Short, fast wins, and the ploppies who hate you

[plainplayer]

Last evening, I was able to play for just a short while. I picked a table that seemed promising and sat down.
$10 table.
$400 buy-in.
20 minutes spreading mostly just $10-$30, but $80 twice.
$600 color up and gone.

For one thing, I seemed to get funny looks just by buying in for $400. Most folks were holding $100-$200 (or so I guesstimated from their stacks) and were betting light $10 or $20, some clearly flat-betting. My bet fluctuates rather a lot.

But considering that the table had a constant set of players over that 20 minutes (nobody else arrived or left), and that I left with an extra 50%... I had a whole table of people that looked at me in that vaguely resentful sort of way, the "what the @#$% did you just do, and how did you do it" look.

Somewhat creepy. But weirdly satisfying.

 

[prankster]

Definitely satisfying!:joker:

 

[tezzadiver]

Last evening, I was able to play for just a short while. I picked a table that seemed promising and sat down.
$10 table.
$400 buy-in.
20 minutes spreading mostly just $10-$30, but $80 twice.
$600 color up and gone.

For one thing, I seemed to get funny looks just by buying in for $400. Most folks were holding $100-$200 (or so I guesstimated from their stacks) and were betting light $10 or $20, some clearly flat-betting. My bet fluctuates rather a lot.

But considering that the table had a constant set of players over that 20 minutes (nobody else arrived or left), and that I left with an extra 50%... I had a whole table of people that looked at me in that vaguely resentful sort of way, the "what the @#$% did you just do, and how did you do it" look.

Somewhat creepy. But weirdly satisfying.

Generally I don`t think buying in with $400 is a good idea, especiallly if $10 is your minimum bet. Why not buy in for a $100 instead??

Pit bosses love to see you reaching in your pockets for more cash- so if need be when you place your high bets -cash in for some more chips:laugh:

At this rate you will look more like the ploppies around you..

 

[prankster]

tezzadiver-
I think you're absoulutely right. It warms the hearts of PC's to see you digging for more-and lends itself to a very ploppy image!:joker:

 

[plainplayer]

Well, that's a point, doing it for cover-as-ploppy probably makes sense. But personally I prefer not to have to go digging for more cash. I'll have to think about it. It leaves me feeling better, I guess more settled, when I have my chip needs on the table in front of me. I'll have to decide if that's worth changing.

So far, I'm sure I'm far too lightweight for PBs to care much, especially when so many others around me are nearly stepping over themselves to hand over their chips to the dealer as a consequence of their bad play. Until sometime late this fall, when I anticipate taking my stakes higher, I'm a minor blip on their radar.

 

[Sucker]

Until sometime late this fall, when I anticipate taking my stakes higher, I'm a minor blip on their radar.

This really is a misconception on your part. It does not matter if you're betting $5 or if you're betting $500, if the pit critters think you know what you're doing; you WILL be booted out.

 

[riggler]

Digging for more cash on a big play is always better than not. I'm a red chipper, who doesn't get out a lot.

Two trips ago...it was time to go. I don't remember the hand but it was either a splitter or a double down and I had to get out more cash to make the bet. "Cash out 100!"

Place the bet.

Win.

Color up.

"Color up. $200 out."

The dealer had to explain to the pit boss what just happened as I was walking away with the winnings.

 

[Blue Efficacy]

This really is a misconception on your part. It does not matter if you're betting $5 or if you're betting $500, if the pit critters think you know what you're doing; you WILL be booted out.

So you've been to every casino in the world and have played every shift there, to make such an absolute statement?

Believe it or not there are stores out there that will indulge red chip card counters.

 

[Sucker]

So you've been to every casino in the world and have played every shift there, to make such an absolute statement?

You're missing the point. It is NEVER correct to assume that just because you're betting small, you won't have a problem. Of COURSE there are exceptions to EVERY rule. I said you'd get booted. I didn't say you'd get booted EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I WILL say that that will be the case in the VAST majority of the places. And in some foreign countries, you can be arrested and actually convicted of the crime of card counting.

And although I HAVEN'T played every shift in every casino, I have traveled the world for almost 30 years now, doing nothing BUT playing BJ and/or at least scouting every shift, in as many casinos as possible. I would be willing to bet my entire BR that there are not ten professional gamblers (if ANY) in the world who've been in MORE casinos than me. (But then again, how would I possibly be able to prove such a thing?)

 

[tezzadiver]

Digging for more cash on a big play is always better than not. I'm a red chipper, who doesn't get out a lot.

Two trips ago...it was time to go. I don't remember the hand but it was either a splitter or a double down and I had to get out more cash to make the bet. "Cash out 100!"

Place the bet.

Win.

Color up.

"Color up. $200 out."

