Table Courtesy Question

[greenbird]

Hey guys,
New to the forum - just a basic strategy player who enjoys playing blackjack at $10-$25 tables. I enjoy reading the forum and all the stories and opinions on here. I had a quick question about something I have seen a lot of lately and how to handle it?

I like to play heads-up, just because I prefer to be one on one with the dealer, just a mentality I guess. But if somebody wants to come in mid-shoe and they ask first, I usually tell them they can come in and I don't mind. Unless it's really going well. Sometimes they don't ask, just come in and nothing I can do about it, learned to live with that and take it in stride.

My question or biggest pet peeve, I guess, is when they ask to come in and I say, sure, come on in, and they proceed to play two and even three spots before me and in addition to the one I'm playing, so it's now three or four handed after a one-on-one shoe. And they obviously don't say anything about those intentions before they pull this. It's frustrating because I have no idea what direction the rest of the shoe will go in nor can I make any significant money playing like that (or lose a sig. amount of money either).

So my question is what should I say to the next person to do this to me? Should I ask beforehand, how many hands do you plan on playing or is that none of my business? Or do I ask them politely to play one hand? Or should it not bother me at all and just play my hand? I just find it to be rude and discourteous.

Y'all have seen it all and have many experiences, so your thoughts please? Thanks

[alwayssplitaces]

Welcome to Blackjack Info. It really doesn't matter in the long run how many players are at your table if you're not counting. As a BS player, you're going to lose in the long run. Might as well play at a full table and lose less per hour. If you're coming in on someone playing heads up, it is courteous to ask if you can join. A counter playing heads up will not want others playing because they make more money playing more hands per hour.

As for us counters, if I'm backcounting a table where someone's playing heads up and the count goes high, I am wonging in (joining the table) and playing 2 hands. We're here for profit, entertainment isn't our priority. But if I see that a heads up player is changing their bets with the count and playing perfect BS+indices, I would back-bet them because that's better for both of us. If a ploppy (a non-counter) is playing heads up, I will not even ask, I'll just wong in and play 2 hands.

You'd actually have a better direction about the remaining cards in the shoe if you can count more cards before you have to act. But additional players would lower your win rate if you're counting.

[shadroch]

When playing one on one, the dealer will get about 50% of the BJs and win about 50% of the hands.
When playing with two players and a dealer, the dealer will now get only about 33% of the BJs, yet will still win about 50% of the hands.

Which of the two conditions would you choose to play?

[CrazyEddie]

Originally Posted by greenbird

Hey guys,

I like to play heads-up, just because I prefer to be one on one with the dealer, just a mentality I guess. But if somebody wants to come in mid-shoe and they ask first, I usually tell them they can come in and I don't mind. Unless it's really going well. Sometimes they don't ask, just come in and nothing I can do about it, learned to live with that and take it in stride.

My question or biggest pet peeve, I guess, is when they ask to come in and I say, sure, come on in, and they proceed to play two and even three spots before me and in addition to the one I'm playing, so it's now three or four handed after a one-on-one shoe. And they obviously don't say anything about those intentions before they pull this. It's frustrating because I have no idea what direction the rest of the shoe will go in nor can I make any significant money playing like that (or lose a sig. amount of money either).

And they smoke.

[HockeXpert]

Originally Posted by greenbird

My question or biggest pet peeve, I guess, is when they ask to come in and I say, sure, come on in, and they proceed to play two and even three spots before me and in addition to the one I'm playing, so it's now three or four handed after a one-on-one shoe.

So my question is what should I say to the next person to do this to me? Should I ask beforehand, how many hands do you plan on playing or is that none of my business? Or do I ask them politely to play one hand? Or should it not bother me at all and just play my hand? I just find it to be rude and discourteous.

Try "Thank you for saving me from losing money so fast".

[Sucker]

Originally Posted by greenbird;25139[/Q

? Should I ask beforehand, how many hands do you plan on playing or is that none of my business? Or do I ask them politely to play one hand? Or should it not bother me at all and just play my hand? I just find it to be rude and discourteous.

If a blackjack table does not have the "no midshoe-entry" rule, everyone has the RIGHT to come in at any time. If someone ASKS you if you mind; that fact alone shows that they are NOT rude OR discourteous. How are THEY supposed to know that you MEANT that you don't mind them coming in, but ONLY if they play only one hand?

That said; when someone asks to come in, I see nothing wrong with a simple polite response of "Sure, but would you mind only playing one spot? I'm a little bit superstitious".

[Zach Black]

Table courtsey I've encountered lately includes smokers sitting down on both sides and shoving cigarettes in my face from both directions, people yelling about my crazy plays then accuse me of being an idoit.

So I understand why you like heads up.

But on the other side if I can tell you're not counting I won't ask if you mind if I play. As a counter it's about getting the money on the table when cards are good, and two hands are better the one.

[BJgenius007]

Originally Posted by CrazyEddie

And they smoke.

And they don't bathe.

[MoldedTruths]

As a basic strategy player, the wisest thing you could do is not play, play at home for free or play at charity blackjack events.

If you feel you must play basic strategy blackjack in a casino, your most advantageous option is to play slow at a crowded table and milk the comps with your players card.

Why in the world is it attractive to you to play more hands per hour one on one with the dealer and lose at a significantly higher rate per hour?

This is such a strange mentality to me. Aren't there better ways to waste money?

[MoldedTruths]

"Most advantageous" should read "least disadvantageous."