Jackie Chiles: Station casinos and snitch dealers?

[Jackie Chiles]

Hello everybody:

Here's an incident that I keep mulling over. Perhaps some of you can help me.

A while back I was playing in one of the nicer Station casinos in Las Vegas. The place was dead at the time. There were only a few players. I sat down at a $25 double deck table. I was the only player. The pit boss was chatting me up, perhaps because he really had nothing else to do. Whatever the case, once I started playing he ignored me. The dealer was quite young and seemed to be new judging by her nervousness.

My standard betting unit is $50. At this table my plan was to come off the top for 50 and then drop down to 25 during neutral and negative counts. I would bet true count minus one for positive situations. I planned on a short session.

It took some time before I got a good count. As soon as I pushed out $200 the dealer seemed confused and clumsily and awkardly pressed something on a touch keypad that was set up for the dealers on their side of the table. I lost my last couple of big bets. I collected my chips and hit the door.

Was the dealer communicating to the eye in the sky when my bet reached 200? Or is that some procedure they have just to track larger bets? Or was I worried about nothing? I haven't been to this place since this event. Does anybody know what I'm talking about here? Thanks in advance for any help.

Jackie Chiles

[jblaze]

Wouldn't sweat it. Likely she was just trying to adjust for your average bet for your ratings. Unless of course you went from 25 to 200. You can always ask what she's doing if you feel there's a decent vibe with her. As a green chipper I find you can bet 25 then jump to 75 then to 150 from there. But 25 to 100 draws attention, and anything more than doubling over 100 draws attention. Also, I've personally felt it best to plan my max bet at DD games at +4... probably because of some of the betting restrictions, since it doesn't always happen that way.

> Hello everybody:

> Here's an incident that I keep mulling over. Perhaps
> some of you can help me.

> A while back I was playing in one of the nicer Station
> casinos in Las Vegas. The place was dead at the time.
> There were only a few players. I sat down at a $25
> double deck table. I was the only player. The pit boss
> was chatting me up, perhaps because he really had
> nothing else to do. Whatever the case, once I started
> playing he ignored me. The dealer was quite young and
> seemed to be new judging by her nervousness.

> My standard betting unit is $50. At this table my plan
> was to come off the top for 50 and then drop down to
> 25 during neutral and negative counts. I would bet
> true count minus one for positive situations. I
> planned on a short session.

> It took some time before I got a good count. As soon
> as I pushed out $200 the dealer seemed confused and
> clumsily and awkardly pressed something on a touch
> keypad that was set up for the dealers on their side
> of the table. I lost my last couple of big bets. I
> collected my chips and hit the door.

> Was the dealer communicating to the eye in the sky
> when my bet reached 200? Or is that some procedure
> they have just to track larger bets? Or was I worried
> about nothing? I haven't been to this place since this
> event. Does anybody know what I'm talking about here?
> Thanks in advance for any help.

> Jackie Chiles

[Jackie Chiles]

jblaze:

But the thing of it was, I was not being rated. I did not have a player's card, nor did I want one. At double deck I keep my sessions very short. That's how I explain to the bosses why a player's card wouldn't do me any good.

By the way, I agree with your conservative betting at DD. I go beyond that, and that's the main reason I really play hit and run at DD.

Jackie Chiles

[jblaze]

Understood - but, even if you aren't being rated, you're being rated. For instance... when I mentioned you could ask... I asked a 'friendlier' (yes, right they are all your enemy and coworker at the same time thank you Ian Andersen) PB what she was writing on a card since I, too, play the short session strategy at least in the recent past, though now I feel my blackjack is done for the time being. OK, what am I saying here...

Right, the PB says she documents estimated age, height, weight, dress, playing habits, betting patterns, etc. of all players, ESPECIALLY those without ratings cards. This was not a Station property. So I'm assuming your STN dealer was documenting the same - your avg bet.

