What would you have done?

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member
#1
I went to cash in a matchplay at a poor 6D game. The dealer exposed the first two cards when presenting the pack to first base to cut. 4 of diamonds followed by ace of clubs.

The count quickly went positive on the first round, so I figured I'd stick around for a bit.

A few rounds later, the 4 of diamonds goes to the person at first base, right where i estimated those previously exposed cards should be in the shoe. I have 20, dealer shows a face card.

Not caring if I ever come to this place again, I doubled down. The dealer of course reacted very strongly. Asked, ARE YOU SPLITTING THOSE? I said, no, just give me one card.

Extremely loudly, she calls out "doubling hard 20!"

The pit critter briskly comes over.

I caught that ace of clubs, of course, to beat the dealer's 20. I was getting a major stare down from the female pit critter.

As soon as I get paid, I get a big smirk on my face, "color me up please!"

So would any of you have done the same thing? Or would I have been better off splitting? Note that I do not care about longevity at this joint in the least.
 

HarryKuntz

Well-Known Member
#2
Maybe but....

Blue Efficacy said:
I went to cash in a matchplay at a poor 6D game. The dealer exposed the first two cards when presenting the pack to first base to cut. 4 of diamonds followed by ace of clubs.

The count quickly went positive on the first round, so I figured I'd stick around for a bit.

A few rounds later, the 4 of diamonds goes to the person at first base, right where i estimated those previously exposed cards should be in the shoe. I have 20, dealer shows a face card.

Not caring if I ever come to this place again, I doubled down. The dealer of course reacted very strongly. Asked, ARE YOU SPLITTING THOSE? I said, no, just give me one card.

Extremely loudly, she calls out "doubling hard 20!"

The pit critter briskly comes over.

I caught that ace of clubs, of course, to beat the dealer's 20. I was getting a major stare down from the female pit critter.

As soon as I get paid, I get a big smirk on my face, "color me up please!"

So would any of you have done the same thing? Or would I have been better off splitting? Note that I do not care about longevity at this joint in the least.
I might have played this the same, if in a joint with no concern for heat, although it's still very risky as they might accuse you of cheating. It all depends on the circumstances I guess.

However, If I was playing at 3rd base (or last to act before the dealer), especially with only a small/medium bet out or concerned about heat, with the dealer having a 10 up, I would've taken the risk that his hand was pat. If so, the Ace would be the 1st card on the following round. You could then "back bet" first base with table max and have up to a 51% advantage. (Depending on the player's abilities.)
 

mathman

Well-Known Member
#3
When I first started playing I had a similar thing happen in Vegas on a single deck game. I drew a pair of aces, the dealer held the deck up high and accidentally flashed the next card. It was a nine. The count was negative so I did the same thing you did and doubled down. Of course that drew attention so I left right after and didn't return the rest of the trip.
 

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member
#4
HarryKuntz said:
I might have played this the same, if in a joint with no concern for heat, although it's still very risky as they might accuse you of cheating. It all depends on the circumstances I guess.

However, If I was playing at 3rd base (or last to act before the dealer), especially with only a small/medium bet out or concerned about heat, with the dealer having a 10 up, I would've taken the risk that his hand was pat. If so, the Ace would be the 1st card on the following round. You could then "back bet" first base with table max and have up to a 51% advantage. (Depending on the player's abilities.)
I thought about that too. But the asian ploppy at third was playing 2 hands.
 
#5
Blue

Blue Efficacy said:
I went to cash in a matchplay at a poor 6D game. The dealer exposed the first two cards when presenting the pack to first base to cut. 4 of diamonds followed by ace of clubs.

The count quickly went positive on the first round, so I figured I'd stick around for a bit.

A few rounds later, the 4 of diamonds goes to the person at first base, right where i estimated those previously exposed cards should be in the shoe. I have 20, dealer shows a face card.

Not caring if I ever come to this place again, I doubled down. The dealer of course reacted very strongly. Asked, ARE YOU SPLITTING THOSE? I said, no, just give me one card.

Extremely loudly, she calls out "doubling hard 20!"

The pit critter briskly comes over.

I caught that ace of clubs, of course, to beat the dealer's 20. I was getting a major stare down from the female pit critter.

As soon as I get paid, I get a big smirk on my face, "color me up please!"

So would any of you have done the same thing? Or would I have been better off splitting? Note that I do not care about longevity at this joint in the least.
Great move:grin: I would have done the same.

