Electric Kid: 2002 in Review

[Electric Kid]

During 2002, I played blackjack at 8 different casinos in the Midwest. They ranged from the eastern U.P. of MI all the way to eastern MN. For the year, I was a net winner at 5 and at net loser at 3 and a couple even gave me some devastating losses along the way although there were some nice wins too.

I decided to only talk about the extremes because thats always more exciting. First, I will start with the worst which had to be Oneida in Green Bay. At Oneida my average loss per hour for the year was $84.29. I really got my ass whipped playing single deck there. I also had bad losses at Hayward WI and Kewadin at St Ignace. For some reason, I can't seem to win at St Ignace. I don't ever recall a winning session there. Must be that damn domed tent building.

However, there was some nice wins too and the best casino on an per hour basis had to be Hinckley, MN with a win rate of $92 per hour, but let me put this in perspective. When you only play a few hours anything can happen and I was lucky but it could have been a loss just as easy as it was a win. And for second place on a per hour basis the best win had to be at the "candy store", but enough said about this place. All that really matters is the bottom line and for 2002 I ended the year as a "net winner".

[RP]

> I decided to only talk about the extremes
> because thats always more exciting. First, I
> will start with the worst which had to be
> Oneida in Green Bay. At Oneida my average
> loss per hour for the year was $84.29. I
> really got my ass whipped playing single
> deck there.

I remember reading that there have been allegations of cheating by the house at the Indian casinos in Green Bay; CBJN even notates that you shouldn't play there if you suspect cheating. I'm just curious if anything there made you suspicious of cheating.

[Electric Kid]

> I remember reading that there have been
> allegations of cheating by the house at the
> Indian casinos in Green Bay; CBJN even
> notates that you shouldn't play there if you
> suspect cheating. I'm just curious if
> anything there made you suspicious of
> cheating.

I think I lost partly because I'm not use to playing single deck. There aren't many single deck games in the Midwest and I haven't had much experience with single deck. I played three different sessions in Green Bay. A total of 10.5 hours and lost badly on 2 of them. The other session was just slightly better than break even. I thought the game was a pretty decent game. It even looked better than the 5 deck game. However, I always found it hard to win in Green Bay. Don't know why, but I have had some nice wins there at times.

[ET Fan]

... but single deck used to suck big time at Oneida. It was rule of five, in best case. I'm pretty sure it was 2 rounds to 3, 3 rounds to 2, 1 round to 4 or more! Lousy rules. Somebody jumps in -- shuffle. You go to two hands -- shuffle. New dealer -- shuffle. Every hour new cards -- shuffle. Has it improved?

I liked the 4d and 5d games there. Chose the $5 tables, cause they don't let you spread to two hands at the $3 tables. (Hell, you can still sit out!) I might reconsider if they pitched surrender!

ETF

[Electric Kid]

> ... but single deck used to suck big time at
> Oneida. It was rule of five, in best case.
> I'm pretty sure it was 2 rounds to 3, 3
> rounds to 2, 1 round to 4 or more! Lousy
> rules. Somebody jumps in -- shuffle. You go
> to two hands -- shuffle. New dealer --
> shuffle. Every hour new cards -- shuffle.
> Has it improved?

> I liked the 4d and 5d games there. Chose the
> $5 tables, cause they don't let you spread
> to two hands at the $3 tables. (Hell, you
> can still sit out!) I might reconsider if
> they pitched surrender!

> ETF

I'm just glad I didn't follow his advice and play at the $25 min table. Below is a repost of a trip report I posted on BJ21 Green after my trip.

In the Midwest there are only a few places that offer single deck blackjack so the opportunity to play doesn't come along very often. I know very little about single deck blackjack and really played it for the first time this past weekend. You guessed it. I got my ass whipped.

First, I need to know if I was playing a good game. The rules for their single deck game were H17, D10, No DAS, Split Once except Aces could be resplit to make 4 hands. The pen averaged .5 decks unseen. The pen was as good as .4 and as bad as .6 depending on the dealer. I thought this seemed like a good game, but really didn't know for sure.
They had another strange rule where you could go to two hands during the game but if you dropped a hand you could not go back to two hands. I would start out with one hand and spread to two hands if the count was postive on the second round. I used a 1 to 8 spread and got no heat, but nothing seemed to work for me. Most of my big bets I lost. Another thing I noticed is I never really got any real high counts. Most of my running counts were only plus one or two when the second round came along. Is this normal in single deck?

Jimmy B, thanks for the advice, however I'm sure glad I only played the $10 min table. I really would of taken a beating if I was playing the $25 min table. If I get the time maybe I will do a trip report on Midwest Green.

[bigtreedude]

The single deck tables in Green Bay are usually full which means you only get two hands or sometimes only one hand dealt per deck. This is the biggest problem since you only get one chance per deck to increase your bet and, in addition, you get fewer hands per hour.

