I just started dealing blackjack

[p8ntballsk8r]

Have done 3 shifts so far, at a bar in North Dakota with $1 - $25 limits. I couldn't believe how bad some people are! Last night, somebody doubled a hard 14 against a 10!! Really? At least he tipped well.

Since I know that the game itself is -EV, when someone offers me a tip and gives me the option to take it directly or play for it, I should just take it directly, correct? I'm sharing tips with everyone else that I work with, but I still feel that playing a -EV game is -EV, avoiding playing would be +EV. I have no control over the cards and am not willing to do anything corrupt for the sake of a tip, so might as well take it directly if I'm able to.

Once I get proficient at dealing, I'm going to attempt to count while I'm dealing, then I'll know if it's +EV to have the players playing the tip.

Also, I've noticed that most people end up tipping their extra half bet after receiving a blackjack. The count has fallen by 2 after that blackjack, and the game is more favorable for the dealer pending the rest of the cards dealt that round.

The only thing I do that is favorable to the player, is offer amazing penetration. I have to hand shuffle, and would rather do it 3 times per rotation instead of 4, so I cut 1 deck out of 4, as we are instructed to aim for 1 to 1.5 decks

 

[bjcardcounter]

The only thing I do that is favorable to the player, is offer amazing penetration. I have to hand shuffle, and would rather do it 3 times per rotation instead of 4, so I cut 1 deck out of 4, as we are instructed to aim for more than 1.5 decks

Are you never questioned by the pit boss about the 1D cut off when you are given instructions to cut off >1.5 decks? You might get fired.

 

[creeping panther]

Dealer

Have done 3 shifts so far, at a bar in North Dakota with $1 - $25 limits. I couldn't believe how bad some people are! Last night, somebody doubled a hard 14 against a 10!! Really? At least he tipped well.

Since I know that the game itself is -EV, when someone offers me a tip and gives me the option to take it directly or play for it, I should just take it directly, correct? I'm sharing tips with everyone else that I work with, but I still feel that playing a -EV game is -EV, avoiding playing would be +EV. I have no control over the cards and am not willing to do anything corrupt for the sake of a tip, so might as well take it directly if I'm able to.

Once I get proficient at dealing, I'm going to attempt to count while I'm dealing, then I'll know if it's +EV to have the players playing the tip.

Also, I've noticed that most people end up tipping their extra half bet after receiving a blackjack. The count has fallen by 2 after that blackjack, and the game is more favorable for the dealer pending the rest of the cards dealt that round.

The only thing I do that is favorable to the player, is offer amazing penetration. I have to hand shuffle, and would rather do it 3 times per rotation instead of 4, so I cut 1 deck out of 4, as we are instructed to aim for 1 to 1.5 decks

Are you in the Mandan area?

CP

 

[MangoJ]

I'm not sure about tipping habits... do players tend to tip more next time (or tip earlier) when the last tipped bet is lost ? If that's true then you should take the bet.

Also playing the tip may make the players feel that you are "one of them" (a gambling), they may sympathize with you more. If you state you would rather take the tip directly may let you look greedy and won't tip you again (or less).

Maybe this is enough speculation to overcome a -0.5% bet.

 

[p8ntballsk8r]

No I'm not in the Mandan Area. I doubt this game will return much, you can only spread 1 to 25, although you can freely wong in and out of a 2nd hand. It is at a bar, so people mostly just tip because they are drunk and it will change the "flow" or make them more "lucky", or when I can't win and am paying out the table very well.

As for penetration. I was very loosely trained and told to aim for BETWEEN 1 deck and 1.5 decks. This is why I aim for 1 deck as that is the lower limit of the two.

good point mango, I like to keep the players on my side if possible anyways. I feel bad taking people's money over and over again. Good thing it goes to charity!

 

[prankster]

I would guess most dealers would say take the toke. Only a guess.:joker:

 

[prankster]

Is it in North or South Dakota that state law requires max bet allowed at $50.00?:joker:

 

[Sucker]

You are NOT doing the ploppies a favor by offering them "amazing" penetration. If you REALLY want to do them a favor, cut off 1 1/2 decks rather than 1. You will be dealing less hands per hour, and therefore they will be losing less money. The only blackjack player that BENEFITS by good penetration is a card counter.

On the OTHER hand, by dealing deep into the deck; you're doing YOURSELF a favor. The more hands you deal per hour, the more blackjacks, and winning (and losing) hands will result. This means more tips for you.

 

[Thunder]

I can tell you from personal experience that trying to count while dealing is extremely difficult. Reason being is the # of distractions go way up with you having to constantly be vigilant of the players at the table since they're always doing something against procedure or asking you questions or what not. Any dealer who can maintain the count in an 8 deck shoe, my hat goes off to them. :cool2:

 

[FLASH1296]

Once I get proficient at dealing, I'm going to attempt to count while I'm
dealing, then I'll know if it's +EV to have the players playing the tip."

The dreadful BJ rules offered in No. Dakota have House Advantages of .54% to .74%

Let us look at representative scenarios:

Using Hi-Lo, the True Count from Zero to +1.

These true Counts are representative of over ⅔ of all hands dealt.

a $1 toke is worth approx.:

At a True Count of 0 — is worth about — $0.98
At a True Count of +1 — is worth about — $0.99
At a True Count of −1 — is worth about — $0.89

Your [wagered] $1 toke will average out to just over 98¢.

