Double trouble!

[Ronnie]

Just when I thought I had seen it all, I saw a guy do two things last night:

(1) He got a pair of Aces again a dealer 9 and he DOUBLED DOWN rather than splitting them!

(2) He got a hard total of 14 (King and 4) and DOUBLED DOWN versus a dealer 10!

He lost both bets and since his base bet was 50 dollars he lost 200 dollars!

Wouldn't it be easier for a person like that to simply HAND OVER THE MONEY to the casino without going through the motions of playing?

Okay, I am being a bit sarcastic .....

But it seems to me that anyone who is going to risk an appreciable amount of money at a blackjack table (in this case the Shufflemaster virtual machine) should take the time to know at least the bare bones of basic strategy.

Of course maybe the guy is a millionaire and his losses represent chump change.

 

[zengrifter]

(1) He got a pair of Aces again a dealer 9 and he DOUBLED DOWN rather than splitting them!

When I play 2D I often sit at 1st base to enhance my keycard Ace-tracking. So, often when my small bet is out I hit Aces instead of splitting, to create a "super keycard" (ie, a keycard proceeded by two Aces.)

Also, I've seen pros double hard-14 vs. 10 many times, but double for less. zg

FROM -Barfarkel's Spring Trip Report

During this session, The Grifter whispered to me, "two of spades," when he saw the dealer scoop two aces in front of that key card. About three rounds into the next shuffle, I saw the two of spades come out on the next-to-last card dealt on that round, and nudged Grif, who had seen it too, and nodded. Before the next round, and despite a true count of minus three, The Grifter, strategically positioned at first base, spread to two spots, with max bets on each. I spread to two spots of only $50 each, kind of hedging my bets. The essence of key-card ace prediction is that those two aces should soon follow that two of spades-key card. In this case, Grif was following what is called a "super-key-card," a key card followed by two aces. We would hope to catch one or both as the first cards of our hands, and then hopefully catch a ten on that.

Unbelievable! Two max bets on a minus three count, and The Grifter caught both aces with matching tens! Grif flipped over the two blackjacks and announced in mock dismay that, "The odds of getting simultaneous blackjacks are 500-1 and these bastards are only paying me 3-2."
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[Ronnie]

Also, I've seen pros double hard-14 vs. 10 many times, but double for less. zg

Please let me know why anyone (a pro or someone else) would ever want to double with a hard-14 against a 10.

If there is a rationale for doing that, I surely do not see it.

 

[moo321]

The only thing I can think of are is to appear completely retarded, by doubling for $2 when you have a $5 bet out, so they won't notice when you double with a $200 bet out, or split tens or something.

 

[jack.jackson]

Hey, thats a nice cover play, but im sure you would only do that when the counts high enough to justify standing on 15 but low enough to justify hitting on 14!Or should i say doubling.

 

[biggamejames]

The only thing I can think of are is to appear completely retarded, by doubling for $2 when you have a $5 bet out, so they won't notice when you double with a $200 bet out, or split tens or something.

I think people underestimate the security people who might be watching.

I dont think even the dumbest of them would fall for any silly move you make when betting your minimum.

They probably dont pay that much attention to any of your low bets or how you play them..

As soon as your raise it, if they are watching you then thats when they will key in on you.

I am just speculating here, but i assume that as long as they know the count is low and you are betting the minimum, whatever you do with the cards infront of you is totally irrelevant. The fact is you are betting low when the count is low. Thats all that matters and nothing else.

 

[ihate17]

For the pit, not for surviellance

I think you meant the folks who work in the eye. The people who work for security are generally borderline morons, but their are some good surviellance types.
Since both jobs are to protect the assets of the casino, confusing them is pretty common. Surviellance is the brains (not always) and security is the brawn.

Now a dumb play on a small bet is done for the benifit of giving the pit a first impression of your playing ability. First impressions do have value but can also be changed but giving them that impression that you are a bad player will tend to help them forget you for a period of time. It is not the complete answer, it is just a tool.

ihate17