Leaving a table

[Gamblore]

Hey everyone,

I'm a beginner counter, and I wanted to know if anyone had any advice in terms of leaving a table when the count is not in your favor. Even though I'm only placing small bets ($5 min. tables), I don't want to look suspicious by getting up from a table every time the count goes negative. Also, there are really only a couple of tables where I can play at with my bankroll, so I would just be coming back to the same table during a later shoe. Is it okay to keep placing minimum bets when the count isn't in your favor? I don't want to give up the advantage I would have when the count is positive by playing out poor percentage hands. I know many people here don't count, but any advice on casino etiquette/avoiding flags would be appreciated.

[LeonShuffle]

Hi Gamblore,

No advice for now, I just wanted to say I like your name. It is a Simpsons reference, right?

BTW, I'm known as MaxPower on a different message board.

Leon/Max

[Gamblore]

Hey Leon,

Yeah, it is a Simpsons reference ... I think it's when Marge gets addicted to gambling.

It just stuck in my head from a time I went to a casino with some buddies for fun and I didn't want to leave the blackjack table ... the name followed me around for a bit.

Anyway, now I'm trying a little harder to beat the odds, but we'll see how that goes ...

[esarem51]

The two most popular excuses for wonging out of a bad count seem to be "bathroom break" and "cell phone call".

You're thinking of just staying at the table and playing the minimum through the bad counts. This is known as the "play all" method, which is what I do. I wish I could tell you how much money I've won doing this, but I'd have to lie.

One thing you might try: Continue to play the $5 tables, but make your "minimum" bet $10. Then during bad counts you can reduce your bet to $5. Somebody called this "wonging down".

[Ray]

Gamblore-There are several ways to approach the problem of negative
counts and they require polished skills. Because your still learning, I think
I'd say continue at what your doing for a while and get good at the game.
For the present, try this: If after two decks(6 deck shoe)the count is -1
or below, get out of there and wait until the dealer is starting to shuffle
before you come back or go to another table. Reason: most shoes that
are neg or pos after two will remain that way until the shuffle. At a $5
table this want look bad......not much of anything looks bad at these tbls.

Ray

[Mike]

I don't see much difference in changing tables at a poor count, than changing tables at a normal quit point, I must say I do it all the time, ( a lot ). And like you say nobody pays too much attention to what's going on at a 5-dollar table, I mean I wouldn’t try capping a bet or something stupid, but honest play, I can’t see drawing much attention. I've been trying to be an advantage player for a couple of years now, and I've never hidden the ploys or tactics that go along with that quest from anyone at a casino, and I've never had anyone even question the things that I do. A couple of times I've had pitboss’ tell me that I played very well, as they routinely changed the cards on the table I was playing at, or even at a smaller California casino actually take over dealing to me giving the dealer a break. I think some of us worry about this needlessly IMHO.. But, I see where some of us here seem to be quite wealthy and wager thousands of dollars at a session, and that I can see drawing a little extra attention based solely on the bet, but not on the suspicion of counting.

Just my .02 worth
Mike

[GH21]

I don't want to give up the advantage I would have when the count is positive by playing out poor percentage hands

If you're stuck in a situation where you basically must "play all" then the only way to offset playing thru the all the poor % hands is to bet more when the count is advantageous. You must use an aggressive betting ramp in positive counts. The undesirable aspect of this is that it increases your variance.