Low cost BJ

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BSONBJ

Member
#1
#1
This is my first thread: I have played BJ at several Casinos in LA and MS. I am quite familiar with the BS and have used it my play. I am also familiar with counting stategies but am not very proficient and have not tried using in a casino. Since I usually play at tables with a 6 deck shoe I think that the KO count works best.

My last couple of trips have been to Tunica. I found a "legitimate" BJ game at Fitzgerald's (3:2/DD any2/Split any 2pr and not dealt out of a machine) with a minimum bet of $3.00 on slow days. Only negative I found is dealer hits soft 17. Since I'm still early in my BJ career and have limited resources; I am always looking for a low cost game. I've heard Vegas has $1.00 & $2.00 tables. Does anyone know about the Gulfcoast?
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#2
#2
BSONBJ....I don't know about Gulfcoast but didn't want you to think you were being ignored. Hmmm....Fitzgerald's?? In Tunica? I know the Fitzgerald's on Fremont pretty much sucks for DD.

Where are you located? PM me if you'd rather not say on the forum.
 
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BSONBJ

Member
#3
#3
Low Cost reply

Mikeaber said:
BSONBJ....I don't know about Gulfcoast but didn't want you to think you were being ignored. Hmmm....Fitzgerald's?? In Tunica? I know the Fitzgerald's on Fremont pretty much sucks for DD.

Where are you located? PM me if you'd rather not say on the forum.
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Houston, TX
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
I have some friends who live in or around Houston and drive over to LA to play. My brother goes down to Bosier City quite often but he doesn't play at the tables....just gets drunk and plugs slots :whip:

I thought you might live a bit closer to Kansas. Be kinda fun to make a run up to Kansas City.
 
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BSONBJ

Member
#5
#5
I've been to the casinos in Lake Charles (Isle of Capri, Harrah's, La berg something) I've only played in Isle of Capri. We may try Coushatta in Kenner LA. but I haven't been there during off hours to take advantage of any reduction in minimum bets.

What's in Kansas?
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#6
#6
BSONBJ said:
I've been to the casinos in Lake Charles (Isle of Capri, Harrah's, La berg something) I've only played in Isle of Capri. We may try Coushatta in Kenner LA. but I haven't been there during off hours to take advantage of any reduction in minimum bets.

What's in Kansas?
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A lot of wheat fields and cattle farms! Not much else besides wind and heat.

Casino-wise: There are 4 casinos in Kansas and all are Tribal. One is operated by Harrah'$ just north of Topeka. There is a Bingo Hall that I believe has removed the craps tables and probably the BJ tables as well up in White Cloud. Then there are two located around Holton or Horton (I get those two confused) up north of Topeka that have some pretty good BJ games.

Up in Kansas City, Missouri, there are 4 I believe. AmeriStar (9th largest in the world), Isle of Debris (I mean, Isle of Capri), Argosy and Harrah'$. Argosy and AmeriStar are the only two that I play at.
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#9
#9
avs21 said:
I heard games in OK indian casinos charge you an ante.
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They do make you ante. State Law requires it. The ante is all the casinos are legally allowed to take as profit from Blackjack. Any table wins from the game (excluding the ante) are split 20% to the State and supposedly 80% back to the players. Of course the "State" gets tax on all of it!
 
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avs21

Well-Known Member
#10
#10
Mikeaber said:
They do make you ante. State Law requires it. The ante is all the casinos are legally allowed to take as profit from Blackjack. Any table wins from the game (excluding the ante) are split 20% to the State and supposedly 80% back to the players. Of course the "State" gets tax on all of it!
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Is it the same stuff as California no bust rules?
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#11
#11
avs21 said:
Is it the same stuff as California no bust rules?
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No Sir.

Normal 6-D, hand shuffled, DAS, DOA, NRSA. Some of the casinos have gone to CSMs. Most have an ante of $.50 up to $100 bet and then it goes to $1 up to $200. Minimums are $5 most places with max of $200 but that could probably vary between casinos. The one I sometimes entertain myself at has a minimum of $2 and a max of $25 but they have $.25 ante.
 
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avs21

Well-Known Member
#12
#12
Mikeaber said:
No Sir.

Normal 6-D, hand shuffled, DAS, DOA, NRSA. Some of the casinos have gone to CSMs. Most have an ante of $.50 up to $100 bet and then it goes to $1 up to $200. Minimums are $5 most places with max of $200 but that could probably vary between casinos. The one I sometimes entertain myself at has a minimum of $2 and a max of $25 but they have $.25 ante.
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Sounds like a really crappy game unless you are shuffle tracking or doing some other advanced technique.
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#13
#13
avs21 said:
Sounds like a really crappy game unless you are shuffle tracking or doing some other advanced technique.
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Yep. It SUCKS! But, I'll do about anything for my wife that is within my power to do and she likes to plug penny slots and those abound down there in Oklahoma. While she's playing those, I go over and play for peanuts on the BJ tables. Employing full KO and using KO's exit strategy, I have been able to stay well ahead which defies all the math we accept here on the forum! Only one thing that makes leaving in the middle of a shoe less than advantageous: You can't rejoin the shoe after leaving though they allow mid-shoe entry for a new player!

I play there for a couple of hours each trip or until I win or lose $100. With a bet spread of $2 to $25, that doesn't leave much room to lose those max bet hands, but even with that and the quarter ante, I seldom leave with less than I started.

They hand peek without mirrors so occasionally, I get a tell from the way the down card for the dealer sits on the table. Most of the dealers are new and do make mistakes occasionally in payoffs that help.

I have to admit that using that casino as a practice field, I have been able to greately enhance my counting skills and have not gone broke doing it. However, I know the odds and I wouldn't advise anyone to flock to those casinos to play Blackjack! Not until they do away with the ante anyway!
 
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avs21

Well-Known Member
#14
#14
Mikeaber said:
Yep. It SUCKS! But, I'll do about anything for my wife that is within my power to do and she likes to plug penny slots and those abound down there in Oklahoma. While she's playing those, I go over and play for peanuts on the BJ tables. Employing full KO and using KO's exit strategy, I have been able to stay well ahead which defies all the math we accept here on the forum! Only one thing that makes leaving in the middle of a shoe less than advantageous: You can't rejoin the shoe after leaving though they allow mid-shoe entry for a new player!

I play there for a couple of hours each trip or until I win or lose $100. With a bet spread of $2 to $25, that doesn't leave much room to lose those max bet hands, but even with that and the quarter ante, I seldom leave with less than I started.

They hand peek without mirrors so occasionally, I get a tell from the way the down card for the dealer sits on the table. Most of the dealers are new and do make mistakes occasionally in payoffs that help.

I have to admit that using that casino as a practice field, I have been able to greately enhance my counting skills and have not gone broke doing it. However, I know the odds and I wouldn't advise anyone to flock to those casinos to play Blackjack! Not until they do away with the ante anyway!
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Thats good you can find a place for cheap practice. Betting 2$ at a time even if you lose a lot can't really damage most players bankrolls.

Have you ever ventured farther east to Vicksburg? If so how is the heat? I have decided to add on one more place to stop by on my road trip. Thought I would check it out since it is only 30 mins out of way. The S17 SD games would be fun to play.
 
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BSONBJ

Member
#15
#15
Mikeaber said:
They do make you ante. State Law requires it. The ante is all the casinos are legally allowed to take as profit from Blackjack. Any table wins from the game (excluding the ante) are split 20% to the State and supposedly 80% back to the players. Of course the "State" gets tax on all of it!
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You mean if I win $100. I only get $80.00? What if you lose do I leave my first born? That sucks unless really low minimum bets I'm not playing there.
 
Mikeaber

Mikeaber

Well-Known Member
#16
#16
BSONBJ said:
You mean if I win $100. I only get $80.00? What if you lose do I leave my first born? That sucks unless really low minimum bets I'm not playing there.
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No. During play, the dealer wins hands and the players win hands. The money won by the dealer is what I'm talking about. That money (80% of it) is supposed to be 'returned' to the players in the form of drawings or tournaments or what-not.
 
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