the Fun21 game does not have any Kings in the deck, the correct basic strategy differs somewhat from regular 21.  https://wizardofodds.com/games/spanish-21/   On occasion someone will roll their eyes or complain about me interupting the flow when I make a play according to correct Fun21 strategy (such as hitting on a 12 when the dealer shows a bust card).  I usually don't respond at the time . . . but of course about half the time my Fun21 strategy play leads to something good for the rest of the table.   At that time I will say something about the positive outcome, and hope that folks who worry about flow leave me alone from then on!  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

At $25 and up tables, regarding making plays which are "by the book" and those which are borderline and/or wacky, sometimes I will make a play when I'm playing solo which I would not make when other "good" players are at the table. For example, I've doubled A-8 and A-9 on rare occasions just as a gamble/greed. Sometimes it pays off, other times not. If there is someone else at the table who doesn't really know the game (hitting 15 vs 6 for example), then I have no qualms about going "off book". If it's a basic strategy player, or one betting large amounts (multiple black or purple chips), then I'll usually play by the book.

 

I've posted this on other threads, but it always comes to mind when talking BJ. This was a case where I went by the book, and got nailed. Dealer was showing a 5 (could have been a 6 - same difference). I ended up doubling a couple of those as well. Dealer pulled a .... yep ... 21. I had to take a photo of that when I pulled the fifth 7 you can see the blur of the dealers hand as he said "no cameras" !

 

 

 

Tom

 

 

[Petersonfcu]

16 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

At $25 and up tables, regarding making plays which are "by the book" and those which are borderline and/or wacky, sometimes I will make a play when I'm playing solo which I would not make when other "good" players are at the table. For example, I've doubled A-8 and A-9 on rare occasions just as a gamble/greed. Sometimes it pays off, other times not. If there is someone else at the table who doesn't really know the game (hitting 15 vs 6 for example), then I have no qualms about going "off book". If it's a basic strategy player, or one betting large amounts (multiple black or purple chips), then I'll usually play by the book.

 

I've posted this on other threads, but it always comes to mind when talking BJ. This was a case where I went by the book, and got nailed. Dealer was showing a 5 (could have been a 6 - same difference). I ended up doubling a couple of those as well. Dealer pulled a .... yep ... 21. I had to take a photo of that when I pulled the fifth 7 you can see the blur of the dealers hand as he said "no cameras" !

 

 

 

Tom

 

 

Ouch.   Looks like you had $20 (or more) out there playing for the dealer.  So he/she could not have been happy with the result of the hand!  And, yeah, doubling on an Ace Nine would raise some eyebrows!

Edited July 7, 2022 by Petersonfcu

[AmazedByCruising]

36 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Dealer pulled a .... yep ... 21. I had to take a photo of that when I pulled the fifth 7 you can see the blur of the dealers hand as he said "no cameras" !

 

Got a bit more lucky once 🙂 (And even got permission for the picture)

[Petersonfcu]

21 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Got a bit more lucky once 🙂 (And even got permission for the picture)

And I bet you had that sinking feeling when the dealer flipped that three card over . . . 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

42 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

And I bet you had that sinking feeling when the dealer flipped that three card over . . . 

 

I wonder how many heartbeats we've all skipped/lost owing to this fact of BJ life. Probably not a good idea to be wearing a diagnostic heart monitor if you're planning on hitting the tables, LOL

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

22 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Got a bit more lucky once 🙂 (And even got permission for the picture)

 

 

I'm curious, did you start with more than one hand? I see you have five hands in play, were they all split from one starting pair of twos? In my case, and at all tables I've played, they'll only allow you to split up to/into 4 hands. 

 

Tom

 

[AmazedByCruising]

10 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

 

I'm curious, did you start with more than one hand? I see you have five hands in play, were they all split from one starting pair of twos? In my case, and at all tables I've played, they'll only allow you to split up to/into 4 hands. 

 

Tom

 

 

It was one hand only, on Koningsdam in 2017. If I calculate correctly, dealer would have hit 19. It was a very sweet dealer 🙂