Blackjack Players Step Inside!

[Silverscreencruiser]

 

The key to gambling is money management, set a win/loss limit, once you hit that leave, if it take an hour or if it takes 5 minutes, once you reach that limit, get up, cash out.

 

I agree that money management is important, but setting a win limit is a way to walk away from a hot table.

 

What I do is set a rolling loss limit. Let's say my loss limit for a session is $100. If I get up by twice my loss limit ($200), I readjust my loss limit to +$100. In other words, if I lose $100 back from that point so I am at +$100, I walk away, but if I stay hot, I keep going, adding to my limit as I go up. So if I'm up $300, then +$200 is my new loss limit. I usually do this by literally taking the extra chips off the table and putting them in my pocket until I'm ready to cash out.

 

This allows me to walk away a winner but not end a hot session early.

[Harry and Lucille]

I have two pockets in my pants. My daily allowance is in one and the other one is empty. I usually start with $100 and minimum bet of $5 playing two hands if available. If I lose the base amount, I leave. When I double the amount I have on the table I cash in for a Black and put it in the other pocket. If my run continues, as soon as I double the chips on the table, I double my bet. If I double the table chips again I triple my bet. At $15 and winning, the reds on the dealers side start to get short therefor winning changes from three reds to the dealer taking two reds and giving me a green. hummm. As soon as I get four greens I change them to one black which goes into the other pocket. Doubled my start and have $300 in my pocket. If I leave the table for a break, you can bet they will save my seat. Upon returning to the table I start as tho I am just sitting down. Every thing over the $100 goes in the other pocket. If I lose the table $100 I will always walk away with the other pocket. Never come back to the table and pick up where you left off. You leave with a few of their blacks in the other pocket, thats not bad wages. If not, you only lose your original allotted amount. :cool: Harry

[Harry and Lucille]

My wife learned early on not to bother me at the Blackjack table. She walked up behind me many years ago while I was on a streak in Vegas. She knew that I was starting with a twenty. As she stood there I was betting 5 blacks at a time. She watched a bit. I won a few. Lost one on a double and she whispered into my ear asking what the blacks were. I told her. She never asked or wanted to know again. Education can be a shocking thing. Harry :cool:

[primo1]

I remember once. I was playing in LV years ago. And the Pit Boss came over to me to schmooz me. Asked if I wanted dinner tonight at some fancy place. I said, "yea sure" but Iam traveling with another couple.

Make the reservation for 4 please. He talks to the Dealer, and the Dealer said, " he has been playing black for quite a while, and has about 14 more in his pocket." And that Dealer new exactly how many I had in my pocket.

[Harry and Lucille]

Walked into the Sands in Atlantic City when the casino opened at 11 am. One Blackjack table open. Sat down with (at that time) two elderly ladies in their mink coats. Hummm. Starting chatting and playing. I had stopped by the cashiers cage and cashed two twenty dollar travelers checks. After about 30 minutes or so, the bit boss came up and asked me to sign a card for him. I asked him what it was for. He told me that they appreciated my attitude and the way I was treating the other guests at the table. I looked around and realized that these two women were considered 'whales' at the casino. Looking at the card opened my eyes. They had more information on that card than my wife knew about me and it was an automatic $5000.00 credit line for the Sands in Atlantic City or Vegas. I signed. I used it. For tips, a new shirt and a pair of shoes. Paid it off as soon as I got home. Next thing I knew I was given comp. air fare and 2 nights in vegas along with show tickets and meals at the Sands. Maybe they also knew that my wife had a shirt tail family relative who also owned a Vegas casino. Even long distance networking pays off huh? Harry :cool: PS. This was in the early 60's and do I have stories. :rolleyes:

[Yo Eleven]

Walked into the Sands in Atlantic City when the casino opened at 11 am. One Blackjack table open. Sat down with (at that time) two elderly ladies in their mink coats. Hummm. Starting chatting and playing. I had stopped by the cashiers cage and cashed two twenty dollar travelers checks. After about 30 minutes or so, the bit boss came up and asked me to sign a card for him. I asked him what it was for. He told me that they appreciated my attitude and the way I was treating the other guests at the table. I looked around and realized that these two women were considered 'whales' at the casino. Looking at the card opened my eyes. They had more information on that card than my wife knew about me and it was an automatic $5000.00 credit line for the Sands in Atlantic City or Vegas. I signed. I used it. For tips, a new shirt and a pair of shoes. Paid it off as soon as I got home. Next thing I knew I was given comp. air fare and 2 nights in vegas along with show tickets and meals at the Sands. Maybe they also knew that my wife had a shirt tail family relative who also owned a Vegas casino. Even long distance networking pays off huh? Harry :cool: PS. This was in the early 60's and do I have stories. :rolleyes:

How's the Sands doing these days? HAHA!

 

 

:p

[Harry and Lucille]

Not as good as I am. How about you???

