Big player vs gorilla

RJT

Well-Known Member
#21
QFIT said:
A Gorilla knows at least basic strategy or a counter's basic strategy (BS with a positive count). He may also know when to look for signals on close plays.
Somewhat of a blanket statement there Norm. Perhaps correct as far a counting is concerned, but counting is far from the only or even best use for a GBP.

RJT.
 

SWFL Blackjack

Well-Known Member
#23
Lonesome Gambler said:
I like the idea, but you're practically begging for felony charges in many jurisdictions, and besides—why fix something (standard physical/verbal signals) if it ain't broke?
Agreed. Why chance the courts ruling this as a device and facing prison time when you can rely on good old-fashioned signals?

If you were going to do something like this, wouldn't it be much easier and cheaper just to set your cell phone in your pocket to text your BP or Gorilla when the count is high? All you would do is prepare a text message prior to sitting at the table so all you have to do is hit send when the shoe is hot.
 

QFIT

Well-Known Member
#24
SWFL Blackjack said:
Agreed. Why chance the courts ruling this as a device and facing prison time when you can rely on good old-fashioned signals?
Yep. Instead of using high-tech, and/or illegal signals, you want simple signals, but to signal as little as possible. One of the reasons you don't want an idiot for a gorilla. He generally knows a default strategy.
 

Bojack1

Well-Known Member
#25
pit15 said:
That is true, they most likely do not NEED to know BS, but it's just one of those things where I feel if someone is incapable or unwilling to learn then that's not someone I want handling money.

The other thing I wouldn't be OK with is ploppy mentality. If someone takes a 10 on a bad hit, the dealer flips over 16 and draws a 5, and you want to say something about taking the bust card (unless it's strictly part of an act), then I don't want anything to do with that person. That to me is a sign that someone can't be trusted. I know if I had a GBP make any kind of hunch play I would probably explode at the table and blow any cover we had. Misreads and mistakes are one thing, but doing something "because you had a feeling (unless that "feeling" was because you saw a hole card)" would make me lose it.
A couple of things here. First off RJT is right when he says in your example here you are not describing a GBP as much as you are just funding a ploppy. GBP's don't play hunches. If they do they are not doing their job.

Secondly, losing your cool at the table shows just as much lack of discipline as a ploppy posing as a GBP. Actually its worse, because you should know better. Making a bad situation worse solves no problems it only creates more, as well as possible permanent ones. Not to mention it would be your responsibility and your own fault if a GBP you hired was not trained properly, or was not able to function at advantage play.

As far as what a gorilla should know, well thats up to the team. But I will say that a gorilla definitely does not need to know BS or any adjusted form of it. They just need to know how to take signals and execute their actions. There are brilliant people that do not know BS, because its not their job to. Not knowing BS is not a symptom of stupidity in real GBP play. In many cases, but certainly not all, its just not a job requirement.
 

Bojack1

Well-Known Member
#26
QFIT said:
Yep. Instead of using high-tech, and/or illegal signals, you want simple signals, but to signal as little as possible. One of the reasons you don't want an idiot for a gorilla. He generally knows a default strategy.
Yes I agree with simple signals. Here is a copy of a post I made a couple of years ago. I was playing as a BP, not a GBP, but its just an example of easy but informative signals:

This is the key. If you observe the people sitting at blackjack tables playing, you will see dozens of repeated physical characteristics that just about every single player does. If you listen to conversations at the tables, you will also hear many of the same things repeated over and over again without fail. Its a case of being exactly like everyone else to hide in the open.

For example, I'm walking by a table that seems full, I notice someone is coloring up so I slow up to possibly take their place. The person leaving pushes their chips towards the dealer, looks at their watch, makes a comment on how his wife is going to kill him for being late to meet her, he chugs whats left of his drink leaves the glass on the table, wishes the table good luck and leaves exiting from the left of his seat. Since I see an opening at the table I ask the rhetorical question, anybody mind if I take this spot? Usually everyone either agrees or doesn't care as it will keep the flow the same, but it doesn't really matter I plan on playing regardless. Anyway when I sit down I now know everything I need to play this shoe and even the next. Care to take a guess on what happened? This is by far not a typical situation, but an example how you can get a load of info without doing anything different from anyone else playing this game. By the way, these signals are not used currently by us so I am giving no secrets away.
 

pit15

Well-Known Member
#27
Bojack1 said:
A couple of things here. First off RJT is right when he says in your example here you are not describing a GBP as much as you are just funding a ploppy. GBP's don't play hunches. If they do they are not doing their job.

Secondly, losing your cool at the table shows just as much lack of discipline as a ploppy posing as a GBP. Actually its worse, because you should know better. Making a bad situation worse solves no problems it only creates more, as well as possible permanent ones. Not to mention it would be your responsibility and your own fault if a GBP you hired was not trained properly, or was not able to function at advantage play.

As far as what a gorilla should know, well thats up to the team. But I will say that a gorilla definitely does not need to know BS or any adjusted form of it. They just need to know how to take signals and execute their actions. There are brilliant people that do not know BS, because its not their job to. Not knowing BS is not a symptom of stupidity in real GBP play. In many cases, but certainly not all, its just not a job requirement.
Well, most of the things I would lose it over (actually pretty much all) are situations I wouldn't get into. Eg. The poorly trained / lousy GBP.

Maybe I just have the wrong idea of the distinction between BP/GBP.

My idea of a GBP is someone picked up, given minimal training/instruction, and put at the table.

If someone's skilled at putting on a great act at the table or what not, then I wouldn't say they're an unskilled player. Being able to bet table max at a hole card game without having the play made is just as important as being able to read the hole card.
 

RJT

Well-Known Member
#28
pit15 said:
My idea of a GBP is someone picked up, given minimal training/instruction, and put at the table.

If someone's skilled at putting on a great act at the table or what not, then I wouldn't say they're an unskilled player. Being able to bet table max at a hole card game without having the play made is just as important as being able to read the hole card.
Being able to look natural while placing big bets is often derived more from personality type than a trained skill and in general it is easier to find someone who can naturally look good betting big money than it is to find someone who has the necessary dedication to become good enough to be a BP. One major problem the many teams face is finding people who can look like a gambler when betting big cash. A bit of a generalisation here, but playing skill and casino comportmant are an unusual combination to find in a person.

RJT.
 

pit15

Well-Known Member
#29
southAP said:
were the signals like "21" style where they might as well have just stood up and said "hey Jim!! we have a positive deck!" ? haha
They were actually far more blatant. Want a couple examples? PM me
 

pit15

Well-Known Member
#31
southAP said:
Yea, definitely, its just as good to know what NOT to do, than what to do.
Golden rule: If a ploppy has never done it, don't do it. (and this goes for a lot of things).

Handling your cards in different ways as signals: acceptable, ploppies handle their cards in all kinds of ways.

Making strange unnatural looking poses: unacceptable, nobody does this unless they're up to something.
 

southAP

Well-Known Member
#32
Ive seen alot of people do strange stuff in casinos which you will if you pay attention and spend enough hours in one. Everything from a homeless looking guy playing perfect bs with nervous twitches to the hot blonde makinf sure she e
Had perfect posture and everyone looking at her before she even made a play. Quite annoying really...
 
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