Norm Wattenberger: Ploppy strategy

[bigplayer]

Ploppies, at least in my neck of the woods and in locals casinos in LV seem to have improved their games.

Ploppie Deviations from Correct Basic Strategy

1. Stand on 12 vs 3
2. Stand on 16 vs 7
3. Stand on Soft 18 vs 9,10,Ace, seldom double
4. Hit 8-8 vs 10
5. Stand on 6-6 vs 3 thru 6
6. Double A2, A3, A4 vs 2,3
7. Always stand on 9-9
8. Occasionally split 2-2 and 3-3 vs 8,9

As Grosjean says in his book, the biggest giveaway is that ploppies think 18 is a good hand when its not.

[Mike C]

> Oh please do not forget the most important
> thing to do to get a blackjack. After
> getting an A on your first card, you MUST
> point at it as the dealer gives you your
> second card. I understand that this works
> slightly more than 30% of the time.

I always bang the table with my fist and yell the suit of the card I want, unless I want a face card in which case I yell "Monkey!" I seem to get the card I call for approximately 1 out of 13 times for some reason or other.

Unless of course it's my birthday, there's a full moon, and the last 2 cards out of the shoe were 6's.

[Ed Tice]

Really? Only 1/13. You must be exceptionally unlucky. I do much better than 1/13! With the A-9 I also only get what I want 1/13 of the time. But my average is boosted significantly because I do much better with face cards, getting a 10 value card 4/13 of the time!

Ed

> I always bang the table with my fist and
> yell the suit of the card I want, unless I
> want a face card in which case I yell
> "Monkey!" I seem to get the card I
> call for approximately 1 out of 13 times for
> some reason or other.

> Unless of course it's my birthday, there's a
> full moon, and the last 2 cards out of the
> shoe were 6's.

[Gil]

I was playing in Barbary Coast and I heard this gem a few times:

"Dealer 2 is a Dealer Ace"

To which I asked "Who Says"

Their reply...... "Statistics, harumph"

[Magician]

> I was playing in Barbary Coast and I heard
> this gem a few times:

> "Dealer 2 is a Dealer Ace"

My response: "I've never seen the dealer get a blackjack with a 2 before."

Most ploppies do seem to know that 5 & 6 are the weakest upcards and T & A are the strongest. Although they tend to under-value the week cards (doubling 8 and 7, splitting tens) and over-value the strong cards (not doubling 11 or splitting eights).

[Cacarulo]

> I was playing in Barbary Coast and I heard
> this gem a few times:

> "Dealer 2 is a Dealer Ace"

I usually respond them with something like "Not the red deuce, the black deuce is the evil!"
I get some strange faces but it's all part of the act

Sincerely,
Cacarulo

[Mike C]

> Really? Only 1/13. You must be exceptionally
> unlucky. I do much better than 1/13! With
> the A-9 I also only get what I want 1/13 of
> the time. But my average is boosted
> significantly because I do much better with
> face cards, getting a 10 value card 4/13 of
> the time!

> Ed

True, the flying monkeys hit the table about 4 out of every 13 times I holler for them.

[Mike C]

> I'm trying to come up with a guess at the
> most common strategy used by Blackjack
> players. Thus far I have:

> Hit against 2-6 with Hit against 7-A with
> Split Aces & Eights only (maybe not
> against Ten or Ace)
> Insure BJ only
> Always double 11
> Double 10 against 2-9
> No soft doubles
> No resplits
> No Surrenders

> I'd be interested in other's observations.

A dealer 6 makes many a player forget they ever heard of basic strategy. And don't get me started on 12 versus dealer 2's and 3's. How about this one "I only hit 12 against a dealer 2 if no one else at the table takes a hit." Once I met a guy who hit 13's, 14's, 15's against dealer 6's because "somebody needed to take a hit at the table" (same guy was scared to death to hit or double a soft 17 versus a dealer 2-6!) "17's good enough for the dealer, right?" LOFL.

I know that, statistically speaking, a bad player "helps you as much as he hurts you", but I tend to get very uncomfortable playing at tables with players that bad.

[Fuzzy Math]

Just convince them to use random 1-15 bet spreads and you'll have excellent cover.

> A dealer 6 makes many a player forget they
> ever heard of basic strategy. And don't get
> me started on 12 versus dealer 2's and 3's.
> How about this one "I only hit 12
> against a dealer 2 if no one else at the
> table takes a hit." Once I met a guy
> who hit 13's, 14's, 15's against dealer 6's
> because "somebody needed to take a hit
> at the table" (same guy was scared to
> death to hit or double a soft 17 versus a
> dealer 2-6!) "17's good enough for the
> dealer, right?" LOFL.

> I know that, statistically speaking, a bad
> player "helps you as much as he hurts
> you", but I tend to get very
> uncomfortable playing at tables with players
> that bad.