Coloring up

[Requiem]

When it's time to go is it better for the AP to let the dealer color up the chips or to just take them all in whatever denomination you have at the moment?

Does it depend on how much heat you're getting? I've been reading it can be more difficult to get the bigger chips cashed in, without giving ID.

 

[tthree]

When it's time to go is it better for the AP to let the dealer color up the chips or to just take them all in whatever denomination you have at the moment?

Does it depend on how much heat you're getting? I've been reading it can be more difficult to get the bigger chips cashed in, without giving ID.

The pit doesn't like it when you don't color up but it is not for the reason you think. They try to minimize the number of refills required. By not coloring up you can cause two headaches for the pit. The most obvious is the need for a chip refill when they run low on medium denomination chips. The other problem which is a bigger headache is table hoppers showing up with large quantities of medium denomination chips and leaving many behind cause their chip tray to get too full. They start telling people to leave with large quantities of medium chips rather than coloring up to keep from overflowing the chip tray. If you refuse to work with them they will remember you. You are the guy that makes their job harder. You don't want to be remembered as that guy. Color up some of your chips if you have enough. They appreciate it. They may give you large denomination if the tray is fairly empty. They may give you smaller if the tray is getting full.

 

[Dyepaintball12]

Always color up. It doesn't matter if you take $5,000 in purple, black, or red chips to the cage... casino's have set limits where they ask for ID or call the Pit to verify.

 

[AC232323]

Always color up. It doesn't matter if you take $5,000 in purple, black, or red chips to the cage... casino's have set limits where they ask for ID or call the Pit to verify.

I would agree that you should always color up, but I know I have been told that it is based on which chips you cash in not the total. I know that makes no sense, but a lot of decisions by the casino make no sense. I was told I could cash out 5 $100 chips without calling over to the pit but if I cash out 1 $500 chip they have to call over...YMMV and the cashier could have just been wrong.

 

[EmeraldCityBJ]

As with many questions "always yes" or "always no" is the always wrong answer.

Usually, it's best to color up for the reasons mentioned earlier in the thread. You don't want to be the person who makes their job harder. However, if coloring up gets you high denomination chips which will be difficult to cash, you might consider skipping the color-up. Typically, this doesn't become a factor unless the color-up involves chip denominations of $1000 or more.

A situation where you would skip a color-up is if you suspect a backoff is in the works. In these situations, your goal is to get the hell out as quickly as possible. If you color up even a small amount, they can delay you for as long as they need/want in order to assemble the crew who executes the backoff. You're already going to be memorable, so there is little additional harm with leaving them stuck with an empty chip tray. Your primary goal is to leave before they have the opportunity to start a conversation where they formally tell you "no more blackjack".

 

[Diver]

How would it play out?

You: I'm outta here (picking up chips)

Dealer: Wait a minute, I'll color you up.

You: Nevermind. (walking off with a handful of small denomination chips).

Dealer: But I need to do this.

You: Your problem/Nevermind/ Can't wait/ No comment.

Dealer: Hey PB, this a##hole wouldn't let me to color him up.

PB: Which a##hole? Oh, that one? OK. Got him.

Acting out of the ordinary is generally perceived. Exactly how it is perceived is variable, but it is usually perceived.

 

[alwayssplitaces]

They track your wins and losses when you color up if you're rated. So if you're ratholing, only color up what's in front of you.

 

[tthree]

They track your wins and losses when you color up if you're rated. So if you're ratholing, only color up what's in front of you.

That's why I said color up SOME of your chips. I work the pit on the buy in end. I try to be credited with a bigger buy in than I actually made. That is the equivalent of ratholing black without a downside of getting caught and forever credited with the extra chips that are not accounted for.

 

[PonyPrincess]

That's why I said color up SOME of your chips. I work the pit on the buy in end. I try to be credited with a bigger buy in than I actually made. That is the equivalent of ratholing black without a downside of getting caught and forever credited with the extra chips that are not accounted for.

How are you getting credited for a bigger buyin? Like sitting down with 5 black chips and then asking for change and pit puts you in for $500?

 

[tthree]

How are you getting credited for a bigger buyin? Like sitting down with 5 black chips and then asking for change and pit puts you in for $500?

PM sent

 

[Sonny]

You: I'm outta here (picking up chips)

Dealer: Wait a minute, I'll color you up.

If you leave the table suddenly, especially during some commotion (dealer change, shift change, table fill, in the middle of a shuffle, another player's action (buy-in, color up, jackpot payout), during a hand (you bust or fold while others continue to play), jammed shuffler, etc.) then the dealer might not be able to do anything about it. They might not even notice. And rat holing a specific number of chips can also help you leave the table with playable units in your palm or pocket. Not having many chips in front of you on the table allows you much greater mobility when you need it (among other things). All of this allows you to play from your pocket later, which is one of the best ways to avoid coloring up and being tracked.

-Sonny-