Your BO & 86 circumstances and how to increase playing longevity

[RUMIYODIN]

I thought it would be nice to start a discussion regarding increasing playing longevity, without sacrificing too much EV. While there is a lot of material available in books relating to cover play techniques and backoff experiences, I'd still like to hear your own experiences. If you could answer the following questions below in your replies, I think we can get a good discussion going on how to milk our local shops without overstaying our welcome.

1. How long ago was your last backoff or 86?
2. How long were you playing at the table? And casino?
3. What game were you playing (Decks, Table Min, Rules)?
4. What was your spread? How much were you up or down by?
5. What EV related cover plays, if any, were you employing?
6. Have you returned to the same casino since your backoff?
7. What do you believe to be the reason for your backoff?



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As for my answers:

1. My last backoff was 3 months ago, in Las Vegas
2. I played at the table for about 30 minutes, the casino for close to 2 hours.
3. I played a mixture of H17 $25 6D and DD games. I was at roughly break even recovering from a $800 loss.
4. My spread for 6D was 1-12, DD was 1-6
5. Only EV related cover used for this casino was no bet change after push.
6. I briefly returned to the casino a few days later on a different shift, without changing my appearance, without issue.

7. I think the reason for my backoff was the lack of cover, rather than overstaying my welcome. At the time, I was experimenting with procedurally playing with less EV related cover over time from casino to casino to figure out the sweet spot between not using enough cover and hurting EV beyond necessary. Since I was in Vegas with many shops to choose from, I thought it was a good place to try out an experiment like this to replicate at local casinos where I live, without having to risk trying this at home. The takeaway I had from this experience was that the initial cover I used at other places was sufficient enough to be left alone to win enough units a casino would normally tolerate.

[Bigdaddy]

I see two words in your post that decrease longevity: "Vegas" and "DD". Those are two words responsible for my last back off.

[ZeeBabar]

I think how much cover required varies drastically from region to region, city to city. I play a 1-7 spread at DD with little or no cover in the Midwest. Went to Las Vegas, played 30 minutes at NYNY spreading 1-6, was up $400 due to variance and was told not to come.

[Three]

1. How long ago was your last backoff or 86?
Years ago.
2. How long were you playing at the table? And casino?
Backed off before I played a hand. Playing at the casino for years.
3. What game were you playing (Decks, Table Min, Rules)?
8 decks/1 cut off; $10; S17,DAS,LS.
4. What was your spread? How much were you up or down by?
50:1; Ahead around $50K over 2 years.
5. What EV related cover plays, if any, were you employing?
Some betting cover to disguise the size of my true spread. And a Playing Count so different than what they are used to that my plays and bets don't correlate or make sense to them while using optimal bets and plays.
6. Have you returned to the same casino since your backoff?
Not to play the banned games (BJ or any BJ variant) but to play other AP opportunities.
7. What do you believe to be the reason for your backoff?
Lifetime win or win over the last 2 years being out of their comfort zone.

[bigplayer]

1. How long ago was your last backoff or 86?
2. How long were you playing at the table? And casino?
3. What game were you playing (Decks, Table Min, Rules)?
4. What was your spread? How much were you up or down by?
5. What EV related cover plays, if any, were you employing?
6. Have you returned to the same casino since your backoff?
7. What do you believe to be the reason for your backoff?

1. This summer
2. 30 minutes, first time ever in that casino playing rated
3. h17 shoe game
4. Bought in for $200, spreading $10-$20, was up about $150 spotting for another BP at a casino I won't mention. (and don't ask).
5. No cover at all
6. Yes, but not to play 21
7. Shift manager told me, they found my picture in a national database. This casino obviously looks up everyone.