table edicate

**Cajun** · 07-25-2015, 12:50 PM

last night was at a min table split a pair of 9 against a 9. The guy at first base thought that I committed a felony. because the table lost after a couple of more hand the table loosing he made a comment that I changed the table with my splitting the 9's. He was not even playing basic strategy. He was doing it by psychic feel and poorly at that. after the cards turned against for a few more hands I left, I came back two shoes later. During a shuffle they had several spots open the same guy said the tables full and I should go else where. I said lets ask the pit boss? the dealer said there was a spot open in front of me. So i played, after a couple of shoes I had a soft 18 against a ten so i hit. The guy at first base went off again because the table lost. I said I would of been the same even if I did not take that card. The dealer chastised me that the person next to me would of gotten a push If I did not hit. That really pissed me off. anyway I have a couple of questions, 1. do you ever say you are just playing basic strategy? 2. If someone gets mad at you and you want to play what do you do, i.e. push to get a spot? 3. What do you do if the dealer says something that you don't think is correct do you say something back?

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 07-25-2015, 12:59 PM

Etiquette

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 07-25-2015, 01:01 PM

"Ploppy Play" is what allows you to play a game that you can win at.

Be silently thankful.

**Dieter** · 07-25-2015, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Cajun

I have a couple of questions, 1. do you ever say you are just playing basic strategy? 2. If someone gets mad at you and you want to play what do you do, i.e. push to get a spot? 3. What do you do if the dealer says something that you don't think is correct do you say something back?

There are other people at the table?

Most people don't know basic strategy. Most people can barely manage simple strategy.

**Three** · 07-25-2015, 01:19 PM

Don't pay them any mind. tell them you play your hunches and if you think I am guessing bad today you might want to move to another table because I always play my hunches. Some people just like to blame their failures on others no matter what they fail at. The dealer is probably enjoying not being the blame for a change. Let him have a rest from the A-hole.

**Norm** · 07-25-2015, 01:21 PM

Tell them you'll double-down on the next blackjack, and maybe they'll leave.

**Masterhoudini** · 07-25-2015, 01:36 PM

I actually think you could have leveraged that situation into something better by apologizing to the ploppy saying something like you just had a feeling you'd get two aces or whatever. This would have been good especially if the ploppy was a regular and the pit was watching. You could buy yourself longevity for this. It's easy to let your ego get in the way, but part of being a good AP is controlling your emotions and thinking on the fly always to improve your game (including mental aspects).

Yes, it takes a lot of control to do this- the other alternative is to bite your tongue and say nothing- but never make a scene- it benefits in almost no way at all. I've seen first hand an AP who could have extracted 150k from a tolerant store only get 40k before getting tossed because he pissed off a whale ploppy (well it's my guess it had a contribution to his demise).

Befriending whale ploppies are GOLDEN tickets btw to lasting longer, especially at the high stakes level, but that's another convo.

**Orangechip2** · 07-25-2015, 03:13 PM

1. I never explain to them that it is the correct play, and voicing the correct play in my region will get you 'labeled' a non-jackass (they only show love to jackasses in my region).

2. I am not a fan of crowded conditions or more than 1 other person at the table - but if the 'opportunity' presents itself and it's time to get in I place my money in the circle . I tend to have the attitude of 'I will never see these people again in life again'-so if they feel some type of way about me, fuck them (I am referring to the other players at the table, not the casino personnel).

3. Nope. I have talked very, very 'slick' to dealers, suits, security guards/supervisors, and gaming agents and it almost immediately made the situation worse . Best thing to do is make them feel as if they just taught you something you didn't know, until you get the same hand and correctly play it again .

**Three** · 07-25-2015, 03:25 PM

They remember me and avoid my table in the future if my play bothers them. That is sauce for the goose.

**Shadowless** · 07-25-2015, 04:01 PM

Don't let others intimidate you.
It's important to not be pushed over or talked down to.
Whenever I play with others, I never tolerate any nonsense or verbal abuse.

Defend yourself by responding with a raised and stern voice, but don't justify the play as being the correct move.
The dealer/players will know not to mess with you next time.
They'll keep picking at you unless you stand up for yourself (not your play).

**Bodarc** · 07-25-2015, 04:16 PM

I still just tell them I did it on purpose because I was setting up the next hand.

**Sweaty** · 07-25-2015, 05:43 PM

"Do you pay my bills?"
"I don't tell you how to spend your money."
"You play your cards, I'll play mine."
"I think there is a table over there"

are a few I use if the player is being a prick about it, I want him to leave anyway. I generally try to be polite to everyone at the table though.

I'll admit, I've split 10's with a min bet out to infuriate a high-betting ploppy and try to drive him off the table. It was all the sweeter that it cost him the hand, but he stayed.

**Bigdaddy** · 07-25-2015, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowless

Don't let others intimidate you.
It's important to not be pushed over or talked down to.
Whenever I play with others, I never tolerate any nonsense or verbal abuse.

Defend yourself by responding with a raised and stern voice, but don't justify the play as being the correct move.
The dealer/players will know not to mess with you next time.
They'll keep picking at you unless you stand up for yourself (not your play).

How about this response to the growling plopplies - I call it the "Lieutenant Columbo response" (for those of us old enough to remember): "I'm sorry - I thought it was the right thing to do. You know my wife gave me this blackjack strategy chart and it said always split 9s. The first thing I'm going to tell her tonight when I get home is that I don't where she got this chart, but the whole table got angry with me..."

"...just one more thing sir...."