[jetwet1]

How's the Sands doing these days? HAHA!

 

 

:p

 

Actually the Sands was doing ok until ACEP sold it, they had slowly turned around a money losing operation and were slowly gaining market share.

 

ACEP got an offer they could not refuse, pretty much a silly money offer for the land, as with any investment you have to look at the return and the deal was to good to turn down.

 

They did the same with the Nevada properties, they received a buy out offer of $1.3 Billion, an amazingly stupid amount of money for the 4 properties, the major share holder Carl Ichan sold, he saw a 400% return on his investment. Since that time all the upper management has been replaced and I am sorry to say, they don't have a clue about running a joint like the Strat, Aquarius and the 2 Arizona Charlie's properties revenue is down and what were 4 profitable casinos are now losing money.

 

Just as a disclaimer, i was one of the upper mangers let go, oh well that's life, I just feel sorry for the front line employee's that are left dealing with our replacements.

[RANTHEMAN]

Well,spent three or so hours playing Sat. & Sun.at the reservation. Ended up a modest winner of $200 but a winner nonetheless. I made a special effort to pay attention to how the rest of the table played and how that effected me. On Sat. bad plays by others resulted in a toss up between positive and negative. However,on Sun. bad plays had an overwhelmingly positive effect on me. In fact third base never hit 16 regardless and walked out a $1000 winner.

 

My point is that bad players really have no long term effect on you. I realize that if you have really pressed up your bet and a bad play causes you to lose....you want to go nuts.

 

I would be interested in what some of the fellows who were dealers think about this.

 

Cheers

[Heytray41]

Hello Yo!!

Seem to me you are the one to ask...Still new to the game of Blackjack and will be cruising on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas in October, do you know if they have any $5 or $10 tables? I know the ship is quite small, so I don't know if they necessarily cater to the "newbies" :~) lol. I know the dealers in AC are always willing to give their opinion and was curious if it the same on the ships? Maybe our crew is better off waiting until Nassau anf the Atlantis?? Thanks for any info.

[Yo Eleven]

Hello Yo!!

Seem to me you are the one to ask...Still new to the game of Blackjack and will be cruising on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas in October, do you know if they have any $5 or $10 tables? I know the ship is quite small, so I don't know if they necessarily cater to the "newbies" :~) lol. I know the dealers in AC are always willing to give their opinion and was curious if it the same on the ships? Maybe our crew is better off waiting until Nassau anf the Atlantis?? Thanks for any info.

Hello and welcome to the world of Blackjack! :)

Well I can tell you they will most definitely have 10 dollar blackjack table. And they will probably have 5 dollar tables. Cruises know they will have a lot of newbies to the casinos and cater to them as much as possible so I imagine you will have both denominations available. Good luck!

[Heytray41]

Thanks for the info..we are really looking forward to a good time! I assume the dealers are as friendly and helpful as they are in Atlantic City?

[AndyTheK]

My point is that bad players really have no long term effect on you. I realize that if you have really pressed up your bet and a bad play causes you to lose....you want to go nuts.

 

I would be interested in what some of the fellows who were dealers think about this.

 

Cheers

 

I am not a dealer, but I agree with your observation after playing casino blackjack for almost fifty years.

I think you remember the times the bad players messed you up, but tend to not think much of the times they actually helped you win! There have been plenty of instances where someone made a bonehead play and "saved the table" by doing it. That's a part of what "the long run" is all about.

 

Just my $0.02 .

[Harry and Lucille]

That is why I prefer to anchor the table. I am there for me, to make money and have fun. Poor players downstream can screw with your mind. As last player, it is you and the dealer. You can play your best game and not be influenced by anybody else. Win or lose, it's just you and the cards. Harry :cool:

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[eetonaee]

I haven't posted on this board before and just went through the 160 or so posts to catch up.

I'm not a big gambler but enjoy playing blackjack on the ships and as some have mentioned I will get up and walk away from a table when someone is playing really stupid.

 

I wanted to ask if any of you have been to a casino where they have eliminated the dealers from the BJ tables.

 

I was at one of our new government casinos recently and after you buy in from a 'pit boss' you and the other players each have your own screen in front of you where you see all of the cards dealt.

You tap in how many chips you are betting and when your turn comes up you press, hit, stay or double down. The computer even tells you what the suggested play is.

 

I hated it. There is little if any communication with the other players except to gripe about how much everyone hates the new system. You pretty much just stare down at your screen. If you follow the suggested play then you might as well be at a video game.

 

I hope they never switch to these on the ships.

[Silverscreencruiser]

I wanted to ask if any of you have been to a casino where they have eliminated the dealers from the BJ tables.

 

I was at one of our new government casinos recently and after you buy in from a 'pit boss' you and the other players each have your own screen in front of you where you see all of the cards dealt.

You tap in how many chips you are betting and when your turn comes up you press, hit, stay or double down. The computer even tells you what the suggested play is.

