Getting my wrist slapped

[bj bob]

I noticed lately thet the last few times I,ve played BJ the dealers have been really finicky about using two hands to hold your hole cards. It reminds me of getting "knuckled" by the good nun in grade school for reaching across the lunch table. Is this a new thing or am I just noticing it now that I have become an AP? Or is it just in Reno? BJ

[Sonny]

I see players get in trouble for that all the time. They are usually used to playing shoe games where they don't get to touch the cards. Most dealers are VERY picky about it because they will get in big trouble if a floorman sees it happenning at their table. It is a common rule in every casino that prevents the players from "mucking" with the cards (hiding them in their palm and removing them from the table, or switching in marked cards).

-Sonny-

[Vytas]

My wife got spanked a couple times for using two hands. The dealer told us it was a Nevada state gaming regulation,for what thats's worth.
Vytas

[Mikeaber]

Originally Posted by bj bob

I noticed lately thet the last few times I,ve played BJ the dealers have been really finicky about using two hands to hold your hole cards. It reminds me of getting "knuckled" by the good nun in grade school for reaching across the lunch table. Is this a new thing or am I just noticing it now that I have become an AP? Or is it just in Reno? BJ

It's nothing to get in a stew over Bob. In fact, as an AP, it might be a good decoy move. It is usually the rank amateurs who use both hands and are cautioned by the dealer.

[bj bob]

Mike, It's just that I've noticed this happening more recently. It may be due to playing BJ after Pai Gow. Maybe I'll try to practice playing the Pai Gow hand with one hand. That should be a hoot! I'll just tell the PG dealer that I'm only obeying house rules. The cover angle is a good one. I'll try that for my schtick!

[ihate17]

Simply, on hand is the procedure. It should have nothing to do with your AP ability, simply dealers do not like to get scolded.

The other night their was a big to do about something in the pit where I was playing but not at my table. Appears that a card or two was missing from a double deck. This I think is one reason for the just one hand on the cards rule.

ihate17

[shadroch]

I got yelled at alot my first trip to Vegas. Then someone suggested I keep my beer in my hand. Hasn't happened since!

[Mikeaber]

Originally Posted by ihate17

Simply, on hand is the procedure. It should have nothing to do with your AP ability, simply dealers do not like to get scolded.

Hey! Great to see you "over here" ihate17! If you've got the time, tell us a bit about your background.

Of course, you are right. One hand or two (unless you are mucking) would realy have nothing to do with gaining advantage. But, I have noticed that the people who generally are guilty of using two hands on the cards are those who are new to Blackjack, or at least new to pitch games. Then again, I guess anything that really draws attention to you is probably not a good thing.

[ihate17]

Originally Posted by Mikeaber

Hey! Great to see you "over here" ihate17! If you've got the time, tell us a bit about your background.

Of course, you are right. One hand or two (unless you are mucking) would realy have nothing to do with gaining advantage. But, I have noticed that the people who generally are guilty of using two hands on the cards are those who are new to Blackjack, or at least new to pitch games. Then again, I guess anything that really draws attention to you is probably not a good thing.

Background? Well I have been a cardcounter since before 1980. The middle of three generations of counters, an uncle tought me and I tought a niece. Not a pro, just a heavy duty rec player. Also, I have family on the dark side and never play in their casinos (would not embarrass or cost them a job) but they have given me tons of info over the years on just how things are done in casinos.

Yes, new players are the ones who use two hands and do not know how to scratch for a hit or tuck their cards. The thing is, the pit may be sharp enough to know these are new players but the dealers only know that if they do not tell the player to use one hand, they will land up getting a talking too either on their break or after their shift, so dealers become paranoid about this even when they have no idea of why the rule exists. It is all procedure and procedure is the life of a dealer.

ihate17

[Mikeaber]

I've enjoyed our exchanges and look forward to them here, Ihate17.

Well, I guess I "got my wrist slapped" today. Went up to an Indian Casino in northern Kansas and got a surprise! They have a DD game on which they lower the limits to $5 Monday through Thursday and kick them up to $10 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Rules:
Pitch
Dealer hits soft 17
No mid-shoe entry
Double only on 8,9,10,11...no doubles on soft hands
Resplit Aces (one hit)
Split any pair
Double after split
BJ 3:2

But the crucial factor was that the pen is from 70% to 80%, set by the old notch in the discard tray!

I had played a 6D game that has the standard hit soft-17 rules while waiting on the DD game to open. Did well but not great on that table. I sat out a several hands according to KO exit strategy since you could reenter the shoe. Either just refused to bet or stood back "for a smoke". I used my standard 1-10 spread and did play "some" negative counts...had to, after all, it's KO.

Anyway, I might have drawn some attention while at that little miniscule minimum table but got no indication of it.

But when I went to the DD table, I was mildly surprised when during the fourth "shoe" the dealer was tapped out causing a reshuffle. This happened right after I'd made a 2-unit bet. On the previous three shoes, I had made it to max once and a couple of times to the 3 and 4 unit bets.

Well, it only went two more shoes before the dealer was once again tapped out...again, right after I'd made a 2 unit bet! I was getting a bit frustrated at that point because otherwise, it was going well for me. However, after the 4th time this happened....well, you don't have club me with a baseball bat but it was the first time it had ever happened to me and caught me with my shorts around my ankles. The first two times, I could understand because of the table opening and them trying to get dealer breaks and rotations set. But after the next two times, it was pretty obvious that they were onto me.

I would imagine the others at the table were pretty glad to see me go