RSSBlog Vegas VII Part III: Not Open Table
Jul 18
The most basic tenet of my Philosophy of Blackjack is that selecting where to play is at least as important when to play (knowing how to play is a given). Timing is an important aspect of winning at blackjack, but you can greatly increase your opportunities by not sitting down at the first open table you find.
As I mentioned in part II, I did not spend a lot of time wandering the Strip looking for the perfect casino. I knew where I wanted to play and except for giving the Luxor casino some love (for putting me up in the hotel) I had little intention of deviating from my preferences. (For the record, though I concentrated on the south corner of the Strip, there are some good places to play further north; it just wasn’t part of this trip).
Within that block of six casinos (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NYNY, MGM Grand and Tropicana), I went into each looking for the best tables to play at. Because Las Vegas is suffering from the same economic realities as the rest of the country, there is less choice. There just aren’t that many tables open at any given time. So here is what I looked for:
How many decks?
My preference is six decks and I ignore two- and single-deck games. I also don’t play at any table where blackjack pays less than 3 to 2. I don’t play at any table with continuous machine shuffling.
Who’s dealing?
I like crisp, quick dealers. I like the cards to snap out of the shoe and I like the pace to be brisk. If the dealer is a chatterbox, or calls out the hand totals -- I’m fine with it as long as it doesn’t otherwise slow down the pace of the game. I avoid dealers when the cards fly out of the shoe and land all over the table. Sloppy dealing is usually a sign of an employee who is usually at the craps table and was moved over at the last minute. I skip those tables.
When I’ve found a potential table, I watch the play for a few hands. If the dealer pulls a 5-card twenty-one while I’m watching, I leave. If the dealer pulls a blackjack while I’m watching, I leave. If the dealer shows a bust card and draws to 17, I might stay.
Then I look at the players. Are they…drunk? …knowledgeable about blackjack? …paying attention? …playing consistently? …playing confidently? …angry at the dealer? …hemorrhaging chips?
None of those factors on their own influences my decision, but put it all together and I make my decision. I also take into account the table minimum, the number of players at the table, and whether the dealer greeted me when I walked up to the table.
You might be asking at this point: do I really do all that every time? The answer is yes. Blackjack itself is a game of odds, but casino gambling is never just about the math. If it was, you would never play. The odds are stacked against you the minute you walk into the casino. That’s where the Philosophy of Blackjack comes in. It’s a tool for not just learning how to play, but how to win.
By being selective about where I played and whom I played with, I was able to stretch a modest $2000 budget over three days (modest for a serious gambler) without compromising how I play. I walked away from Las Vegas 1) having paid cash for all expenses during my stay 2) with more money in my pocket than I left with. So what does it take to walk out of Vegas a winner? Selection, timing, know-how and will power. It’s all in the book. Check it out.
If you like what you read over the last few days, I suggest you check out the full title. You can order On 21: The Philosophy of Blackjack from amazon.com and other retailers.
Want to talk to me directly? Contact me via facebook or twitter.
Jul 18, 2010 @ 18:12:31
What a great resource!