If you collect tokes of $10 per hour on average, taking it in cash
will benefit you by about $0.20 perhour. (20¢ / hr.)

So should you "profit" by more than a dollar a day by taking the tokes in cash?

NO !

You may want to develop a sense of perspective,
because as you now see you are doing no more
than splitting hairs. There is value for encouraging
the players to place the toke as a bet for you, because
"getting you in the game" works psychologically to encourage
greater generosity. You will INCREASE your tokes that way.

 

[prankster]

I can tell you from personal experience that trying to count while dealing is extremely difficult. Reason being is the # of distractions go way up with you having to constantly be vigilant of the players at the table since they're always doing something against procedure or asking you questions or what not. Any dealer who can maintain the count in an 8 deck shoe, my hat goes off to them. :cool2:

Amen!:joker:

 

[Percy]

My instinct tells me that if the player gives you all the winnings from any doubles and splits he makes on your initial toke bet, you should ask the player to bet your toke rather than accept it straight away.

 

[The Chaperone]

You should play your tokes when given the option. There is both the psychological factor and the factor that Percy mentions where they may put out more money for splits and doubles. Also, quit trying to micro-manage everything by counting. The best thing you can do to increase tokes is deal faster and be friendly.

 

[prankster]

Remember: SCHMOOZE!:joker:

 

[21forme]

Not long ago, I was at a table where a guy was on an amazing run. He put out a $50 toke for the dealer and said "play it or keep it, your choice." This dealer seemed pretty on the ball (for a dealer) and played it. The hand won. After the player left I said to the dealer I was surprised he'd play a toke that big. He said how could he not play it when the player was on such a run - he had a great chance of doubling his money.

Moral of the story - dealers are ploppies, too.

 

[farmdoggy]

My instinct tells me that if the player gives you all the winnings from any doubles and splits he makes on your initial toke bet, you should ask the player to bet your toke rather than accept it straight away.

Yep. The game is -EV for the players, but toke play rather than take is +EV for the dealer...
EDIT: Hmm... Just thought of something... I guess if the player sux badly enough it is -EV for the dealer if he plays his tokes.

Not long ago, I was at a table where a guy was on an amazing run. He put out a $50 toke for the dealer and said "play it or keep it, your choice." This dealer seemed pretty on the ball (for a dealer) and played it. The hand won. After the player left I said to the dealer I was surprised he'd play a toke that big. He said how could he not play it when the player was on such a run - he had a great chance of doubling his money.

Moral of the story - dealers are ploppies, too.

Maybe that dealer WAS counting cards? I guess you'd know though, 21. A $50 dollor toke though, I would never double for the dealer. If the player gets a pair of Aces, depending on his initial wager, might likely be a -EV split!

Speaking of dealers counting cards... I ran into female dealer about a month ago who was explaining to the ploppys at the table that only card counters should buy insurance. She explained that she used to be a manager and that she can count cards all day long... She was full of it!!! I was working a 1-20 spread right under her nose (with only modest cover). No way could she be friendly, keep track of the totals, deal with questions and complaints AND count. A dealer that counts is probably a dealer that mispays :grin: Then I saw her a few days later, she started off the shoe dealing like a snail... I knew she was trying to keep track of the count THIS time, and I peaced out (shoe was a solid neg anyway).

 

[Blue Efficacy]

I have done BJ dealing for play money at casino parties and can attest to the fact that counting while dealing is EXTREMELY difficult. And this is just with play money, no eye in the sky or pit boss, etc.

I consider myself good at counting but it is too much of a distraction if you have a game to run.

 

[prankster]

Not long ago, I was at a table where a guy was on an amazing run. He put out a $50 toke for the dealer and said "play it or keep it, your choice." This dealer seemed pretty on the ball (for a dealer) and played it. The hand won. After the player left I said to the dealer I was surprised he'd play a toke that big. He said how could he not play it when the player was on such a run - he had a great chance of doubling his money.

Moral of the story - dealers are ploppies, too.

Most dealers are clearly ploppies. One night I say yes to insurance and the dealer is like "hey you can do whatever you like but you wanna insure a 14"?
He goes on to explain how most players insure a 19,20,or blackjack-but a 14??? So he turns over the bottom card and it was a beautiful ten! I'm like "so did I do o.k."?:joker::joker::joker:

 

[Blue Efficacy]

Whenever the ploppy dealers give me their schtick when I insure a bad hand, I just say some variant of "I want you to have blackjack. Then I get a free pass with my 16."

 

[Bojack1]

I can tell you from personal experience that trying to count while dealing is extremely difficult. Reason being is the # of distractions go way up with you having to constantly be vigilant of the players at the table since they're always doing something against procedure or asking you questions or what not. Any dealer who can maintain the count in an 8 deck shoe, my hat goes off to them. :cool2:

This is precisely the reason that all who play for me are required to be able to count while dealing. It is not easy at first, but like all repititious procedures, it becomes very natural through real practice. It is amazing what one can do when they allow themselves to work outside of their comfort zone. Their threshholds become higher and higher, and as you need to concentrate less on the mundane, your awareness can be heightened to many other opportunities