For top bet 2x200 how many top bets for initial buyin, and rebuy for how many top bets when count soars. Depends on store and specific conditions so general suggestions? For 6 deck shoes.
A couple issues. One, you are talking reverse rat-holing here. Same danger as rat-holing. If anyone sees this, you will be labeled as a rat-holer and any unaccounted for chips will be credited to you. If playing rated, this label will carry over to future visits.
Second, if you are going to have a stash of chips in your pocket so that you can jump to you larger bets without attention drawing buy-ins, you should play with chips brought to the table from the get go. There is a benefit to this as it allows you to enter the game without an initial buy-in, which is the first interaction with pit and their first chance to size you up and make any observations about you and/or your game. You are in a sense, prolonging your first interaction with pit, which is a good thing.
Making an initial buy-in and then reaching for chips in your pocket is a huge red flag for anyone who sees it. No ploppies or regular players buy in for cash when they have chips in their pocket.
On occasions when I do buy-in, I prefer a very small buy-in. Very small. Just a handful of minimum wagers. You can always buy-in for more and when you do, it just screams of a player chasing losses. Buying in for more and then betting larger (because the count has risen) screams 'chaser' even louder.
The other benefit of a very small buy-in, is that too, can prolong your first interaction with pit. Often the pit sees a very small buy-in and just gives a wave to the dealer to continue, without any kind of interaction, figuring you are only there for a very short time.
Depends on table limit. If it's a 15 table, 200 should be your max buy in, 25 table, you dont want to buy in for more than 500. I usually buy in for around 300 at a 25 table. Forget about your top bet and what you need to buy in for, focus on what is appropriate for that table, you can always buy in for more if you catch a losing streak. Nonstop buying in is a good thing because as KJ already noted, it gives off a guy who is 'chasing his losses' and they'll think you're a degenerate.
Now with all that being said, when you do buy in, make sure you use lower denomination bills. Let's say you buy in for 200, try to use nine $20 bills and two $10 bills, as that also gives off a guy who is running out of cash. As you keep buying in try to use a small and smaller denomination. For example what you could do is start off with a buyin with 50's or 100s. As you keep buying in start using 20's, 10's, and 5's. There's so many little subtle things you can do to manipulate the pit boss early on to thinking you're just there for a fun, short session, and not a threat at all.
All this trying to fool the pit can be pointless and/or counterproductive. They most likely know what you are doing and there are 2 keys to longevity.:
1) Stick within the casino tolerances.
2) Don't do anything that would make the suits get in trouble for not taking action. This allows them to let you play as long as they are comfortable about it.
Some suits don't like being treated like idiots while others think it is funny that you think they don't know what you are doing. The longer you can avoid interaction with them the more they can let you get away with. Not causing a scene or other unpleasant issues for them also helps longevity. No matter what eventually you either have to give it a break or get the back off.
At my current limit my buyins look ordinary, but as I get closer to moving up I want to be sure I don't make any stupid mistakes.
Had a recent session where could not win anything and kept pulling out buyins. Sure looked like a gambler, I know thats what its supposed to look like but felt like there was too much attention, even though the pit actually hardly took notice.
$2,500 should get you through about 90% of the swings possible with a top bet of 2x$200. You will likely win or lose around $1200 per big shoe but mid-shoe swings could be much greater and occasionally you will win or lose 2x your typical swing. I would certainly be real hesitant to start any shoe with a planned top bet of 2x$200 with less than $1000.
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