SD Fears

[aslan]

I have played only a half hour or so of SD. Some of you have commented to me that I should look for the single and double deck games, the advantage being so much better, but I have a number of fears about SD. Maybe some of you wouldn't mind addressing these fears:

1) I figure this is where the house really watches because it is prime card-counter-bait.

2) They probably put their best dealers on the SD games.

3) The cards are dealt down so it is a little tricky getting used to counting them as they are turned up (as opposed to 6 or 8 deck with everything face up).

4) It is much easier for an onlooker to figure the count because you hit the Key Count so fast, so I figure even the dumbest dealer can figure out the swift changes in one's betting.

5) I feel under the spotlight in SD, whereas I feel like it's easy to hide in 8-deck (sorta like small town/big town).

6) The dealers seem faster than usual, which I know many of you like, but it's hard for beginners to keep up with a dealer who quickly turns the cards and sweeps them up.

 

[bj bob]

I have played only a half hour or so of SD. Some of you have commented to me that I should look for the single and double deck games, the advantage being so much better, but I have a number of fears about SD. Maybe some of you wouldn't mind addressing these fears:

1) I figure this is where the house really watches because it is prime card-counter-bait.

2) They probably put their best dealers on the SD games.

3) The cards are dealt down so it is a little tricky getting used to counting them as they are turned up (as opposed to 6 or 8 deck with everything face up).

4) It is much easier for an onlooker to figure the count because you hit the Key Count so fast, so I figure even the dumbest dealer can figure out the swift changes in one's betting.

5) I feel under the spotlight in SD, whereas I feel like it's easy to hide in 8-deck (sorta like small town/big town).

6) The dealers seem faster than usual, which I know many of you like, but it's hard for beginners to keep up with a dealer who quickly turns the cards and sweeps them up.

1) correct, better to play SS
2) not necessarily
3)that's the way BJ was invented, get used to it.
4)you can't wong in in SD (unless you're Zg)also bet spreads need to be less obvious and neg. indices plays are extremely important.
5)correct
6)try playing with one other player, no more than that, at the table.

 

[EasyRhino]

Yep, you're right on most points. It's very different from shoe games. But it's a really fun change of pace.

I don't, however, recommend taking the same gargantuan spread that you're used to from shoe games and applying it to SD.

 

[shadroch]

Single Deck in AC is all 6-5.Stay away from it.

 

[Ms. Dalton]

I just had this conversation with a floorperson...

I was doing the wide-eyed-admiring-female-flattery act with a young floor manager the other day and while we were discussing various gaming ins and outs, he told me one of the two reasons they didn't have SD at their casino was that it draws card-counters.
Another bummer is that some places deal a specific number of rounds instead of just dealing until the cut off.