Mike Jammer: New Counter Question

[Mike Jammer]

If I was dealt hard 16 v. dealer ace with a high true count, would an insurance bet followed by a surrender draw casino heat? Would a camoflage play be advised in this situation?

[Parker]

> If I was dealt hard 16 v. dealer ace with a
> high true count, would an insurance bet
> followed by a surrender draw casino heat?
> Would a camoflage play be advised in this
> situation?

I've done it many times. Sometimes it gets a funny look or two, but usually nothing more. Since you'd normally have a max bet out in this situation, there is too much EV at stake to play it wrong for camo purposes.

[Ouchez]

> I've done it many times. Sometimes it gets a
> funny look or two, but usually nothing more.
> Since you'd normally have a max bet out in
> this situation, there is too much EV at
> stake to play it wrong for camo purposes.

But this is defiantly an advanced play.

"We caught em' nappin Boyz!"
Ouchez.

[mdlbj]

"Never Take Insurance"

Quote From Don Schlesinger.

Surrender for sure.

[Wolverine]

Perhaps you could cover your "advancedness" with a comment like: "Boy, I sure wish you had that blackjack so I wouldn't have to play this hand. I was just trying to come out even with the insurance bet. Oh well. I'll surrender."

What do you think? Sounds kinda "aw shucks, what a losing hand I had."

[Parker]

> "Never Take Insurance"

> Quote From Don Schlesinger.

> Surrender for sure.

You're quoting from Don's Basic Strategy card.

Correct basic strategy is to never take insurance.

However, we're talking about card counting, in which insurance becomes one of the most profitable plays.

Please read the thread before jumping in.

[stainless steel rat]

> Perhaps you could cover your
> "advancedness" with a comment
> like: "Boy, I sure wish you had that
> blackjack so I wouldn't have to play this
> hand. I was just trying to come out even
> with the insurance bet. Oh well. I'll
> surrender."

> What do you think? Sounds kinda "aw
> shucks, what a losing hand I had."

I think you are on the right track. Long-time friend of mine is head of an "eye" department at a casino I won't mention. He convinced me several years ago that +if+ he looks at a counter, he can pretty well pick him out as a counter. I believe I can do the same, by ignoring the "act" and watching the cards and bets carefully.

The moral is to simply avoid getting watched carefully, so that you don't get discovered. Your rambling conversations can be used to help in this regard, done correctly...

Little problems like splitting 6/7's, getting 4/5's on them, doubling, and getting 10's, all with a big bet out, attracts a lot of comments from the table. That needs some verbal "defusing" from time to time, by making particular comments when you are not so lucky...

Nothing like only taking insurance when the count is high, getting it right most every time, to trip warning alarms around the table and in the pit.

[Parker]

Like so many things in advantage play, it depends on your "act." If you're naturally the chatty type at the table, then a comment such as this might help to diffuse the situation.

OTOH, if you're always offering up some lame explanation for any deviation from basic strategy, well, this is one of the "tells" that sharp pit critters look for.

Remember, the most important part of your act is that it doesn't look like an act.