A few random questions

[Dschddny]

If you can please give me your thoughts on any of the following, I'd appreciate it:

1) What do you think is the worst double-down play dictated by Basic Strategy (e.g. A,7 vs 3)?

2) Which of the following do you think are good covers for a counter:

a) Speaking your plays (e.g. saying "Hit") instead of using hand signals

b) Attempting to hand your money directly to the dealer rather than placing it on the table when requesting chips

c) Doubling-down for less (e.g. with a $25 bet, double-down for $20)

d) When playing 2 spots, bet different amounts on each

3) Is it preferable to dress better or worse? (I don't mean wearing a tuxedo vs wearing a tank-top and shorts, but more like wearing a shirt that you'd wear to the office vs wearing a T-shirt more appropriate for shopping at Home Depot.)

4) Does playing 2 spots (without halving your bet) double your risk-of-ruin?

Thanks!

 

[Abraham de Moivre]

1) What do you think is the worst double-down play dictated by Basic Strategy (e.g. A,7 vs 3)?

A,2 vs 5 is probably the lowest EV basic strategy double down.

2) Which of the following do you think are good covers for a counter:

a) Speaking your plays (e.g. saying "Hit") instead of using hand signals

The dealer will correct you immediately. Could be worth a 'newbie' impression.

b) Attempting to hand your money directly to the dealer rather than placing it on the table when requesting chips

The dealer will correct you immediately. Could be worth a 'newbie' impression.

c) Doubling-down for less (e.g. with a $25 bet, double-down for $20)

This costs you EV, unlike the above two which are free. Not recomended. Of course, if you do everything else perfectly, play perfect basic strategy, than the above never-played-before moves don't look right.

d) When playing 2 spots, bet different amounts on each

I don't think any one would care, one way or the other, or could have the opposite effect, since this would be a move you would do depth-charging, sequencing, or card steering.

3) Is it preferable to dress better or worse? (I don't mean wearing a tuxedo vs wearing a tank-top and shorts, but more like wearing a shirt that you'd wear to the office vs wearing a T-shirt more appropriate for shopping at Home Depot.)

I think a book is judged by its cover. The better you dress, the better you will be treated and comped.

4) Does playing 2 spots (without halving your bet) double your risk-of-ruin?

I think it quadruples it? The Mayor could probably chime in with the co-variance/variance skinny.

 

[Tito]

Regarding un-equal bets, have considered staking e.g. $25 on first box and $100 on second box, firstly if your max bet is $100 on one box then the 2 bets together would not increase RoR ( equal to increasing by 1.4 x max bet ).That said an advantage for cover may be achieved by hesitating decision on first hand to give the impression you are affecting card in flow to second hand (gamblers often play this way,you could of course,reverse the bets on last 2 boxes to appear to affect the dealers draw cards).Additionally during high counts you could repeat the bet after a win and double the stake after a loss.Would appreciate input and ideas. Thanks to mathprof for archived calculations and 4:1 ratio of bets.regards TITO

 

[Automatic Monkey]

"1) What do you think is the worst double-down play dictated by Basic Strategy (e.g. A,7 vs 3)? "

I could look it up, but double 11 against D10 always feels awful.

"2) Which of the following do you think are good covers for a counter:

a) Speaking your plays (e.g. saying "Hit") instead of using hand signals

b) Attempting to hand your money directly to the dealer rather than placing it on the table when requesting chips

c) Doubling-down for less (e.g. with a $25 bet, double-down for $20)

d) When playing 2 spots, bet different amounts on each"

Probably d) as it betrays an interest in luck and superstition. Maybe you could vary which hand gets the heavy bet based on which hand did better last time. See there needs to be something that you do all night under the cameras to throw them off, but no matter what you do if you are betting effectively as a counter they will eventually notice. You want to not fit the profile of a counter so they don't single your play out for evaluation right away. Drinking, smoking, talking, cursing, trying to get laid might work better than a) through c) but work those things in slowly (unless of course you do them naturally) so they don't distract you.

"3) Is it preferable to dress better or worse? (I don't mean wearing a tuxedo vs wearing a tank-top and shorts, but more like wearing a shirt that you'd wear to the office vs wearing a T-shirt more appropriate for shopping at Home Depot.)"

Dress to impress. The richer you look, the less suspicion throwing around big bets will draw. And if you look really low class they might worry that you could be a common thief, some kind of street criminal and you will be watched nonstop until you leave.

"4) Does playing 2 spots (without halving your bet) double your risk-of-ruin?"

No, playing one unit on each of two spots gives you a lower RofR than playing two units on one spot. But a higher RofR than playing one unit on one spot, assuming a constant bankroll of course. Just think of it as like you and me playing together at the same table. The chance of us both going bankrupt is much lower than the chance of just one of us doing it. We are however sharing the variable of the dealer. If we were both playing at the same time at different tables, the chance of us both going bankrupt is lower still. Playing multiple hands is a useful technique. Good questions.

 

[Feep]

> 1) What do you think is the worst double-down play dictated by Basic Strategy (e.g. A,7 vs 3)?

Well I know this can be looked up, so I'll do the guess. I agree it is probably 11v10. God I HATE doing that.

> 2) Which of the following do you think are good covers for a counter:
>
> a) Speaking your plays (e.g. saying "Hit") instead of using hand signals

No. Once you have speant long enough at the table you will not be able to make this look natural. You will unconsciously be a part of the scene and doing something incongruous will make you stand out.

> b) Attempting to hand your money directly to the dealer rather than placing > it on the table when requesting chips

See above.

> c) Doubling-down for less (e.g. with a $25 bet, double-down for $20)

I always like this one. I might do it when things DON'T call for doubling but I'm probably only going to take one more card anyways (A,2 vs 3 or 4 for example). It would be very interesting to see what this costs me.

> d) When playing 2 spots, bet different amounts on each

This is a good one too. Make sure to spend a few seconds pondering the "lucky" spot. Make sure to switch money from spot to spot! Make sure to complain bitterly when the min bet gets a BJ and the max get a 12!

> 3) Is it preferable to dress better or worse? (I don't mean wearing a tuxedo > vs wearing a tank-top and shorts, but more like wearing a shirt that you'd > > wear to the office vs wearing a T-shirt more appropriate for shopping at Home Depot.)

Fit into your location. Fit into the higher, but not highest end of your location. Learn to be comfy in the clothes you're wearing, regardless of what they are. Learn to act like someone who would be wearing those clothes.

> 4) Does playing 2 spots (without halving your bet) double your risk-of-ruin?

I think it quadruples it on one hand, but then the separate hands drop it to maybe 3x higher? Need a math guy.

Feep