The dealer had to explain to the pit boss what just happened as I was walking away with the winnings.

Could`nt agree more:laugh:

 

[plainplayer]

In fact, having chatted up dealers quite a bit recently where I spend the bulk of my table time, this particular one actually doesn't mind at all having red-chippers who win semi-regularly. They regard it as advertising. Other players at the table, and kibbitzers behind the table, see what goes on and think to themselves, "Hey, it really is possible to win this game after all. If he can do it, so can I. Maybe if I just..." Poof, more of their greenbacks jump onto the table, doomed to go down the cash slot, never to be seen again, considerably more than just making up for what I'm taking away from the table.

Letting people like me walk away with $200 or $500 or $1000 now and again is a heck of a lot cheaper than mailing thousands of promos, giving away comped rooms, or posting billboards, with a far higher return on investment, because exactly the right audience is right there, watching it happen first-hand, whetting their appetite for it.

I'm well beyond merely semi-regularly, but I'm not taking this casino for umpty-thousands. I will give deeper thought to heat avoidance when my stakes go up. I'm biding my time while my bankroll grows, watching the scene, planning my move.

 

[creeping panther]

Sucker

You're missing the point. It is NEVER correct to assume that just because you're betting small, you won't have a problem. Of COURSE there are exceptions to EVERY rule. I said you'd get booted. I didn't say you'd get booted EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I WILL say that that will be the case in the VAST majority of the places. And in some foreign countries, you can be arrested and actually convicted of the crime of card counting.

And although I HAVEN'T played every shift in every casino, I have traveled the world for almost 30 years now, doing nothing BUT playing BJ and/or at least scouting every shift, in as many casinos as possible. I would be willing to bet my entire BR that there are not ten professional gamblers (if ANY) in the world who've been in MORE casinos than me. (But then again, how would I possibly be able to prove such a thing?)

30 years, impressive!

So what is your status today? Are you a very wealthy man with homes on the West coast and East and Nevada? Like,,, are you a millionaire who has put his children through college and spends his time helping the less fortunate? Do you live the high life that comes with the great win rates you must have had? You must be at least 51,,,please do tell us about your life, I am very interested as you are indeed an original and I am sure a rarity.

CP

 

[creeping panther]

Plainplayer

My humble advice to you, be careful and change your ways at the table like
many have said, think about it before it is too late.

CP

 

[Sucker]

30 years, impressive!

So what is your status today? Are you a very wealthy man with homes on the West coast and East and Nevada? Like,,, are you a millionaire who has put his children through college and spends his time helping the less fortunate? Do you live the high life that comes with the great win rates you must have had? You must be at least 51,,,please do tell us about your life, I am very interested as you are indeed an original and I am sure a rarity.

CP

I'm sixty years old. I own 4 houses, one for my residence and the other three are rental properties. Thirty years @ 100K/yr (average) is $3 million, and that sounds about right. I do have a sufficient playing BR but I really am NOT a millionaire. After whatever comps I get, I still spend about 50K per year on travel expenses, what with air fare, gasoline, food, rooms; etc. A lot of my trips turn out to be not much more than costly scouting expeditions, where I don't get enough play to get comped. So I guess you could say I'm kind of wasteful in this area. (But I get to see a lot of neat places!)

I don't drink, do drugs, or chase women. My idea of the "High Life" is to spend with my family what little time I GET with them. And I DO take them on my trips as often as possible (which adds even MORE to the money I waste, of course).

Another reason my BR is less than a million: In January 2000, I got talked into investing a ton of money in the stock market; lost it ALL a couple of months later when the dot-com bubble burst! If I didn't know better, I'd say that I was the one who CAUSED that crash. :laugh:

I put all three of my children through college with blackjack winnings. This is absolutely my proudest achievement in life. I have several grandchildren who are doing great in school, and I expect, rather HOPE, that in the next 5-15 years they'll have their hand out for college money also. I cannot think of a better way to spend my money!

If this sounds like a brag post - well I guess it IS; at least the part about the kid's college educations! I'm very proud of this. As far as the REST of my lifestyle, I'm neither proud nor ashamed.

Cheers to all!

 

[junior_counter]

Sucker pride

Thanks for sharing that Sucker. Nice post. Winnings paid for children's college, very nice. Inspirational for a, hopefully someday, semi-pro card counter. I'm starting out slow, mildly successful with a goal to use winnings to purchase the next family car.

 

[plainplayer]

be careful and change your ways at the table

So we went back out to a different place today. I experimented lightly, buying in for $300 once (instead of the previously-typical $400) and worked that. It was actually a pretty tough hour but I netted $210, left a $10 tip, and I didn't need to dig any deeper. I suffered some losses early on but always dragged it back, and then I was dealt BJ on a couple $80 bets. Shortly after those, I colored up and left.

