Blackjack Dealer Completely Skipped My Turn

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 10:56 AM

I have never played blackjack before, I was walking by a table and decided to give it a shot. The dealer was dealing the cards extremely fast, but I always placed my bet in the circle on time. Everyone at the table was losing pretty badly. The dealer only Busted once or twice, and got a blackjack 90 percent of the time that he had an Ace. The dealer started talking to my husband who was NOT playing with his money, he was helping me. He continues talking to my husband which, puts the game on hold. He would pass out the cards and stop and talk to my husband about religion and politics before asking each player what they wanted to do. Eventually all the other players got up and left, and i now realize that i should have done the same. There were multiple instances where he completely skipped my turn. Meaning that he did not ask me if I wanted to hit or stand, he just skipped over me and asked the other players how they wanted to play or started flipping over his cards and pulling them when i was playing alone. He did this once when I was alone, and a few times when other players were there, at that point he just skipped my turn and asked the other players what they wanted to do. I know he was aware that i was playing because, he dealt me two cards, and chips which he took after I lost without having an opportunity to hit or stand. I know I wasn't taking too long to play because I was waiting for him to finish talking so that I could have my turn! And i did not make any hand motions that may have caused confusion by making the dealer think that i was standing. My husband even asked me if they dealer gave me the opportunity to have my turn. The dealer knew I was a rookie as he told the other players that came later, in a different language, the only word of English he spoke was rookie. I realized that i should have done something about this at the moment but my husband and I both didn't want to make a scene. Did the dealer cheat me? Does anyone have advice on this?

**whistry** · 11-27-2012, 11:23 AM

Sometimes if its a trivial decision like a hard 19, some dealers will just assume your choice and skip you. If that's a problem, or the dealer is making assumptions where he shouldn't be speak up immediately and get it corrected. It sounds like this was not a very newbie friendly table. If you are brand new, just tell the dealer and they will usually go slower and help you out. If they don't or you're uncomfortable, just move.

**cheese** · 11-27-2012, 11:26 AM

Happens all the time. Happens a bunch if a player is putting 1 up for the dealer consistently. More hands more tips.

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the replies.

The rest of the players at the table were friendly and helping me. They actually encouraged me to sit and play with them. The dealer was friendly as well, but I think he was purposely trying to talk to distract us.

I did not have a hard 19 or high total.

Is the dealer allowed to skip turns or make decisions for players?

**Tom** · 11-27-2012, 11:37 AM

Per basic strategy, you don't have to have a high hand for it to be a stand hand. If you have a really fast dealer they will just skip players for the 'no-brainer' hands. Rookies really slow down the game so the dealer sees him skipping you as helping you out. You can always object aloud and they will wait. If they won't wait after your objection then either leave or call their pit boss. During a table on my last trip, we were going so fast the dealer was allowing players further down the line make their decisions while waiting for the ones ahead of them. LOL

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 11:38 AM

By that do u mean I was placing a small bet amount? I didn't tip the dealer because I wasn't winning.

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 11:40 AM

Maybe that was the case but I don't think I had a high hand because I was waiting for him to finish talking so that I could hit, but after he finished talking he started pulling his own cards when there were no other players.

**paymypush** · 11-27-2012, 11:47 AM

Play at a pace that you are comfortable with and don't allow any dealer to intimidate you. He cannot continue past you until you have given a clear hand signal. Ask him to please wait for your signal. If he refuses speak to a floor person and don't think twice about making a scene. That dealer is inviting shot takers and the casino won't put up with that for long.

**Drake** · 11-27-2012, 12:18 PM

From your description it sounds like the problem is "I was waiting for him to finish talking". The dealer is capable of talking and dealing at the same time. If you are sitting there making no play (hand motion to hit or stand), he might just assume you want to stand and pass you up especially if it is a simple basic strategy play like having 14 against a 5 or something.

You should have stopped him the first time it happened, and told him you wanted a hit (especially if you lost because of it). Its your money and you can hit/stand however you want. Generally what will happen is the dealer will say something defending his action (like you made a motion to stand, or thought you wanted to stand,etc.), then you disagree (and don't back down), then the pit boss comes over, you tell him you made no hand signal, etc. The Pit Boss will generally side with you if you aren't trying to pull a scam, and from then on the dealer will not pass you up because they can't afford to get in trouble. They might stop talking to you, or give you a mean glare, but they are powerless to do anything.

RS · 11-27-2012, 01:26 PM

Dealers are fully capable of talking and dealing at the same time (at least, non-newb dealers).

But yeah, speak up if you wanted to hit or whatever, or just say "hold on" so you can think for a sec.

Call a pit boss over if something non-legit happened. Generally, they'll give you the benefit of the doubt...assuming it's not some ludicrous move like hitting a 19v6. They'd rather give you a free hand and keep your business.

If they do try to swindle you, make a scene. Loud and angry people = bad for the casino, so they'll try to calm you down and "give in". Plus, it's all on video. Tell them to call surveillance and check the tapes.

long story short, they'd rather make you happy and give up a few bucks than go through hoops trying to figure out "what should have happened".

**zengrifter** · 11-27-2012, 01:46 PM

User is banned, content deleted.

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 04:34 PM

Duplicate

**PrettiiiInPink** · 11-27-2012, 04:35 PM

While he was talking he completely placed the game on hold, he wasn't looking at me, so web if I had made a signal he wouldn't have seen it, when he brought his attention back to the game instead of looking at me and asking how I wanted to play he looked down at his cards and started flipping them over and pulling them. I do understand that I should have said something at the moment, but he did it so fast and I was extremely confused. And I will admit I was intimidated by him because I am new at this. I personally don't think what he did war right he really didnt give me the opportunity to play my hand and I did lose because he wasn't paying attention and holding a conversation.