Bill: Just Curious

[Bill]

I was playing DD in the middle position at a nearly full table. The guy to my immediate left consistently bet big when I bet big ($10 table; 1 to 5 or 6 spread). I thought, interesting, a counter beside me. However, more than once he took "even money" with a negative count.

Wouldn't this be a rather extreme cover play? Do you ever find that non-counters follow your bets for some reason?

[steve]

In my opinion, I think it's good camouflage for a counter to take even money although the TC is negative, because of 2 reasons.

1) You'll draw some heat when you play your natural, rather than take even.
2) Your profit margin is going to be minimal anyways. If the count is negative, more than likely you had the table minimum bet out when you got your natural. So for a $10min table, I'd let the house keep the extra $5, and blend myself in with the ploppies.

[suicyco maniac]

See Ian Andersons book"Burning the tables" He has a whole chapter dedicated to this and other cover plays

> I was playing DD in the middle position at a
> nearly full table. The guy to my immediate
> left consistently bet big when I bet big
> ($10 table; 1 to 5 or 6 spread). I thought,
> interesting, a counter beside me. However,
> more than once he took "even
> money" with a negative count.

> Wouldn't this be a rather extreme cover
> play? Do you ever find that non-counters
> follow your bets for some reason?