Do you get frustrated looking for decent games?

[21forme]

Just got back from AC, and despite a decent win, I was a bit down just trying to find decent games to play. Pen is getting worse, Bally's main casino now has half their 8 deckers H17, etc. Seems I'm spending more time walking and less time playing.

[sagefr0g]

Originally Posted by 21forme

Just got back from AC, and despite a decent win, I was a bit down just trying to find decent games to play. Pen is getting worse, Bally's main casino now has half their 8 deckers H17, etc. Seems I'm spending more time walking and less time playing.

yes i do get frustrated by the nature of the games one finds out there.
for those of us whose options are limited i guess it just calls for a 'modified' approach and perhaps more of a gamble.

[shadroch]

Would a subscription to CBJN or a similar periodical cut down on your walking?

[golfnut101]

This is a valid question. The experienced players tell you to avoid certain games/conditions. Their is no question certain conditions(poor pen, 6:5 comes to mind)must be avoided. But, realistically for some, its either adjust, or dont play. I play a 6d, h17 no hole card game that is a grind. But, by carefully selecting dealers that give very good pen, and some aggressive wonging, I manage to stay ahead. Also, their are some small 'ap' tricks that are out their. It has been very educational to read some posts here, and to then go out and either practice, or find them, and exploit, however infrequent or small they may be. For a small player like myself($10 unit, 1-10 spread/$5k replenishable br) I get a rise out of the challenge; the learning and trying thing is good. I guess if their is anything I can share is you gotta practice like hell, irreguardless of system used, and dont be afraid to give it a go. Be disciplined; assess your play, and practice new things. Large enough br is key.

happy hunting

[21forme]

Originally Posted by shadroch

Would a subscription to CBJN or a similar periodical cut down on your walking?

I don't think so.

First, conditions seem to change weekly.
Second, I'm doing as much walking within the casinos as I am on the Boardwalk.

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by 21forme

Just got back from AC, and despite a decent win, I was a bit down just trying to find decent games to play. Pen is getting worse, Bally's main casino now has half their 8 deckers H17, etc. Seems I'm spending more time walking and less time playing.

Yes I was there this weekend. Crowded, bad pen, my back paws were blistered from the walking, and it seemed like I was watching 10 hands for every one I played.

And I made money.

Because all of those hands I was watching without playing were LOSERS, and even though backcounting is boring and awkward, it gets the money. And in an environment like AC it's one of the few things that does get the money. Backcounting is the remedy for bad pen; you are betting way fewer hands but you can bet more when you do get into a game.

Fortunately the Boardwalk is a benign place to walk, with it's flatness and springiness. Much better than walking out on Pacific. When I start a Boardwalk session the first thing I do is go thoroughly stretch my legs on the rails along the Boardwalk, as it decreases fatigue and increases my walking speed, resulting in more hands per hour. Seriously- moving quickly does increase your win rate in this kind of game. And the $2 jitney is one of the few things in AC that isn't a ripoff.

[ChefJJ]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

Fortunately the Boardwalk is a benign place to walk, with it's flatness and springiness.

And the $2 jitney is one of the few things in AC that isn't a ripoff.

Excellent points...ones that often get overlooked in AC.

good luck

[21forme]

Even though I'm complaining about the walk, I prefer it to the jitney or driving. It's a good way to work off some of those comped meal calories.

Typically, I base myself in one of the "midtown" casinos and either walk south to Hilton or north to Showboat, making stops along the way, but not both directions the same day. Then, at some point, I drive to the marina.

Being relatively local to AC, we get the news stories on TV and in the newspaper about the 4 new megacasinos to be built over the next 3-4 years. What I laugh about is AC's thinking that it will become a destination like LV, rather than primarily a daytripper for locals in the population centers from NY to DC. I suppose it's conceivable if they produce some decent games, but that's a very big IF.

[sagefr0g]

Originally Posted by golfnut101

This is a valid question. The experienced players tell you to avoid certain games/conditions. Their is no question certain conditions(poor pen, 6:5 comes to mind)must be avoided. But, realistically for some, its either adjust, or dont play. ..............

exactly and there is a subtle point here that i believe many miss (at least it evaded me for the longest). that being first off you want to really understand the nature of the difficulties presented by these less than ideal games. that way you can as you say adjust and guard against what you know can and probably will go wrong. but beyond that is the realization that the advantages are going to be smaller and often more borderline. this calls for a bit of a gamble or at least a more aggressive (steeper ramp, higher spread) bet structure for which at times one would be more conservative should the game be more ideal. and on the other hand because in these types of games the playing field is so disadvantageous then one needs to be ultra conservative according to that overbearing disadvantage.
so choosing to play these types of games requires a bit of a gamble or at least great tolerance for fluctuation and a difficult ROR.
that being the case it's not hard to see why the pro's steer clear of them.

[creeping panther]

that anyone on this site would actually support an 8 deck game let alone a H-17 8 deck game!

You guys should know better. Shame, shame.

If you have enough time to back count these shoes than you have enough time to take vacations to locales that have games that are *Nirvana* when compared to AC.

I am concerned that most of you are just strung out gamblers and not even close to being true AP's. I don't blame AC for offering such abominations of BJ when so called intelligent players that post here will support these trash games.

Did you ever hear of just walking away?

Take that BJ vacation or 2 and go where the good games are. (And stop acting like a ploppy sucker).

Creeping Panther.