I won't say where, but there are only 4 casinos in my area. I have to drive about 85-100 miles depending on the casino. The casinos are so small that "blending in" is impossible. I play there frequently and every pit boss and dealer knows me by name.
Here are some of the facts of these casinos:
1. There are often times where there is only ONE table to play at, which further makes blending in very difficult.
2. I have to have a players card, which since everybody knows me there already, I might as well do.
3. 3 of the 4 casinos have great penetration. They deal 5 of the 6 decks. At one casino, they deal slightly more than 5 decks.
4. The biggest casino, where I can hide out a little better, unfortunately deals only about 4 of the 6 decks and are always PACKED with players. They also are the only casino that has 8 decks. They have only one table with 6 decks.
5. One casino in particular is the best. They deal 5/6 decks and it is the only casino with S17. One of the other casinos, the one that deals slightly more than 5 decks, is H17 but they offer surrender.
6. All casinos offer DAS and pay 3/2 blackjack.
7. All casinos have 2 deck blackjack, but they only deal 1 of the 2 decks so I don't think it is worth it.
8. Most of the time, the tables are only $5 minimum and are consequently full and usually SLOWWWWWW because of morons jumping in and out. The 2-deck tables are usually the only $10 tables. The only $10 tables at the bigger casino are 8-deck. Therefore, there are NO $10 tables that are 6-deck.
Since most everybody at these casinos know me and I have to have a players card, I depend very heavily on "ratholing." Hiding my wins and exaggerating my losses seems like a must under these circumstances if I do not want to wear out my welcome. I also dress the part. I wear clothes that suggest that I am very blue-collar and dumb. When talking, I try to remove any sort of intelligent vocabulary and pretend that I believe in such hocus-pocus as "the flow" of the cards and other superstitions. I also commit a huge counter "no-no." I drink alcohol while playing. Although you may not believe it, drinking does not affect my counting AT ALL and helps me to blend in. For whatever reason, it seems to take a lot of alcohol for me to get buzzed. I have also practiced counting at home while drinking just to make sure.
My question is, what do you think of my strategy under these circumstances? I have been playing for a while now and have never been asked to leave. I have been on incredible winning streaks as well and it does not seem to be a problem. Of course, I play assuming that they are watching me constantly. Also, at the casino where they cut out 2 decks, it seems to me that it would be better to play the 8 decks just because 6 divided by 8 is a greater % than 4 divided by 6. However, I have much more trouble winning at this casino.
I have other questions as well, but this seems enough for now. Any comments would be great since I have no "card-counter friends." Thanks!
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