General Questions

[baccarat]

I have two questions. First I am new to blackjack and I have not played live yet. I am used to playing baccarat where the rules are a bit different.

1) Upon sitting down, do we have to bet every single hand?

2) What would happen if I brought a score card to the table to keep track of my profit/loss and keep notes. Does anyone do this?

That is all that I need to know for now. For some reason I can't find the answers to those questions anywhere.

 

[assume_R]

I have two questions. First I am new to blackjack and I have not played live yet. I am used to playing baccarat where the rules are a bit different.

1) Upon sitting down, do we have to bet every single hand?

2) What would happen if I brought a score card to the table to keep track of my profit/loss and keep notes. Does anyone do this?

That is all that I need to know for now. For some reason I can't find the answers to those questions anywhere.

1) Some people get away with not playing every hand, but in blackjack, it might "clue them in" to you playing with an advantage. I certainly don't play every hand. Whether you sit a hand out (called "wonging in place") or you go to the bathroom when you don't want to play is up to how well you can pull that off without arousing suspicion! Most regular players play every hand.

2) I have never seen anyone do it, and the casinos can stop you from using one. That's why we work on practicing keeping the count in our heads! Now bringing a basic strategy card to the table (without writing anything down) might be okay if they don't think you're using it to count.

 

[baccarat]

1) Some people get away with not playing every hand, but in blackjack, it might "clue them in" to you playing with an advantage. I certainly don't play every hand. Whether you sit a hand out (called "wonging in place") or you go to the bathroom when you don't want to play is up to how well you can pull that off without arousing suspicion! Most regular players play every hand.

2) I have never seen anyone do it, and the casinos can stop you from using one. That's why we work on practicing keeping the count in our heads! Now bringing a basic strategy card to the table (without writing anything down) might be okay if they don't think you're using it to count.

Thanks for that quick response. One thing that I am worried about is betting every hand. Now that I see it is not mandatory I will do everything in my power to get away with not betting every hand.

I have never heard of anyone taking a scorecard to the table but I had to ask. The casino let me do it for roulette once but that was pointless. I can do the counting in my head but I like to write down other things but then again I don't want the casino to get suspicious of me.

Thanks

 

[shadroch]

Some casinos will not let you re-enter a shoe if you miss a hand. Others will.
Any casino I've ever played at( perhaps 5% of the casinos in the US) will only allow a Basic Strategy card on the table. Most won't even let you keep a pack of smokes on the table, for fear of hidden cameras.
In roulette, the past has no bearing on the present. In BJ, it does.

 

[aslan]

I have two questions. First I am new to blackjack and I have not played live yet. I am used to playing baccarat where the rules are a bit different.

1) Upon sitting down, do we have to bet every single hand?

2) What would happen if I brought a score card to the table to keep track of my profit/loss and keep notes. Does anyone do this?

That is all that I need to know for now. For some reason I can't find the answers to those questions anywhere.

One way to avoid playing every hand is to keep stepping back from the table to either fake receiving a call or to pretend making a call. You can actually call someone if you want. Just make out like it is pressing business that is forcing you to skip a few hands. Also, make sure it is not a NME game; they might not let you return. PS--You must step back from the table to make or receive your call, since no casino I know of will allow you to use a phone at the table, so it fits right in with not being able to play the hand or any of the hands while you are on the phone. PSS- This technique will allow you to continue counting, so you will know the count when you return, something not possible with a bathroom break unless you're working with a second person.