Lonesome Gambler
Well-Known Member
It might just be me, but I'm shocked at how often people think they're saying/doing things at the tables that make them appear to be civilians but that are terribly conspicuous to almost anyone that has any concern about game protection (ie. the pit). I know this has been covered by people much more capable than me, but this is something I read about on a near-daily basis on this forum, so I thought I'd bring it up. Here are some examples:
1. "Card counting? No one can keep track of 6 decks!" The pit knows that many people can, in fact, do this, and they know that many players playing good basic strategy know this as well. Everyone's seen "21." When you say something you don't actually believe, it probably doesn't ring as true as you think it does.
2. "Card counting? Isn't that illegal?" The only people that still "think" card counting is illegal are counters trying to allay suspicion from the pit. Again, unless you're a hell of an actor, you're probably not fooling anyone here. Sure, there are some people out there that think counting is illegal, but they're usually not the same people making sound playing decisions and attracting the attention of the pit in the first place.
3. Various comments about "the flow of cards," "taking the dealer's bust card," etc. I once made a comment to a dealer about playing "with the house's money," and he abruptly stopped what he was doing, gave me a "come on, you're not fooling anyone" look, and said to me, "you know that's not true." No big deal, but the more you use these lines, the less convincingly you deliver them (in my experience). I find that when playing any sort of volume, I often unintentionally slip in some total BS statements ("too bad he left when he did, or he would have gotten the dealer's cards!"), and they sound more ridiculous and false every time I hear them. It's not a stretch to think that any half-smart pit worker with existing suspicions would see straight through statements like these.
If you find yourself in a position where you feel the need to explain your behavior, it's likely because you've gotten some unwanted attention from the pit. More often than not, this is because they (or someone upstairs) have observed your game and are nervous that you may know what you're doing. At this point, do you think that claiming complete and total ignorance is going to throw them off?
The bottom line is that you don't look like a degenerate gambler, you don't act or play like a degenerate gambler, and the pit knows it. I'm sure there are some APs with exceptional acting skills, but I'm confident that the vast majority only thinks that they possess these. Plenty of people gamble without an edge but don't follow absurd superstitions or possess an overwhelming ignorance of the games that they're put heavy action on, and you can be one of them. This is especially true if you play a local game frequently—you can only pretend to be completely oblivious for so long. Eventually you'll need to adopt the habits of the recreational gambler that spends a lot of time gambling for fun but doesn't pretend to know absolutely nothing about the finer points of the game that they play week in and week out.
Again, I'm certainly no expert, but this is the way I look at it. What do you think?
1. "Card counting? No one can keep track of 6 decks!" The pit knows that many people can, in fact, do this, and they know that many players playing good basic strategy know this as well. Everyone's seen "21." When you say something you don't actually believe, it probably doesn't ring as true as you think it does.
2. "Card counting? Isn't that illegal?" The only people that still "think" card counting is illegal are counters trying to allay suspicion from the pit. Again, unless you're a hell of an actor, you're probably not fooling anyone here. Sure, there are some people out there that think counting is illegal, but they're usually not the same people making sound playing decisions and attracting the attention of the pit in the first place.
3. Various comments about "the flow of cards," "taking the dealer's bust card," etc. I once made a comment to a dealer about playing "with the house's money," and he abruptly stopped what he was doing, gave me a "come on, you're not fooling anyone" look, and said to me, "you know that's not true." No big deal, but the more you use these lines, the less convincingly you deliver them (in my experience). I find that when playing any sort of volume, I often unintentionally slip in some total BS statements ("too bad he left when he did, or he would have gotten the dealer's cards!"), and they sound more ridiculous and false every time I hear them. It's not a stretch to think that any half-smart pit worker with existing suspicions would see straight through statements like these.
If you find yourself in a position where you feel the need to explain your behavior, it's likely because you've gotten some unwanted attention from the pit. More often than not, this is because they (or someone upstairs) have observed your game and are nervous that you may know what you're doing. At this point, do you think that claiming complete and total ignorance is going to throw them off?
The bottom line is that you don't look like a degenerate gambler, you don't act or play like a degenerate gambler, and the pit knows it. I'm sure there are some APs with exceptional acting skills, but I'm confident that the vast majority only thinks that they possess these. Plenty of people gamble without an edge but don't follow absurd superstitions or possess an overwhelming ignorance of the games that they're put heavy action on, and you can be one of them. This is especially true if you play a local game frequently—you can only pretend to be completely oblivious for so long. Eventually you'll need to adopt the habits of the recreational gambler that spends a lot of time gambling for fun but doesn't pretend to know absolutely nothing about the finer points of the game that they play week in and week out.
Again, I'm certainly no expert, but this is the way I look at it. What do you think?
