Wonging: are the complaints justifiable?

[felipej2]

I have seen a Wonger at work before, and he really angered those around him (they said, "hey! don't get in and out man!", or "they'd never let you do that in Vegas). Wonging is when you wait for a favorable deck situation (ie, true count of +3), then bet big.

Do you guys think that the Wonger is being rude to other players? Does he "disrupt the flow" of the deck? Does he steal other players' 10's and Aces?

 

[BAMA21]

I'm not a counter; and I've not encountered too many Wongers in my play. But here are my feelings. I don't think they mess up the flow of the cards. That is just voodoo. They probably help as much as hurt in that respect, over the long term. I can't really complain about it too much, if the casino allows it. However, I have two problems with it:

1. Adding a player to the table uses up the good cards faster. IN that respect, if I have played a shoe up to the point where the good cards are about to come out, and then this guy jumps in and uses up some of those good cards, that isn't really fair to me.

2. I hate having to rearrange and tighten up the seating arrangement at the table, and go through the buy-in and welcome to the table slow-down bit, only to have the player jump back out after three hands. Yes, that is pretty rude.

As long as it isn't an all the time thing, the person isn't particularly over-bearing, or on their third trip into my table, I probably wouldn't say anything or do anything. I'd just grin and bear it. If, however, the situation got out of hand, I'd either say something to the player, complain to the pit, or find another place to play.

 

[Mikeaber]

It happens at Plaza. They allow mid-shoe entry on their double-deck! Never has bothered me.

 

[cyclinggimpe]

I've seen people do this but I didn't know there was a term for it. The guy would not even sit down to bet and then he'd place about $100 to $200 down. Every time I've seen it though, the guy lost everything and everyone would roll their eyes after he left. It doesn't bother me at all. I've had some comments made to me when I sat at the last empty spot of a table (all other tables were either full or not doing anything for me). Some people have no problem telling you that you ruined a good table. I don't have a problem with people jumping in and out since I change tables regularly if the table is bad for me. If I can't seem to win much after betting half my buy-in, I'm out of there.

 

[Mikeaber]

I know that it makes no difference, still, I will out of curtesy ask the table if they would rather that I wait until after the next shuffle to join the game. There have been a couple of times when the table has asked me to wait and I don't mind. Most of the time, I get that "you don't know what you are getting into" set of looks and comments, but they will tell you to jump in and maybe you'll "change the luck" <LOL>

 

[BlackjackRebel]

I don't care at all if people just drop in out of the blue but someone who is wonging only jumps in when the deck is favorable. That lessens the impact of that favorable situation for those players who were already on the table and who had endured the less favorable earlier conditions. So from that point of view, I might be less than overjoyed when a Wonger joins the table.
Still, that isn't something that is going to upset me all that much anyway. Many counters are less precise than they think they are and it might not be as favorable a situation as he thinks.

I think most people who stand behind a table in action long enough to get a count accurate enough to be of use is probably going to get some reaction from people who aren't particularly fond of strangers standing right behind them under any circumstances. Everyone knows from Wild Bill Hickock what can happen when you have strangers behind you.

 

[Mikeaber]

Well BJR, Wonging situations might be an opportune time for a player to cover multiple spots to keep the Wongers out. Might be difficult to do though since serious counters are probably not going to be playing at a table with only one or two spots open.

 

[russellj93]

I am reading Bluebook of Blackjack II. So far it is one of the best BJ books I have read. (I will post a review when I finish it). Anyway the book talks about jumping in the middle of shoe when it is hot. It may piss some players off, but according to the book, it has absolutely no effect on the card flow. The reason given is that there is no way to predict when a hot streak will begin or end. I have seen signs posted in some casinos that say they MAY not allow you to enter a game in the middle of the shoe. I have never been stopped from entering in the middle of a shoe and usually are encourged to do so. However, I have never stood over a table and counted the cards and I am sure that is the purpose of the sign.
Russell

 

[Just Learning]

Wonging, Wonging

Wonging in and out might upset some people, but when the person is playing with their money they can do what they want. Most of the time I will ask the table if it is okay if I join them. The reason I do this is because I play for fun. Don't get me wrong, I am always playing to win. But I try not to let other people spoil my fun. I don't want to sit at a table and be miserable. If I want to be miserable I will go to work! If a person keeps jumping in and out of the table and it starts to annoy me, I will just move to another table.

 

[lagavulin62]

I count but have never wonged in on a table. at this point in my counting career wonging is not very affective because at the nickel and dime tables it's not always easy to get a seat anyway. I hate to see signs that do not permit mid-shoe entry but if I were at a table and someone wonged in at a favorable count and took up one or two hands I am sure it would be annoying to me, especially if they were one of those obnoxious jerk types. this is one of those times I think it's best for a player to just move to another table and not make too much of a stink about the practice for the simple reason it's a practice that favors counters/advantage players. those that do wong need to learn a little courtesy for others when they utilize this practice.

 

[Anshar]

I don't know how common this game is, but it seems to be made for Wongers. At Casino Niagara we have a game called multi-spot blackjack. It's the same in every respect as the regular blackjack tables there but there are three betting boxes at each seat. The person sitting at the table bets in the top box and is in control of the hand. The remaining two spots can be bet by others around the table.

It seems to me that this is the ideal situation for a two or three person team. One person sits at the table and makes the small bets and plays a strategy agreed upon by the group. Then when the count is high the others bet big behind him/her.

Has anyone else seen this game (I've only played at the two local casinos) and/or seen it used in this fashion?

 

[E-town-guy]

I've never seen it or heard about it before but it does sound very favorable for a group of counters for the reasons you stated. Where exactly is casino niagara?

 

[TonyDee]

It happens at Plaza. They allow mid-shoe entry on their double-deck! Never has bothered me.

this is do true. The Plaza is like a wonging paradise because during every visit people were constantly backcounting. It was so obvious too, that the dealer could only smile about it.

 

[TonyDee]

I've never seen it or heard about it before but it does sound very favorable for a group of counters for the reasons you stated. Where exactly is casino niagara?

Niagara falls, Ontario