I took a break for an hour or more, then sat down again at another table. $200 buy-in this time...and it just didn't fly for me. I don't know if it's psychological or if the variance was just clearly not with me, but I struggled for another hour...can't say that that worked for me.

The problem for me in this is that my style of play either works well over a longish period or it dies a viciously horrible death in really short order. In the course of, say, 4 hands I can find myself down 24 units. I can weather this level of loss, but it surely drags me too close to the edge of my buy-in and it makes me uncomfortable.

Anyhow, I've tried to address the advice given and at least toned down my buy-in. I'll keep trying it a few more times and see if it continues to fly well using the reduced level.

 

[kewljason]

I'm sixty years old. I own 4 houses, one for my residence and the other three are rental properties. Thirty years @ 100K/yr (average) is $3 million, and that sounds about right. I do have a sufficient playing BR but I really am NOT a millionaire. After whatever comps I get, I still spend about 50K per year on travel expenses, what with air fare, gasoline, food, rooms; etc. A lot of my trips turn out to be not much more than costly scouting expeditions, where I don't get enough play to get comped. So I guess you could say I'm kind of wasteful in this area. (But I get to see a lot of neat places!)

I don't drink, do drugs, or chase women. My idea of the "High Life" is to spend with my family what little time I GET with them. And I DO take them on my trips as often as possible (which adds even MORE to the money I waste, of course).

Another reason my BR is less than a million: In January 2000, I got talked into investing a ton of money in the stock market; lost it ALL a couple of months later when the dot-com bubble burst! If I didn't know better, I'd say that I was the one who CAUSED that crash. :laugh:

I put all three of my children through college with blackjack winnings. This is absolutely my proudest achievement in life. I have several grandchildren who are doing great in school, and I expect, rather HOPE, that in the next 5-15 years they'll have their hand out for college money also. I cannot think of a better way to spend my money!

If this sounds like a brag post - well I guess it IS; at least the part about the kid's college educations! I'm very proud of this. As far as the REST of my lifestyle, I'm neither proud nor ashamed.

Cheers to all!

You really don't have to answer to those that want to challenge your accomplishments, sucker. Some people on the board just have a contrarian attitude and agenda. But since you have addressed them...Nice post! You can be proud of your accomplishments and attitude towards family and responsibility.

Could you expand a little more on why you would spend upwards of 50K a year on expenses in order to make 100K per year? That seems an extraordinarily high expense to profit ratio.

 

[Sucker]

Could you expand a little more on why you would spend upwards of 50K a year on expenses in order to make 100K per year?

Actually, 50K is pretty much the most I spend, sometimes it's less, but usually never more.

My personal MO in my BJ endeavors is usually to bet small and hire BPs to bet the money. If you walk up to my table, I'll be that innocuous looking $5 bettor who's sitting on third base playing basic strategy while the guy on 1st base is raking in the dough. I attribute this strategy to my longevity in the business. However, the downside to this is that I get little in comps.

Here's a rough estimate of a typical week for me:

Air fare:uuuuuuuuuuu$300-$500
Lodging:uuuuuuuuuuu$200-$350
Car rental:uuuuuuuuu$150-$200
Meals:uuuuuuuuuuuiiii$150-$300
Miscellaneous:uuuuuu$200-$300

When I take trips overseas, the expenses are almost always much more, sometimes as much as triple.

Multiply these expenses by 30-40 trips a year & combine it with the fact that I bring my wife with me half the time & it really DOES start to add up.

And yes; these travel expenses ARE an economic sore spot for me, and I probably COULD do a few rather simple things to help bring them down. But even though I'm a pretty good blackjack player, I'll be the first to admit that I'm really not all that good with the way I spend my money (as evidenced by my stock market venture, and a few other things that I'm too ashamed to mention in public ).

But what the heck, you only live once, & you can't take it with you!

 

[Sucker]

You really don't have to answer to those that want to challenge your accomplishments, sucker. Some people on the board just have a contrarian attitude and agenda.

I'm assuming you're referring to Creeping Panther; forgive me if I'm wrong.

You might not know it by some of the arguments I've had with him, but I consider CP to be a good friend of mine (although I don't believe I've ever PERSONALLY met him). He reminds me of my childhood days, fighting like cats and dogs with my brothers.But when the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we were an EXTREMELY tight family.

If you can look past CP's aggressive and sometimes prohibitively scathing statements; you find that he can be a very intellectually stimulating person. Perhaps that's why he hasn't been PERMANENTLY banned from this site.

 

[Dave]

But what the heck, you only live once, & you can't take it with you!

Sure you can, don't you know being buried in a pile of cold hard cash is in? :joker: And should anyone choose to go that route, please make sure to have me onsite for the burial. I can help with the digging. :grin: