Be nice or be smart?

[BrokenSaints]

A dealer made an error last night and dealt me a hand when I didn't have a bet on the table. It was a nickel table and I was only playing 1 u table min at the time. I had been playing every hand up until that point it was really a distracted thing that I forgot to ante up. I had hard 13 dealer was showing 10. I looked up and told the dealer that she dealt me in a hand without my bet on the table. Quickly trying to cover her ass she tells me quick get your bet in before they see! I looked at her and calmly and politely said the obvious. "I am sorry but I am not playing a losing hand".

I do feel like an asshole because she was reprimanded by the pit boss. She was a good dealer and generally friendly until I of course did this. What would you have done in this situation? Been the nice guy and help her save face at the cost of a 5 or make the smart decision like I did?

[21forme]

You did the right thing.

[ricopuno]

I would have done the same thing as you did.

[ricopuno]

The dealer can't help us when the pit boss confront us and tell us to leave because they caught us counting.

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by BrokenSaints

I had hard 13 dealer was showing 10.

Which meant she dealt you not one, but TWO cards without a bet on the table. You also made it sound like YOU were the one who eventually informed her that you had no bet out. This is a gross violation of casino procedure; chances are this isn't her first slip-up if she got reprimanded in front of the customers.

Why did you point it out to begin with? You should have asked for a hit and then put out a bet if you got a 6, 7, or 8.

That all being said, I probably would have put out the bet if I planned on staying at the table for more than a few hands.

[jimpenn]

If you ever become a knowledgeable BJ Player you will understand your mistake.

[Ferretnparrot]

definately, the right thing, just claim you didnt want to play this hand, and make it look like it was her fault, because it was.

You came to the casino to win, not place bets in losing situations like that. Thats not how you win.

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by Ferretnparrot

make it look like it was her fault, because it was.

There is no question it was her fault. That's why the thread is entitled, "Be nice or be smart?"

Originally Posted by Ferretnparrot

You came to the casino to win, not place bets in losing situations like that. Thats not how you win.

This is how I view it: he had intended to place that bet. He's not losing money relative to expectation by putting the bet out.

It's like seeing someone drop a chip and returning it to them - could you have scored an easy $5 by just putting your foot on it and waiting until all the witnesses leave? Sure. But it comes down to whether you want to be nice or smart.

Being nice has its perks too - assuming that she knew you putting out the bet would save her from a scolding, you probably could have not tipped for the rest of the session for about $2.40 in EV and justified it by claiming you saved her ass.

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by BrokenSaints

I do feel like an asshole because she was reprimanded by the pit boss. She was a good dealer and generally friendly until I of course did this. What would you have done in this situation? Been the nice guy and help her save face at the cost of a 5 or make the smart decision like I did?

Under certain circumstances I would have put the $5 out, but by the same token,
If I had looked at a winning hand I would have put more out. zg

[newb99]

Nice or smart? Smart for $5 ????? I bet more than $5 worth of goodwill has been lost in this case. I think the contributor concerned shouldn't be too surprised when/if she's ever dealing him in the future she blows a kiss to the PB and whispers in his/her ear "I think we may have a counter here". . . . or cuts only 50% when shuffling up. I would. That could've been the final straw in her having to look for another job.

I'm new to this game, and visit this board regularly as it's the best single point of reference where I can pose questions to people who know far more about the game than I ever will. I do wonder, though, about the mentality of some people who'll drop someone in the $#it for $5, or refuse to tip a dealer a couple of bucks on the basis that it effects their EV?????? (a convenient excuse that can be rolled out by those people who don't tip anyone for anything, anywhere).

No offence intended to anyone, but I think that something can be easily lost along the way amongst the practice decks, strategy tables, indices etc etc. Five bucks ? ? ? ? Quite sad I think. Sorry, rant over.

Newb99