Better off At Small Stakes??

[White Guy]

I was thinking about it and it seems if you have a lot of time to play you are better off playing smaller since you will probably not draw any heat even playing regularly if your max bet is small and your wins are only a few hundred.

This way you could profit more by putting in more time at your local joints.

For instance would playing at a six decker spreading 5-80 really give you heat anywhere?? I play at my local $200 max place spreading to max bet but I know I can only play about 8 hrs a week doing this. Playing to $80 I could most likely play there every other day longer sessions and not have a problem. I think?? Right now between the 3 casinos that have a playable game in driving distance I can only play 20 hrs a week spreading to $200 since they all are relatively small and $200 is considered a huge bet. I think playing to an $80 max bet I could play more time for the same win but less risk?? Or one hand of $10- two hands of $75??

Am I missing something here or does that make since?? I mean besides of course its more time for the same $$. My business is slowing down so I am trying to make the best of the local games. Any help is appreciated..

Thanks

 

[Blue Efficacy]

I was thinking about it and it seems if you have a lot of time to play you are better off playing smaller since you will probably not draw any heat even playing regularly if your max bet is small and your wins are only a few hundred.

This way you could profit more by putting in more time at your local joints.

For instance would playing at a six decker spreading 5-80 really give you heat anywhere?? I play at my local $200 max place spreading to max bet but I know I can only play about 8 hrs a week doing this. Playing to $80 I could most likely play there every other day longer sessions and not have a problem. I think?? Right now between the 3 casinos that have a playable game in driving distance I can only play 20 hrs a week spreading to $200 since they all are relatively small and $200 is considered a huge bet. I think playing to an $80 max bet I could play more time for the same win but less risk?? Or one hand of $10- two hands of $75??

Am I missing something here or does that make since?? I mean besides of course its more time for the same $$. My business is slowing down so I am trying to make the best of the local games. Any help is appreciated..

Thanks

If you're playing frequently, a 1-16 spread will likely get you "made" eventually anyway. You should play as high a stakes as your BR will allow. That is just my amateur opinion, of course.

You've got to make as much as you can while you can.

 

[21forme]

FWIW, all my backoffs have occurred playing a $50 or higher unit. I've never been backed off playing a $25 unit.

 

[creeping panther]

Spread

If you're playing frequently, a 1-16 spread will likely get you "made" eventually anyway. You should play as high a stakes as your BR will allow. That is just my amateur opinion, of course.

You've got to make as much as you can while you can.

I agree Blue, his win rate will eventually catch up with him so he will need to think creatively to avoid the heat that will surely come. There are things he can do.

CP

 

[FLASH1296]

I mirror what 21forme had to say - but then again I have almost no experience playing at low stakes; but logic dictates that
surveillance cannot spend a lot of time monitoring play at low stakes tables unless specifically requested by a Pit Boss.

 

[Mimosine]

FWIW, all my backoffs have occurred playing a $50 or higher unit. I've never been backed off playing a $25 unit.

Then you haven't been backed off at the Western yet!

 

[ihate17]

Many variables

If you are playing at a place where the max bet is $200, they are telling you that they have no tolerance for big bets. At a place like this you might be able to go "inbetween" using $125-$150 as your max bet especially if the dealer calls out "table max" when you make a $200 bet.

Much depends on what your time is worth to you, the risk of a backoff and do you just enjoy playing more than making the most money possible for your bankroll. On a different dollar level but the same basic premise, years ago I decided that my $100 minimum bet was seriously limiting where I could play and I enjoy playing, and it was increasing heat. I decided to go down to a $50 minimum and have been very successful since with fewer backoffs.

Whatever you decide to do at this particular casino does not have to be what you do at every casino. They are all different. Finally, if this is like your home casino and you plan on playing there often, lifetime win, if someone decides to review it, can possibly be your downfall there. In the case of a red to light green player, perhaps making $15-$20 per hour, carefull ratholing 6 red chips per hour during bathroom breaks, cell call breaks, new players coming in, old players coloring up, dealer changes, fills and other times when the normal game is disturbed, will turn you into a lifetime loser.

ihate17

 

[White Guy]

Great ideas. All points I was weighing in my head except I never knew about the lifetime win thing.

If I rathole chips to become a lifetime looser when and how do I finally cash in?

Thanks

 

[ohbehave]

Differing opinions about this but I believe anytime... bathroom breaks, immediately after your session, or when you return later to that casino. Break up your chips into a couple of cash outs if the casino has more than one cage if you want to.

I rathole like crazy, but discreetly, and I'm just barely stashing enough chips to cover my wins.

 

[Mimosine]

I rathole like crazy, but discreetly, and I'm just barely stashing enough chips to cover my wins.

you don't need to "cover your wins" all you need to do is cover your EV, plus a small amount, for both winning and losing sessions.

if you are straight counting this is about two minimum units/hour.

ratholing like crazy will get you in trouble, there are many other threads about this in very recent history on here.

 

[ohbehave]

Thats what I intended... my net win rate... not just winning sessions. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Finn Dog]

Differing opinions about this but I believe anytime... bathroom breaks, immediately after your session, or when you return later to that casino. Break up your chips into a couple of cash outs if the casino has more than one cage if you want to.

I rathole like crazy, but discreetly, and I'm just barely stashing enough chips to cover my wins.

So when you rathole, I guess the whole idea is to just get up quickly and take your chips with you--all the while refusing a color up--and just say something like you'll be right back?

 

[Blue Efficacy]

Ratholing is best when you have small chips in your pocket as you go to color up. Then the PC thinks that you're leaving with what you colored up, and not whats in your pockets.

 

[ihate17]

Always color up

So when you rathole, I guess the whole idea is to just get up quickly and take your chips with you--all the while refusing a color up--and just say something like you'll be right back?

Go ahead and color up. Especially if you have a bunch of chips otherwise you just piss off the pit and bring attention to yourself.
When you rathole you are just putting a chip or two into your pocket without being seen. That is why you take a chip or two to the restroom or when a new player comes in etc.

At some point you go to the cashier with a few of the chips and cash them. No one notices a guy with 6-7 red chips (for the red chip player) or green chips (for the green chip or black chip player) cashing in.

ihate17

 

[Finn Dog]

Go ahead and color up. Especially if you have a bunch of chips otherwise you just piss off the pit and bring attention to yourself.
When you rathole you are just putting a chip or two into your pocket without being seen. That is why you take a chip or two to the restroom or when a new player comes in etc.

At some point you go to the cashier with a few of the chips and cash them. No one notices a guy with 6-7 red chips (for the red chip player) or green chips (for the green chip or black chip player) cashing in.

ihate17

So after you cash in your colored up stack, when do you recommend cashing in the 6-7 ratholed chips?

Is just going to a second cage OK right after you've cashing in your colored up stack (or is that too suspicious in case the eye is following you--and is it therefore better to hold on to them for when you return in 30 days or so...but when would you cash those in, before you play)?

Best regards,

FD

 

[ohbehave]

Just cash in everything at once. Like 17 said it should only be 5 or 6 extra chips assuming your session is 1-2 hours long. If its more chips than that I'd suggest cashing some on a restroom break but it doesn't really matter too much. People cash stacks of green. The cashier's don't care.

If you're small time (red or green) the eye is not likely to be following you but if you are concerned about that just slip into the restroom or somewhere else for a minute. Then go to the cashier. If the eye is on you that much your done anyway.