Being Made Twice

**Bodarc** · 12-14-2013, 10:31 PM

The other thing that happened to me on this trip, well two things actually:

One day, I took a short trip to the tables on one of the breaks. There were two people at the table. One newbie and another person who was having a good time telling the newbie how he should play each hand. I sat down and it was the start of a shoe. They asked me if I was going to play and I told them I didn't think I had time because I was in the seminar and only had a few minutes. As they started dealing I just sat there and counted. They asked me again if I wanted to play and I declined again and kept counting.

Eventually the count got up pretty high and I said "Are you sure you wouldn't mind If I played a hand or two?" and they said "noooo, come on and get in" so I laid out two pretty good bets and got a blackjack on one and a twenty on the other. The count was still pretty good so I bet again. I can't remember what my hands were but I won that hand too.

The guy sitting between the newbie and myself...the talkative one bellowed out "Man you knew exactly when to get in this game didn't you? You're putting some of that 'Scientific s*** on us now aren't you? I'll bet the eye in the sky is taking you in pretty good right now!" I could have choked him!

Needless to say, I said "When was the last time that waitress came by? I need a cup of coffee bad.", got up and headed towards the snack bar.

On the day I played with the chatty dealer, I went to the buffet for lunch and the well-to-do Chicago couple was eating. After I sat down talking with my friends, they passed by me on the way out. The man stopped and said, you did pretty well in such a short time. I thought you were counting and then when you told me your profession it clinched it for me. I just winked at him and said "Well we don't need to tell everything we know do we?". He shook his head, laughed and said 'Nope, we sure don't!" and walked on out.

So, I was made twice in a very short period of time with small spreads, due to the counts, by other players at the table. I was never even glanced at by a pit boss or dealer.

RS · 12-15-2013, 12:19 AM

Being 'made' is certainly no fun, especially by a fellow player -- you expect it from a boss, someone who is looking to find you out, but not a ploppy player who doesn't "know whats going on".

Once while back-counting and chatting with some players...a player (who I'm pretty sure was counting, since his bets were increasing with the count and played perfect BS) asked me, "Why aren't you playing, or are you counting and waiting to jump in at a good time?" I hadn't placed a single bet, hadn't even bought-in. Then again, I was the only "player" in the casino that wasn't wearing a full suit and tie...not saying THAT was the reason to get "made"....but it sure didn't help that I didn't blend in with the rest. Maybe that was him telling me to GTFO and not wong into his game.....or maybe it was a friendly joke. Nonetheless, I left a few hands later with my tail between my legs. =\

**paymypush** · 12-15-2013, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by Bodarc

The other thing that happened to me on this trip, well two things actually:

One day, I took a short trip to the tables on one of the breaks. There were two people at the table. One newbie and another person who was having a good time telling the newbie how he should play each hand. I sat down and it was the start of a shoe. They asked me if I was going to play and I told them I didn't think I had time because I was in the seminar and only had a few minutes. As they started dealing I just sat there and counted. They asked me again if I wanted to play and I declined again and kept counting.

Eventually the count got up pretty high and I said "Are you sure you wouldn't mind If I played a hand or two?" and they said "noooo, come on and get in" so I laid out two pretty good bets and got a blackjack on one and a twenty on the other. The count was still pretty good so I bet again. I can't remember what my hands were but I won that hand too.

The guy sitting between the newbie and myself...the talkative one bellowed out "Man you knew exactly when to get in this game didn't you? You're putting some of that 'Scientific s*** on us now aren't you? I'll bet the eye in the sky is taking you in pretty good right now!" I could have choked him!

Needless to say, I said "When was the last time that waitress came by? I need a cup of coffee bad.", got up and headed towards the snack bar.

On the day I played with the chatty dealer, I went to the buffet for lunch and the well-to-do Chicago couple was eating. After I sat down talking with my friends, they passed by me on the way out. The man stopped and said, you did pretty well in such a short time. I thought you were counting and then when you told me your profession it clinched it for me. I just winked at him and said "Well we don't need to tell everything we know do we?". He shook his head, laughed and said 'Nope, we sure don't!" and walked on out.

