We have met the enemy.
So despite your standing on hard 14 vs 7, your body language and mannerisms have attracted the pit's attention. Sorry, but since he was standing 10 feet away at the podium, he didn't even see you stand on soft 18 that last round. He walks over to stand behind the dealer, crosses his arms, and starts staring directly at you. He is boring a hole into you with a grim look on his face.
You make the classic anti-heat counter move -- flat bet the rest of the shoe, and just play basic strategy. Of course, the pit really had no way to know what spread you were betting before, he wasn't paying attention to that. Besides, he doesn't know what the count is, he wasn't watching the cards, for all he knows the count might be negative, and you should be flat betting. All you are doing is demonstrating that you do know basic strategy.
Let's step back and examine the dynamics of the situation. The pit suspects something. They are staring at you. This is because they are not sure, and they are trying to confirm what they suspect. Your reactions are what they are trying to gauge.
Let's look at some typical ploppy reactions:
>Seeing the pit boss coming, 3rd base yells out, "Boy am I hot tonight!", as he doubles up on his next bet.
>Smiling broadly at the pit boss standing there (after all the pit is the giver of comps, the ambassadors of fun of a nights entertainment, the hander-outer of the free show tickets, the source to the free buffet), 2nd base says, "Can we get a new dealer? This guy hasn't busted for the past five hands?"
>1st base never notices the pit boss, he is too busy trying to figure out if he should split his 2s against the dealer's Ten, and is still grumbling about the last round when 3rd base stole the dealer's bust card. He is also trying to keep up some clever banter with the cocktail waitress, while keeping an eye behind him on his wife playing the slot machines a few rows down. Pit boss? What pit boss?
Contrast with a typical counter reaction:
>Making sure that you don't make any eye contact with the man glaring at you, you radically alter your betting patterns, and start flat betting. You start putting chips into your pockets, only planning on playing a couple more hands, until you can 'slip away' from this heat. You pause on a hand, "Should I stand on this 15 because this the count calls for it, or hit it because that is basic strategy?" Afraid to alert the looming pit boss, who is probably just watching for a move like that, you decide to hit. Your former rapid-fire play style has changed. You now seem to be thinking about simple hands, as sweat starts to break out on your brow.
I mean you might as while just jump up, knocking your chair over, and scream, "YES, I'M COUNTING CARDS. I ADMIT IT!" Then rapidly run for the door with pee running down your leg. Even if you leave quietly and discreetly, the Pit has done its job. You have removed yourself from play. The pit's suspicions were confirmed. The threat has been neutralized. AND HERE IS THE BEAUTY OF THE STARE TECHNIQUE: They didn't have to say a word. The ploppies didn't even realize anything has happened. They are still sitting at the table, laughing, joking, grumbling and crying, while they continue to give their money to the casino. They don't have a clue that they just witnessed a back off.
Okay, here are some hints:
I used to have a girl friend who gave me the 'evil eye' when my behavior didn't meet with her approval. After a while, I learned that a mean look didn't break any of my bones, cause internal bleeding, cuts, scrapes, or even minor bruises. A mean look is completely harmless. Not content with just my own observations, I searched the medical literature. NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM HAVING A FROWNY FACE STARE AT THEM! So when you are getting the stare, and you win your next hand, LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE PIT BOSS AND LAUGH REAL LOUD - HAW HAR AHAW HAW, as you scrape up your winnings. (the pit is now confused, you aren't acting like the typical counter, now are you?)
Maybe the pit boss isn't actually staring at you anyways! Maybe he got tired of holding up his chin at the podium, has walked over to your table, and has now zoned out, staring into nothingness, as he realizes what a truely boring job he has with nothing to do. So do your duty, give the pit something to do - Look directly at the pit boss, AND ASK FOR A COMP FOR 2 FOR DINNER!
At this point the pit now has a couple of choices:
1) Grant your request and go write you a comp.
2) Tell you to get a comp you need to play longer and bet more. (At this count? Gladly!)
3) Walk away with a disgusted look on his face. (Great, while his back is turned, I think I will spread to two hands)
4) Escalate the whole deal, and tell you no more blackjack.
The last is least likely, but it now gives you the perfect response. "SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY AND WHAT A COMP?", direct this comment to poorest basic strategy player at the table, for the benefit of all the others, "PLAY A REASONABLE GAME AND THEY WANT TO THROW YOU OUT, WHAT KIND OF RIP-OFF JOINT IS THIS?"
Of course, you have your chips picked up and are moving towards the door while you say this ....