-- BigTreeDude

Electric Kid wrote:

> I decided to only talk about the extremes
> because thats always more exciting. First, I
> will start with the worst which had to be
> Oneida in Green Bay. At Oneida my average
> loss per hour for the year was $84.29. I
> really got my ass whipped playing single
> deck there.

[Parker]

The game you were playing was mediocre. The rules are similar to downtown Reno rules, which are only playable if you are getting exceptional penetration, which it does not sound like you were.

Good single deck rules are H17, Double any first two cards, no DAS, resplit pairs to four hands. Outstanding rules are when DAS is allowed, but these are rare.

Never play single deck with more than four players total at the table, and that only if the dealer is dealing deep and giving three rounds. Otherwise, don't play if there are more than three players total at the table. You want at least three rounds between shuffles. Obviously, the more the better.

Playing a full table with a shuffle every other round is pretty much a waste of time.

Single deck can be extremely volatile because you will see lots of high counts and hence be putting lots of money on the table. You will usually either win big or take a real beating - rarely any middle ground.

It is blackjack the way it was meant to be played. :-)

[T-Hopper]

> The rules are similar to downtown Reno rules,
> which are only playable if you are getting
> exceptional penetration

Or a 1-8 spread with no cover and at least rule of six. Don't try this with black chips!

> Never play single deck with more than four
> players total at the table, and that only if
> the dealer is dealing deep and giving three
> rounds. Otherwise, don't play if there are
> more than three players total at the table.
> You want at least three rounds between
> shuffles. Obviously, the more the better.

> Playing a full table with a shuffle every
> other round is pretty much a waste of time.

A full table isn't too bad IF you have two spots locked up on the third base side. You can greatly increase your spread by sitting out hands when the count is very negative.

[T-Hopper]

You can greatly increase your spread by sitting out one of your hands when the count is very negative.

[ET Fan]

They also had double on 10-11 only. I do remember asking the dealer about 2 rounds to 3, and 3 rounds to 2. It was a rule. So I refused to play unless there was only one other player, which gave me a look at 2x3 = 6 hands (including dealer's) before the last round. 6 hands =~ 17 cards. I also spread the max ($50 to $10, I think) and sat out negs. Still lost. ;-)

Everone should have the experience of playing single deck as it existed when Thorp wrote THE book. Set it up on a practice program. You can double bankroll in two days without breaking a sweat.

ETF

[Ouchez]

> They also had double on 10-11 only. I do
> remember asking the dealer about 2 rounds to
> 3, and 3 rounds to 2. It was a rule. So I
> refused to play unless there was only one
> other player, which gave me a look at 2x3 =
> 6 hands (including dealer's) before the last
> round. 6 hands =~ 17 cards. I also spread
> the max ($50 to $10, I think) and sat out
> negs. Still lost. ;-)

> Everone should have the experience of
> playing single deck as it existed when Thorp
> wrote THE book. Set it up on a practice
> program. You can double bankroll in two days
> without breaking a sweat.

> ETF

Would you not say the same thing about todays 6 deck games that are seldom better cut than 1.5?

I know there are a few gems left but doncha think playing the 6 deckers really turn you into a gambler and not a "real" advantage player?

I may tend to think that all the time spent trying to beat a 6d could be better spent in other endeavors or pursuits. Maybe just stick to a recreation agenda and not heavy serious play.

Serious play should be saved for the trackable games, or 4 or less decks with favorable circumstances.

I doubt Thorp would have played a 6d game in any serious way.

[K-O Joe]

I doubt Thorp played with a team. That can make all the differance.

Aces & Faces to Ya! K-O Joe

> Would you not say the same thing about
> todays 6 deck games that are seldom better
> cut than 1.5?

> I know there are a few gems left but doncha
> think playing the 6 deckers really turn you
> into a gambler and not a "real"
> advantage player?

> I may tend to think that all the time spent
> trying to beat a 6d could be better spent in
> other endeavors or pursuits. Maybe just
> stick to a recreation agenda and not heavy
> serious play.

> Serious play should be saved for the
> trackable games, or 4 or less decks with
> favorable circumstances.

> I doubt Thorp would have played a 6d game in
> any serious way.

[Sun Runner]

> I may tend to think that all the time spent
> trying to beat a 6d could be better spent in
> other endeavors or pursuits.

Like working a "donts" strategy at the dice table.

I thought 6D games were the bread and butter game of the professional; certainly the team player.

If Parker, BigPlayer, or DD' felt comfortable sharing, I would be interested to know of all the hands played in 2002, what percent were played at 6D. (I think Don S. is stuck in East Coast hell or I would ask him.)

Also, and this is really wearing my welcome thin, do they shuffle track?

SR