So, I was made twice in a very short period of time with small spreads, due to the counts, by other players at the table. I was never even glanced at by a pit boss or dealer.

You left a positive count because of one remark by a chatty player? Learn how to deflect and go with the flow. It's not difficult. You said that the dealer and pit boss didn't notice.

**Bodarc** · 12-15-2013, 02:54 AM

Hi paymypush

Well, you could be right and under different conditions, I might have stayed but I was playing rated at an all but empty bj pit. There were only two tables open, three people at this table and one other empty table so, at the time to me, it seemed better to leave than to attract attention. I just went back to the seminar and returned later.

**Jet** · 12-15-2013, 08:15 AM

Bodarc I think you overreacted quite a bit. All you had to do was laugh it off and say something like, I wish I was smart enough or something to deflect. Also with card counting just ignore others at the table. A laugh or a smile followed by silence is usually best.

**Bodarc** · 12-15-2013, 08:19 AM

Thanks Guys

I'll remember that

**Ouchez** · 12-15-2013, 11:51 AM

I have said this before,,, at the table you need to develope an aura, presence, of someone fairly dangerous, mean, unhappy,, angry, unfriendly. You do not want, or need, people chatting with you or feeling they can run some shi# on you, and that there will be consequences if they try.

Body language, dress, image, etc, can all be employed to give the above impression.

Ouchez

**Hsiaodi** · 12-15-2013, 02:31 PM

Standard answer: oh I am still down 2 grands.
Bodarc: So what is your profession?

**Bodarc** · 12-15-2013, 03:38 PM

CPA

I was in a seminar held at the casino for 2 days and just didn't want to take any chances. This is the only casino I am rated at.

I am only a red chipper with a 1- 30 spread so for me to be down 2 grand would be some bad ju ju.

**Freightman** · 12-15-2013, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Ouchez

I have said this before,,, at the table you need to develope an aura, presence, of someone fairly dangerous, mean, unhappy,, angry, unfriendly. You do not want, or need, people chatting with you or feeling they can run some shi# on you, and that there will be consequences if they try.

Body language, dress, image, etc, can all be employed to give the above impression.
Ouchez

If your a regular, reconsider. The pit likes a happy table.

**Hsiaodi** · 12-15-2013, 08:42 PM

Lol. I'm sure you count and keep track of numbers well. 1 to 30 is some serious spread.

I don't get too friendly with the table unless I'm with my significant other. Always maintain a "image" that I just lost 2 grand, or still down 2 grand....

**Bodarc** · 12-15-2013, 08:57 PM

When I first sit down at the table, my thinking is that if I use a 1-15 spread of 10-150 and start off with 2 x $10 on the first hand, the dealer sees me as betting 2 spots. Then if I drop back to 1 hand of $10 on the next hand, he doesn't think anything about it. Then I drop back to 1 hand of $5. That makes my 1-15 spread a 1-30 spread. I don't think anyone pays any attention to someone dropping from $10 to $5 but it doubles your spread so from that point on I just bet 5-150.

That is my thinking anyway and so far no one has said anything about it with a red chipper. Don't know how it would work with a larger minimum bet.

**Bodarc** · 12-15-2013, 09:16 PM

I have mixed feelings about being friendly with the staff. I know most people on here say to stay as invisible as possible but I think a lot of it has to do with your natural personality and mine is to be nice as possible with everyone. I think I have gotten much more benefit from it than not. I'll just give you one example: I was playing about a month ago and this female pit boss came over and was just talking. I had a Bloody Mary with a skewer of olives as garnishment. She was very friendly and said "Oh those olives look delicious." I said, "Do you like olives?" and she said " I can eat a whole jar of them at one sitting." When the waitress came around a few minutes later, I ordered another Bloody Mary and a side order of olives. I called the pit lady over and said "Here, I got you something." I was betting my usual and pocketing chips every chance I got and she was over there just eating olives and smiling every once in a while. She didn't pay any attention to me the rest of the night other than to drop by every once in a while and ask how I was doing and make a little small talk. That's just one example, but my theory is if I can get them on my side, I'd much rather have them there than anywhere else and it works for me.