CP
 

johndoe

Well-Known Member
#6
Well done!

As for me, I would have split, both to avoid obvious heat, and just in case I wasn't absolutely sure that the ace was coming (it could have been another 4 of diamonds).
 

Mimosine

Well-Known Member
#7
Blue Efficacy said:
So would any of you have done the same thing? Or would I have been better off splitting? Note that I do not care about longevity at this joint in the least.
Grossjean makes an almost identical account in Beyond Counting. If he would do it, then it has to be right! Good job!
 

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member
#8
johndoe said:
Well done!

As for me, I would have split, both to avoid obvious heat, and just in case I wasn't absolutely sure that the ace was coming (it could have been another 4 of diamonds).
I was a little worried about that, but it wasn't a huge bet, even by my red chipper standards. I am pretty good at deck estimation, but I suppose there could have been two 4 of diamonds in a row!
 
#9
Blue Efficacy said:
I was a little worried about that, but it wasn't a huge bet, even by my red chipper standards. I am pretty good at deck estimation, but I suppose there could have been two 4 of diamonds in a row!
It was a bad move. You can never be sure enough that the ace is coming to hit or double on a 20 unless the dealer actually pulls it out of the shoe and lets you see it. In normal situations the best sequencing only gives you 30-50% accuracy.
 

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member
#10
Automatic Monkey said:
It was a bad move. You can never be sure enough that the ace is coming to hit or double on a 20 unless the dealer actually pulls it out of the shoe and lets you see it. In normal situations the best sequencing only gives you 30-50% accuracy.
Really? The odds of another 4 of diamonds being in that particular half deck seem less than 50-70% to me.

I could be wrong, of course.

Was there a risk? Sure was. But I cannot believe that my chances of pulling that ace were only 30-50%.

You do realize I saw these two cards in order AFTER the shuffle, right?
 
#11
Blue Efficacy said:
Really? The odds of another 4 of diamonds being in that particular half deck seem less than 50-70% to me.

I could be wrong, of course.

Was there a risk? Sure was. But I cannot believe that my chances of pulling that ace were only 30-50%.

You do realize I saw these two cards in order AFTER the shuffle, right?
Ah OK I didn't get that part, you did actually see the cards. In that case it wasn't such a bad play.
 

Pro21

Well-Known Member
#12
I am shocked! Shocked and appalled. As some others will tell you you have tried to take advantage of a dealer error which feels like CHEATING! Well, it isn't legally cheating but it is immoral, unethical, and basically makes you a bad person. You have seen 2 cards exposed which must be twice as bad as only seeing the hole card. Well done.
 
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ohbehave

Well-Known Member
#13
I see no issue with capitalizing on dealer mistakes. A floor person the other day didn't have a problem with a player taking advantage of a dealer mistake.

Dealer flips her hole card without giving third base a chance to act. She shows a 20. Dealer calls over floorperson and he instructs the dealer to let third base play his hand. He hits for 19 and throws in his cards.

The floorperson then tells the player to take another card and the player didn't want to saying it wouldn't be right. The whole table yells at this player to take the card. The casino was giving him a free card, take it.

He finally did and of course busted. But you take advantage whenever you can get it. They will gladly accept any bets we lose as a result of a mistake.
 

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
#15
I guess if you were at all worried about "cover" then you could have split, but locking in a sure 21 for twice the bet sounds like the better deal.
 

Martin Gayle

Well-Known Member
#16
Pro21 said:
I am shocked! Shocked and appalled. As some others will tell you you have tried to take advantage of a dealer error which feels like CHEATING! Well, it isn't legally cheating but it is immoral, unethical, and basically makes you a bad person. You have seen 2 cards exposed which must be twice as bad as only seeing the hole card. Well done.
Is this sarcasm? What would you have done? Called the pit boss over and told him the dealer needs to reshuffle because he exposed the bottom card?
 

Pro21

Well-Known Member
#18
Martin Gayle said:
Is this sarcasm? What would you have done? Called the pit boss over and told him the dealer needs to reshuffle because he exposed the bottom card?
Yes, this was sarcasm. I would have doubled down with the hard 20. :grin:
 

Blue Efficacy

Well-Known Member
#19
prankster said:
I can imagine the major stare down from the pit critter. Great job-I only wish I could have witnissed it!
I thought about sticking around to see what would happen if I kept playing.

But like I said, it was a poor 6 deck game, not worth it.
 
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