 

I hated it.

 

I'm not familiar with Canada, but the Native American casinos in North Carolina are prohibited by law from having "live" blackjack. The law is that casinos can play whatever games are otherwise permitted under state law. If a state prohibits games involving dice, you can't have craps at a Native American casino.

 

Since North Carolina considers card gambling to be illegal, but not video/slot machines, the electronic BJ is played. People don't like it there, but the alternative is nothing at all.

 

And I would never play serious money on any type of game based on what the computer told me was a "good" or recommended play. Live dealers are much more likely (due to the tip factor) to recommend what they think are good plays to the player. A computer doesn't get tipped.

[eetonaee]

[quote=

 

And I would never play serious money on any type of game based on what the computer told me was a "good" or recommended play. Live dealers are much more likely (due to the tip factor) to recommend what they think are good plays to the player. A computer doesn't get tipped.

 

The funny thing is there is actually a button on the screen that you can push to make the house a partner on one of your bets. Someone asked the 'pit boss' who the money would go to and she said the casino staff.

 

If they got more than $3 a day from each screen I'd be amazed . What chutzpah!

[helenp2]

Hmmmmm. I wouldn't snicker at you on number one, but laugh. But it wouldn't bother me on you staying on the soft 18 though.

 

Why in the world would you not split the 16 against the 10 or A? You should ALWAYS split eights. Having a 16 sucks. Why keep it if you don't have to?

 

 

I never split eights ahainsy 10 or A. Best I can hope for is a 10 and I end up losing double my bet against the 20 or 21. It should be treated just as you would a 16 - hit it and hope for 4 or 5. Always spiltting A's & 8's is an old rule.

 

I never split A's against 10's - hit.

 

I always hit a soft 18 against a 10 cause 18 isn't good enough to win.

 

Only split 4's against 5 or 6.

 

And always hit the 12 against 2 or 3.

 

jmho

[helenp2]

All right, I came out for a couple of minutes to stir the pot up a little. The following practice always seems to raise a couple of eye brows at the table:

 

When I have blackjack against the dealer's ace up, I never take even money. Somebody always has something negative to say to me when I do this, but I don't care.

 

This situation actually affords the player a 4% advantage over the house. Why do you think the house is so quick to offer you even money for your hand? I'm not going to give away a 4% advantage for even money. I don't care how many people tell me I'm an idiot. I just smile, accept the outcome of the hand, and laugh all the way to the bank.

 

I'm gonna go hide again.

 

 

 

AMEN! You are correct. You are playing to WIN. There's a reason they offer insurance and repeat, and repeat, and repeat the offer. They're looking for people to buy it.

[helenp2]

Well I can tell you about the time when a dealer screwed up and handed some "bad advice" to a player affecting everyone else. I think it is okay for a dealer to offer advice IF the player asks for it.

 

Once time the dealer was showing a 10 and the player had a hard 16. The player motioned they should hit-this AFTER the player motioned to stay. The player then changed her mind and drew a 3 and stayed on 19. However, the change of the cards ended the dealer with a 21, when IF the player stayed as she wanted to originally the dealer would have busted. There were several people that had a lot of money on the table and since the dealer tried to "help out" he ended up ticking off a lot of people. I wanted to put my fist through the table but didn't want to get thrown out of the casino. :D

 

 

SIX or SIXTEEN against a 10. This is a no brainer. Dealer did the right thing when he told her to hit it. It infuriates me when I see people stay on a hand like that. I would rather lose the hand and have it played correctly than to GUESS what coulda, shoulda, woulda

[RANTHEMAN]

You know helen,that is an example of why I don't get hot under the collar when someone makes a bad play. It drives Yo nuts but in that example the proper play drove him nuts.:eek:

 

My experience is that in the long run it has no effect on my results....if one pays attention they will find a bad play helps as often as it hurts.

 

Cheers:D

[AndyTheK]

My experience is that in the long run it has no effect on my results....if one pays attention they will find a bad play helps as often as it hurts.

My experience as well. If you think about it, the "bad" card has just as much chance of coming after the "good" card as it does of coming before it.

[helenp2]

You know helen,that is an example of why I don't get hot under the collar when someone makes a bad play. It drives Yo nuts but in that example the proper play drove him nuts.:eek:

 

My experience is that in the long run it has no effect on my results....if one pays attention they will find a bad play helps as often as it hurts.

 

Cheers:D

 

You're right, it is their money and their decision. What I object to are people who want to say if you hadn't hit that card the dealer would have busted or you would have had a 21. when I am at a table I never comment on anyone's play, it is none of my business. If someone asks me I usually tell them how I would play the hand, but always stress that it is their decision. Generally, if I am betting green chips I am trying to keep a count. Basic strategy is no thing - counting at least for me requires some concentration.

[helenp2]

sorry meant to say basic is one thing - counting for me requires concentration