Recent content by EmeraldCityBJ

I'd handle this based on where I was playing. If it's a local casino where longevity is important to me, I'll avoid doing anything which will make a scene or irritate a regular customer or the pit. There will always be another shoe on another day. If I'm travelling to a casino I won't...

There is no reason to complain in this situation. Casinos regularly have out of date web sites and cancel promotions. It's usually best to not let the place know that you visited specifically for a promotion which is only advertised on a web page. Very few ploppies take the time to do...

I know the guys behind this film, and can assure you that what they are presenting is legit. Some of the scenes were staged (with cooperation from various casinos and casino employees), but they are consistent representations of events which have actually taken place. I saw a screening of...

Start out assuming dealer hits soft 17, you can double any two cards, and you can double after split. Next, learn which hands to surrender if late surrender is offered. Lastly, note the differences if the dealer stands on soft 17, you cannot double after split, or if there are double-down...

Re: 3rd Base First thing you should do is run a sim and see how much difference there is between 1st base and 3rd base. I'm guessing it's not enough to be worth all the thought you're putting into this. If you disagree, and really need 3rd base, just change seats without saying anything...

As with many questions "always yes" or "always no" is the always wrong answer. Usually, it's best to color up for the reasons mentioned earlier in the thread. You don't want to be the person who makes their job harder. However, if coloring up gets you high denomination chips which will be...

The dealer draws to 21, and will push your hand 4-12% of the time, depending on the up card. If we take the worst case, the EV to double is: 2 * 0.88 + 0 * 0.12 = 1.76 A 1.76 return is better than a 1.5 return, so the mathematically correct play is to double. There are other...

Unless penetration varies drastically, I would go with the faster game. It doesn't take too many extra hands per hour to cover a small difference in penetration. This factor comes into play more when choosing an empty table over a crowded table than it does in terms of selecting a dealer...

In recent years, I've defined one unit to equal one dollar regardless of the spread or the game. This has worked out very well because the number of units won happens to match dollars won. There are problems with defining a unit as either a min bet or a max bet since both of these factors...

A common error made by many new and/or amateur card counters is that they think they have to justify every action they make, even in cases where someone else does not comment on the play. This isn't limited to playing decisions, and probably occurs more frequently when changing bet sizes...

There's a difference between capitalizing on a dealer mistake and taking a shot. I think you took a shot - especially when you insured for more than half your bet. It's one thing to have a dealer who makes a payoff error and not say anything about it. It's another thing to actively do...

Good luck finding a time when the table isn't so crowded that you're dealt much more than one round per shuffle.

I don't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head, primarily because I decided long ago not to waste my time with Lucky Ladies. If you're betting $25 at +7, I am pretty sure your hourly win rate from the bet is <$25 per hour. The problem is that you'll probably end up pissing away...

I've come across a number of dealers who claim they know how to count. In reality, I expect very few have what it takes to be successful even if they do understand some of the basics of how to play a winning game.

I suggest that you avoid playing rated when practical. The casinos only want your information so they can use it against you. With a name or account number, they can more easily link sessions together and track lifetime results compared to having to keep track of you based on only a physical...