Why do dealers do this?

[tribute]

I had an A7 vs dealer 3. I placed extra chips for a double-down. The dealer then announced to the pit in a loud voice: "Player wants to double Ace-seven!"

Why does the dealer do this?

[Blue Efficacy]

It's to announce to the PC that you're playing smart.

[tribute]

Originally Posted by Blue Efficacy

It's to announce to the PC that you're playing smart.

That's funny because ploppies think it's a DUMB play. They say, "Why do you want to mess up your 18?"

[FLASH1296]

Many of the "called-out" plays are verbalized to the floor-person because some dudes will try to take a shot at the casino by making a play and then denying that they did so when they bust.

For instance, he has a hard 17 and wants to hit. If he is trying to take a shot, he will take the card - but if he busts he may try to 'make the case' - "Of course I wanted to stand. What moron would hit on 17 ?" So long long ago the dealers were taught to call out odd plays, AND in some stores, "smart plays" like 'surrender' are called out since ploppies do not surrender at all. Plays ordinarily reserved for drunks and A.P.'s - i.e.Splitting 10's, doubling on soft 19, etc. are called to the floor-person's attention because they need to see which you are -- smart or dumb.

In the case you cited, it was a normal Basic Strategy play.
So, in this case, the dealer was just an imbecile.

[GeorgeD]

Originally Posted by tribute

That's funny because ploppy's think it's a DUMB play. They say, "Why do you want to mess up your 18?"

Usually, but I had a guy say "nice play" when I won one of those. Never had anyone say that when I split 9's vs 10. Usually shake their heads like you're a lucky SOB if you win both

[Renzey]

Originally Posted by FLASH1296

In some stores, "smart plays" like 'surrender' are called out since ploppies do not surrender at all. Plays ordinarily reserved for drunks and A.P.'s - i.e.Splitting 10's, doubling on soft 19, etc. are called to the floor-person's attention because they need to see which you are -- smart or dumb.

That's why you want to double for maybe one-tenth your bet with 12 vs. 2 and 12 vs. 3 -- so that the dealer will call out, "doubling on a hard 12". Also, Insuring for around one tenth your bet with any stiff will also fit right in. A couple of those, and splitting 10's at the right time ought to be fine.

[ihate17]

Originally Posted by FLASH1296

Many of the "called-out" plays are verbalized to the floor-person because some dudes will try to take a shot at the casino by making a play and then denying that they did so when they bust.

For instance, he has a hard 17 and wants to hit. If he is trying to take a shot, he will take the card - but if he busts he may try to 'make the case' - "Of course I wanted to stand. What moron would hit on 17 ?" So long long ago the dealers were taught to call out odd plays, AND in some stores, "smart plays" like 'surrender' are called out since ploppies do not surrender at all. Plays ordinarily reserved for drunks and A.P.'s - i.e.Splitting 10's, doubling on soft 19, etc. are called to the floor-person's attention because they need to see which you are -- smart or dumb.

In the case you cited, it was a normal Basic Strategy play.
So, in this case, the dealer was just an imbecile.

Unlike hit or stay, there is no universal signal for surrender. In some places they use the straight line parallel to your hand but that may land up looking like another signal to the eye. So since they eye often can not verify surrender, calling it out becomes procedure.
A few casinos use a special surrender chip. It is put out when you tell the dealer that you surrender (the eye sees this) and then taken back when the dealer takes half your bet. Generally, at these places they will not call out surrender.

ihate17

[21forme]

I got called out for hitting a hard 17 in a Sp21 game recently. First time for me.

[ihate17]

Originally Posted by tribute

I had an A7 vs dealer 3. I placed extra chips for a double-down. The dealer then announced to the pit in a loud voice: "Player wants to double Ace-seven!"

Why does the dealer do this?

For the reasons most people here mentioned, strange plays are call out by dealers. It alerts the pit that something out of the ordinary is happening.
Hitting hard 17, doubling 13, splitting 10's etc would definately fall into this category, as does a suddenly large bet.

Your particular dealer does not know blackjack well enough to know that doubling soft 18 vs 3 is just plain basic strategy or he is dealing in a house that wants simple BS plays like this called out.

ihate17

[EasyRhino]

At Planet Ho's Pleasure Pit, one dealer was calling out "surrender" and the dollar amount of the original bet every time someone did it. But that was just because she was bad at math.