Solo table selection

[Comeback Kid]

How does one backcount and wong in/out without raising any suspicions? Do you just hop on a table at a fresh shoe once in a while to appear like a regular player? How to still get sufficient playing time while effectively watching tables solo? What to do if there are no mid shoe entries? The obvious answer would be to just move on to a table or casino that does allow it, but what if you have no choice b/c you ran through every other place in your area already or you need more playing time? Won't EV and Std dev take care of it's self in the long run as long as you put your time in and play enough hands as long as you've got good rules and/or penetration, spread, don't make too many mistakes, ect?

[Severity8]

Aggressively wong out with no mid shoe entry!

[victorino]

The more you play, I think the more you'll see that people come to tables and leave tables for a variety of reasons. Be like everyone else.

Perhaps you shouldn't worry about sufficient playing time. It sounds like you're interested in the long run. If that's the case, focus on quality over quantity...and your playing time will take care of itself.

And like Severity already said, when you can't wong in, then you can at least wong out.

[Baberuth]

Scouting tables seems to draw the attention of the pit. Maybe I am not moving fast enough, but I am good with the pit and dealer once at the table. I love wonging out and enjoy the break knowing I am saving some serious pain. So often when returning I hear the crys of "You didn't miss anything. Glad your back. Please don't leave again. You ruined the flow." One guy was really pissed and F bombed me. I enjoyed the next 3 times I left and him losing more.

[Comeback Kid]

Ha ha. Well in my area ppl sit there at the same table for hours. Most don't leave until they've lost a bunch and it's been bad for a while. Also the places around here don't tolerate constant hopping on+off the table. The pit boss will say you can't come back to that table the next time you leave. Their theory is that somebody else could be playing in that spot and I guess they don't want the other patrons to get upset and leave, therefore costing the casino money. But yeah, I think my style will be to aggressively wong out and occasionally wong in when I can. That's what I'll have to do b/c the tables fill fast and there's not a lot of them, plus they're anal about opening new tables until a certain time. I can usually get away with staying out of most of or a whole shoe before resuming but up to a certain point. I've been known to leave the casino completely, kill some time and get back to the table just before or right as a new shoe is about to be in play.

[Lowrider]

Wonging IN is incredibly suspicious to me....Wong OUT whenever the hell you wish and come back 4 a new shoe

[Baberuth]

Don't play the negative shoe no matter what the pit says! Ditto Lowrider!

[Aslan]

Take what the casino gives. In some places you will feel natural standing behind and back counting a shoe or two-- no pressure, no feeling of conspicuousness, no heat. In other places, you stand out like a sore thumb. It's not only the place, it's the time of day, the number of players at the tables and behind the tables, the number of tables vacant, and conditions in general. You have to be adaptable to whatever conditions you run into. When I say, "Take what the casino gives," I mean, do whatever you can do with ease. The same goes for how you play-- do you feel any heat playing unrated? --do you feel comfortable spreading your full planned amount? --do you need a little camo? Play it by ear, trust your instincts, don't push the envelope. There is money to be made, but greed and overconfidence are your worst enemies. Follow the Tommy Bahamas slogan-- "Relax!" As always, YMMV, but it works for me. Wishing you a prosperous new year!

[blackjackomaha]

Aslan summed it up pretty well. "Take what the casino gives." There will be plenty of times where you will fit in back counting, and plenty of times where you won't. I also agree with everyone else about wonging out - plops do it quite often as it can "change the flow" . There are a multitude of excuses you can use, even if you are heads up in a NMSE game. Game quality is very important, so if wonging in/out depending on the conditions is what you need to do...by all means, do what you do best .

[bigplayer]

Most of the casinos that I play are no mid-shoe entry, however you should not just stand behind one table counting down shoe after shoe. Mix it up, walk around and look for a good shoe to land on...buy-in small and if you tap out and the count is negative just look for a dealer about to shuffle and go there...watch the first round if there is a + or Neutral Running count buy-in small again and play...if you get through the shoe without an exit stick around through the shuffle and play...if the count tanks look at your watch and leave or ask the dealer to lock up your spot and go to the bathroom. Come back and wait for the shuffle to re-enter...if the count tanks just pick up your chips and move somewhere else. Mix it up...don't be a pure wonger...keep the casino guessing. The key element is to avoid playing negative shoes.

[Gamblor]

If you recognize someone as a counter, and he doesn't recognize you, just wong in and bet big if you see him betting big

[Zach Black]

I look for wong-in opportunities at tables that are near full. Often players will loose and leave when small cards come out. Then it looks natural to join table when a couple spots open up. This story seems to repeat, as players tend to loose as the count increases and short-stacked ploppies leave once out of ammunition.

This same situation can occur on double deck games at a few locations.