New Blackjack Players

I made the mistake of going to a casino on Sunday, the middle day of a 3-day holiday weekend.

Oh.My.God. I know I should know better – but what about all the other people there??

I’m not going to name the casino or do a review about that visit – I figured I’d give them a chance midweek some time and do a review when there were fewer people there.

I went over to the pits to check out the blackjack and some tables were not only full, there was a crowd behind the players, waiting for a seat. Obviously, this was more prevalent at the $5 min table, but the $10 tables were nearly as bad. There were two pits and only one $5 in each, with one being a non-smoking table. At this particular casino, probably 50% of the tables had a CSM – and I won’t play at one of those. So – I decided to just stand and practice counting. The crowd waiting for a seat at the $5 gave me good cover for the practice and with the number of people, nobody was going to recognize me another day of the week.

(I won’t even talk about the crowds at the numerous slot machines – holy moly. It was a fight to get to the bathroom. Which also had a line.)

Here’s something I don’t understand… there were people who waited 2 hours to get a seat at the $5 min table, then sat down and pulled… $40 out of their pocket.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph – who spends 2+ hours waiting to play a whole whopping $40? One woman lasted a whole 15 minutes before she lost her $40 buy-in. Lessee – 2 hours for 15 minutes of play that costs $40?

Someone explain to me how that’s fun.

When I got tired of practicing the count (or lost it completely and gave up for the shoe – this is why I’m not a card counter), I’d talk to some of the people who were waiting. Very few had any clue how to play – they were there to have a good time. And wait 2 hours to have it. God help the player who got up to stretch or go to the bathroom or go have a smoke. There’d be a rush for the seat, at which point the player – and the dealer – would have to explain that the seat wasn’t being vacated, the player was just taking a break. And even if the seat wasn’t being vacated, there would then be a discussion about whose seat it would be if it was being vacated. The poor dealer, head down and dealing, had no idea who came when or who had wandered off to see if something else might be available – then come back. At one point, the pit boss numbered off who was next (I stepped away so I wouldn’t be numbered). That was when there were only 3 people waiting. Another fellow arrived shortly after the #3 numbered person – no doubt feeling safe that a place at the table was assured – went to the bathroom. When she returned and the dealer told her replacement who was who and what order they were in, he had a fit. I mean – there wasn’t even a seat available yet and he was fighting over it! He told her she wasn’t there when he got there – how could she be #3? She explained she’d gone to the bathroom, at which point he insisted that meant she lost her place. A real gentleman, that. He left long before even the person in the #2 spot got a seat at the table.

One poor woman who was waiting (after the pit boss gave up numbering) took a nap at one of the slot machines. And what was really hilarious was that, in this very crowded casino where obviously slots are the #1 game in town, some fellow just couldn’t resist playing the slot machine she was sleeping in front of – he was just trying to be very, very careful not to disturb her slumber.

In addition to waiting an unbelievable amount of time to play, most of these people showed how little they knew by the way they played. People, a “no-bust” playing strategy is a losing strategy. If you’re afraid of busting, don’t play blackjack. Your chances of pulling a card and making a hand are much better if you hit a stiff hand 12-16 against a dealer’s 7 or higher than your chances of the dealer busting if you don’t. I’m wondering if some players don’t realize that 12-16 cannot beat any hand the dealer may make and that the dealer must bust in order for them to win. Well, I’m here to tell ya – that’s how it works. If the dealer has 7 or higher, you need to hit 12-16 even if you think you might bust. Standing on it is just plain stupid unless you’re a card counter – and trust me, there aren’t any card counters at a $5 min table on a holiday weekend, especially any willing to wait 2 hours to get a seat.

By the same token, don’t stand on 14 against a dealer 10 – then hit 13 against a dealer 6! Honest to God – what I saw on Sunday wasn’t bad strategy – it was no strategy!

I continue to be amazed at how many people will sit down and play a game about which they (apparently) know absolutely nothing. We were all beginners once – but there’s no excuse for remaining a beginner.

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