When I was pretty sure my time was coming to a close 'playing as rated' at STN properties, all that happened was the pit called upstairs to tell them I was there. Putzed around a bit at the table then left - flat betting, stepping up and down 1 step in my betting scheme at random, nothing too ridiculous because in my mind that is even more obvious. Nothing more happened when I walked out. I didn't play at that STN property the rest of the trip but did play at others unrated. (The only time I play rated now is at places I'm staying because if they really wanted to know who I was they have my credit card). Have stopped getting offers from some of their properties (at least the 2 in mind I would actually want to stay at).

Playing rated, as a side note, I know is a controversial issue so of course I fell victim to the comped crap at the loss of anonymity. So to anyone considering BJ, do NOT do it, it's not worth it. Also I've been pretty disheartened with BJ and wouldn't recommend it - take up poker.

Back to what's relevant. If you're at the crappier properties, like Palace Station which in my opinion has the most beatable DD game in Vegas, then any bet over 100+ gets called up. I know you said you were at the nicer places though.

Problem with the short strategies as a GC/very low black chipper is you need to branch out to these other places where they really sweat your action (Palace Station, Orleans, Cannery, Circus Circus, etc).

My card had been blacklisted at almost all these properties but I felt I could have continued playing there for a while with the betting strategy as above and leaving after 2 'shoes' at DD where I placed my max bet, after 1 shoe if I placed my max bet and had a good win. Basically this means I'm driving somewhere else every 20 minutes. Is it worth it? Didn't seem so to me. Factoring all the travel time I'd be lucky if my avg win rate was $90/hr (still with SDs around 1300).

The most rewarding experience I had at my last Vegas excursion was visiting Red Rock National Park. It's majestic and has nothing to do with blackjack.

> jblaze:

> But the thing of it was, I was not being rated. I did
> not have a player's card, nor did I want one. At
> double deck I keep my sessions very short. That's how
> I explain to the bosses why a player's card wouldn't
> do me any good.

> By the way, I agree with your conservative betting at
> DD. I go beyond that, and that's the main reason I
> really play hit and run at DD.

> Jackie Chiles

[jblaze]

If you can walk away with 500 or so in greens you can come back another shift/day and slide in unnoticed for a couple rounds. I also suppose you can change at roulette or something, but never really bothered with that. Just make sure you have sufficient bankroll... sometimes I'd come home with 2k in greens from all over the place which was more a % of my trip roll than I'd like.

[Jackie Chiles]

Mr. Blazer:

Red Rock indeed. Went up there for the first time on the very trip I mentioned. Fascinating. I highly recommend stopping at the Indian convenience store just off the interstate. They sell fireworks, and not just black cats and smoke capsules.

There's a lot to address. First, the time spent driving really does make one wonder if it's worth it. I don't live in Las Vegas so when I'm there I try to cram in as many sessions as possible, so that means covering territory from Henderson to Summerlin. It's not fun.

Sorry that you are disheartened at blackjack. Perhaps this is because of a gigantic negative flux event. It's inevitable, of course.

I enjoy poker, as well, but I keep thinking of two things: the rake and the tokes. It seems that nobody wants to address the truly formidable obstacle to profits these things impose. This makes blackjack a more interesting proposition. Daniel Negranu once remarked something along these lines: "The best player at most tables probably has about a four percent advantage over the worst." (Where did he get that? I don't know, but I can't say I strongly disagree.) Subtract the rake and tokes and the profitability picture darkens considerably.

I agree with your advice on the comps game. I used to do it, but haven't for about five years. I'm only in it for the money these days.

Jackie Chiles

[Jackie Chiles]

Oops. I was watching a baseball game on TV when it dawned on me: I managed to confuse Red Rock with the Valley of Fire, which is northeast of Las Vegas. If you liked Red Rock you will love the Valley of Fire. Advice: Some amazing sites can be seen only if you leave the road and the official parking lots. And wear cheap shoes or hiking boots.

> Jackie Chiles