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Beating Tough Games: Part 2

Beating Tough Games - Part 1
Beating Tough Games - Part 3
Beating Tough Games - Part 4

The word "tough" probably means something different to all of us, so let me explain how I view it as it relates to Blackjack games. What I'm referring to are games where the rules suck or the penetration is shallow or there's a lot of scrutiny from the casino supervisory personnel (the 'pit critters' or PCs as we lovingly call them) and so forth. Let me first say that to gain even a tiny edge in a tough game, you'll likely have to count the cards, so that ability is a prerequisite for the tricks I'll describe. In other words, if you're not a counter, you won't find a lot in here to help you.

When I first began counting cards over 20 years ago, I was positive that I had a big, red "C" marked on my forehead that told the world what I was doing. As time went on, I realized that the vast majority of casino supervisory personnel (PCs) had no idea what I was doing and few really cared. But, every once in a while, some PC would camp him or herself at my table to watch the proceedings for more than a few minutes. At first, I thought I was getting "heat", but I now know that usually wasn't the case.

Attention isn't heat. Attention can come from a lot of things and only one of them is because the PCs think you're a counter. First and foremost, if you're betting "chocolate chips" ($100 chips, also called "blacks"), you're going to get attention every time you play. Even to the casinos, $100 is still a lot of $$$ and it's the floor supervisor's job to make sure that no mistakes are made in paying the player or exchanging chips for a different denomination, etc. Secondly, if you're betting in black, the PCs want to get an idea of your skills so they can either eventually throw you out or comp you until the cows come home. So, if you don't want attention, don't bet black. It's just that simple.

But let's say that you're a "green" ($25 chip) bettor. Whether or not you'll get any attention is largely a function of when and where you play. If you're playing at some little casino with two Blackjack tables and a top bet limit of $100, you're going to draw attention and, sooner or later, some heat if you win. On the other hand, go to Bellagio in Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend and your green action won't attract the slightest amount of attention beyond what's normal. Wherever you are, if you win, you'll get some attention as the PC runs down a checklist in his or her brain. But that checklist starts with "cheating", not with counting, so you must look as innocent as a lamb and not like you're doing something illegal. Always remember that counting the cards is not illegal. Many people want you to think that it is, but they're wrong.

If you play mostly with "reds" ($5 chips), you won't draw very much attention anywhere, because most people bet reds and all you'll look like is most people. But any of these players - red, green and black - can atract attention to themselves and turn that attention into heat if they do some pretty stupid things. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. The first thing you have to do learn to recognize "heat".

I'm going to sound like some New Age guru here, but heat is a good thing. Heat is your friend, because the alternative to it is getting your butt tossed out. I protect my identity by writing under the name of "The GameMaster" because I know that the managers at several of my local, friendly casinos have said they'll bar me if they ever knew I was in their casino. One casino manager in this area told a journalist friend of mine that I was a cheater and he'd toss me out on the spot. I have never cheated in a casino in my life (hell, I don't have to!), but that's this person's opinion and I have no say in the matter - it's his casino, not mine.

But the pit critters aren't as sure about all that when it comes to most players, so few ever just tell someone to leave, at least the first time they think that player is counting. They might ask your name or ask to see your 'player's club' card again (after you've already given it to them when you sat down) or in other ways direct their attention directly at you. Remember that most PCs don't know the proper Basic Strategy for their own game, let alone how to count cards, so their ability to recognize you as a counter is limited. Some places do employ "counter catchers", most notably in Atlantic City (isn't that silly?), but if the PC is paying attention directly to you, it's not likely that they have counter catchers, either on the floor or in the "eye-in-the-sky". PCs are human, too and most of us humans prefer to avoid confrontations, especially if we work in a hospitality-type business. Consequently, if they think you're a problem but someone else can deal with you, they'll just leave you alone and let the security people be the bad guys. But, if a PC has to get you off the game, they'll likely hint around some and never directly ask you to leave. A few like the power trip of barring someone, but most are actually envious of your abilities as a counter and would just rather you not play in their pit. If a PC ever comes up to you and asks: "Hungry?", just say yes and let him buy you a meal. That is a nice way of getting you to leave.

If a PC starts paying more than usual attention to you, you're getting some "heat" but it's not exactly a blast furnace. A good friend of mine used to work in the surveillance department of a local casino and he told me that if a player left after getting this type of attention, they usually figured him or her as a counter. While it's probably still a good idea to leave, try to do it in a "natural" way, if there is such a thing. The best thing that ever happened to my Blackjack career was learning how to play Video Poker. I can get an edge at some of the games by playing as expertly as humanly possible and never have to worry about heat. It's sad that I can't do the same thing at Blackjack. So, if a PC is just a bit too interested in what I'm doing, I leave the table at an appropriate time and wander over to a VP machine that's hopefully in sight of the pit. Playing Video Poker is a very disarming action to most PCs. So is craps, but that's too expensive for me, however it does present you as a "gambler" and, when you think about it, that's all we have to do in order to keep the welcome mat out: look like the average gambler. Real heat is having a PC pick up the discards and begin to count down the deck. Real heat is having a "suit" and a security guard standing behind you. Real heat is the pitboss talking on the phone while making eye contact with you. If any of these happen to you, it's time to leave the table, though not necessarily the casino.

One of the legendary "hot" spots for winning Blackjack players is the Barbary Coast Casino in Las Vegas. From all that I've heard (I've not played there in a long time because their games basically suck), just winning alone is enough to get you tossed out. Ironically, I have friends who go there and kill them at their full-pay Deuces Wild machines while being comped with free rooms and meals for up to a week at a time! Does that make any sense to you? It doesn't to me, either. But, if you want to see heat, play there for a while.

I think most heat is either in the counter's own mind or is generated by what the counter does. As I mentioned earlier, even a red-chip player can turn attention into heat through a few stupid moves. The first is playing too long. If you live near a casino and you're there 3 or 4 times a week, playing for 3 or 4 hours each visit and taking their $$$ on a regular basis, then one fine day you're going to get some heat. Also, if you're an "expert" that has to prove your ability to everyone at the table, then you're going to get heat some day. Just keep your mouth shut and let the "ploppies" lose. One of my former students (I used to teach a 'live' class on card-counting) still makes about $10,000 a year by playing a double deck game that's available here. It's not a great game but he beats it by using a 1-12 spread. His secret? He plays one hour at a time, no more, for ten sessions each month.

As for making dumb plays while a PC is at your table, I seldom do it because a player who knows the proper Basic Strategy looks dumb anyway. How dumb is it to hit a 12 vs. a 3? Most people think that's pretty dumb. Splitting a pair of 9s against a dealer's 8 also looks dumb. I will tell you that the one play I don't make when a PC is at my table is to hit A-7 against a dealer's 9,10 or Ace. That's a pretty savvy play, so I just absorb the cost in exchange for looking "normal". I will play A-7 properly when just the dealer is there, however. I have split 10s in high counts, but for the most part, I forgo that play at all times. It's a rare one anyway, so the cost isn't huge.

But to sum up, I think that most "heat" is in the counter's mind and just a little discretion like not wildly jumping your bets or playing long sessions will keep most of it off you. Holding the mindset of a mouse works very well when you're a counter. Why a mouse? Well, if you corner a rat, he'll attack. But mice just kind of scamper along the baseboard with the attitude of "don't let me bother you". But they still get the cheese.

See you here next time.