So despite your standing on hard 14 vs 7, your body language and mannerisms have attracted the pit's attention. Sorry, but since he was standing 10 feet away at the podium, he didn't even see you stand on soft 18 that last round. He walks over to stand behind the dealer, crosses his arms, and starts staring directly at you. He is boring a hole into you with a grim look on his face.
You make the classic anti-heat counter move -- flat bet the rest of the shoe, and just play basic strategy. Of course, the pit really had no way to know what spread you were betting before, he wasn't paying attention to that. Besides, he doesn't know what the count is, he wasn't watching the cards, for all he knows the count might be negative, and you should be flat betting. All you are doing is demonstrating that you do know basic strategy.
Let's step back and examine the dynamics of the situation. The pit suspects something. They are staring at you. This is because they are not sure, and they are trying to confirm what they suspect. Your reactions are what they are trying to gauge.
Let's look at some typical ploppy reactions:
>Seeing the pit boss coming, 3rd base yells out, "Boy am I hot tonight!", as he doubles up on his next bet.
>Smiling broadly at the pit boss standing there (after all the pit is the giver of comps, the ambassadors of fun of a nights entertainment, the hander-outer of the free show tickets, the source to the free buffet), 2nd base says, "Can we get a new dealer? This guy hasn't busted for the past five hands?"
>1st base never notices the pit boss, he is too busy trying to figure out if he should split his 2s against the dealer's Ten, and is still grumbling about the last round when 3rd base stole the dealer's bust card. He is also trying to keep up some clever banter with the cocktail waitress, while keeping an eye behind him on his wife playing the slot machines a few rows down. Pit boss? What pit boss?
Contrast with a typical counter reaction:
>Making sure that you don't make any eye contact with the man glaring at you, you radically alter your betting patterns, and start flat betting. You start putting chips into your pockets, only planning on playing a couple more hands, until you can 'slip away' from this heat. You pause on a hand, "Should I stand on this 15 because this the count calls for it, or hit it because that is basic strategy?" Afraid to alert the looming pit boss, who is probably just watching for a move like that, you decide to hit. Your former rapid-fire play style has changed. You now seem to be thinking about simple hands, as sweat starts to break out on your brow.
I mean you might as while just jump up, knocking your chair over, and scream, "YES, I'M COUNTING CARDS. I ADMIT IT!" Then rapidly run for the door with pee running down your leg. Even if you leave quietly and discreetly, the Pit has done its job. You have removed yourself from play. The pit's suspicions were confirmed. The threat has been neutralized. AND HERE IS THE BEAUTY OF THE STARE TECHNIQUE: They didn't have to say a word. The ploppies didn't even realize anything has happened. They are still sitting at the table, laughing, joking, grumbling and crying, while they continue to give their money to the casino. They don't have a clue that they just witnessed a back off.
Okay, here are some hints:
I used to have a girl friend who gave me the 'evil eye' when my behavior didn't meet with her approval. After a while, I learned that a mean look didn't break any of my bones, cause internal bleeding, cuts, scrapes, or even minor bruises. A mean look is completely harmless. Not content with just my own observations, I searched the medical literature. NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM HAVING A FROWNY FACE STARE AT THEM! So when you are getting the stare, and you win your next hand, LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE PIT BOSS AND LAUGH REAL LOUD - HAW HAR AHAW HAW, as you scrape up your winnings. (the pit is now confused, you aren't acting like the typical counter, now are you?)
Maybe the pit boss isn't actually staring at you anyways! Maybe he got tired of holding up his chin at the podium, has walked over to your table, and has now zoned out, staring into nothingness, as he realizes what a truely boring job he has with nothing to do. So do your duty, give the pit something to do - Look directly at the pit boss, AND ASK FOR A COMP FOR 2 FOR DINNER!
At this point the pit now has a couple of choices:
1) Grant your request and go write you a comp.
2) Tell you to get a comp you need to play longer and bet more. (At this count? Gladly!)
3) Walk away with a disgusted look on his face. (Great, while his back is turned, I think I will spread to two hands)
4) Escalate the whole deal, and tell you no more blackjack.
The last is least likely, but it now gives you the perfect response. "SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY AND WHAT A COMP?", direct this comment to poorest basic strategy player at the table, for the benefit of all the others, "PLAY A REASONABLE GAME AND THEY WANT TO THROW YOU OUT, WHAT KIND OF RIP-OFF JOINT IS THIS?"
Of course, you have your chips picked up and are moving towards the door while you say this ....
