What worst mistakes do inexperienced players make?

[GeorgeD]

Watching other people who play an OK game (not outright ploppys) it seems there are many common BS errors. Most often I see:

1) Won't hit stiffs vs high card .... or play hunches when dealer will bust)
2) Either double 10 VS 10 or 11 VS A or won't double 10/11 ... these probably don't know right play)
3) Split most any pair any time .. again these just don't know.

It's been said here before that even good BS players often don't play soft 17 right or don't split 9's, so those go without saying.

What else do you think are the big mistakes and why.

[Mimosine]

Last week at the casino I saw at least 10 instances of people taking even money on a BJ vs. A and in every instance the dealer did not have a 10 "in the hole"

[shadroch]

Biggest mistakes I see are buying in severly underfunded. I'm amazed how many people I see buy in for $50 or less on a $5 game and then have no reserve.
Not doubling down on soft hands and playing hunches are towards the top.
Thinking that third base somehow controls the tables fate,and that the guy next to you is costing you money are real contenders as well.
Funny,I don't see all that many instances of people taking even money on BJs.

[RJT]

Last week i saw a player stand A5vs10
A few people tried to warn him, but he wasn't having any of it.

RJT.

[rogue1]

It seems people will split any 2 cards that are the same regardless of the cards or the dealers' upcard-also most don't seem to have much of a clue about soft doubling.

[Mimosine]

Originally Posted by shadroch

Biggest mistakes I see are buying in severly underfunded. I'm amazed how many people I see buy in for $50 or less on a $5 game and then have no reserve.

Funny,I don't see all that many instances of people taking even money on BJs.

i've seen people buy in for $10-$20 at $5 tables!

and as per even money on BJ, we're a special breed out here on the left coast!

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by GeorgeD

It's been said here before that even good BS players often don't play soft 17 right or don't split 9's, so those go without saying.

Then they are BAD BS players! They are a ploppy and don't know it. Maybe they are worse than a ploppy because they know BS but don't apply it.

I can forgive ignorance - after all they just don't any better I guess. I'll never understand it but I can forgive it.

But, to know, and ignore, is unforgivable.

[Arctapodema]

Funny you talk about other players superstition about you taking their cards or affecting thier game. lots of people are very superstitious about the third base player, too. I once had a guy get so upset with me because i would "steal his card" or the dealers bust card. Ridiculous.

[Cardcounter]

Not doubling down on soft 18 and not hitting soft 18 vs 9, 10 are really common mistakes. Failure to properly split 9's against a low card because they think they have a winner with 18 and don't want to break up a winning hand. Splitting 9's in the right situation is a big gain which is lost by most players.

[EasyRhino]

In a similar thread a while back, on most costly mistakes, I saw "playing like a pussy". Not hitting stiff when needed, not splitting or doubling when called for because of fear.

However, there's something new I've slowly been cementing in my mind. I don't know what to call it, so I'll call it the "siff-vs-low-pat-hand paradox". You can have a player who will reliably hit a 15 or 16 vs a 10. However, they will not hit that same 15 or 16 vs a 7, even though that's an even wronger mistake than standing vs the 10 would be. They'll also make this mistake vs. surrender. Not surrendering 16 v 10, but surrendering 16 v 7.

And to be honest, if I was just guessing at the best strategy myself, I would make the same mistake with the hit/stand decision (but not surrender).