Attack of the Ploppies

[rounder21]

I know the feeling...

Ploppies are all about telling you exactly what to do. I've heard it all. When wonging, I've sometimes waited for the dealer to win a hand when the count is high. One time the dealer drew to a 21 and wiped the table out and I jumped in and a guy still gave me trouble. He says, "are you gonna get in in the middle of a shoe?" I said yea. He complained and I said I dont know what youre complaining about she just drew to a 21. He then said something about it being common curtousy to wait until the shoes over. I just said there is no rule against it and he says, "because of assholes like you they need rules against it". These idiots also would like "no mid-shoe exit" tables if they had their ways. Yesterday I played a hand and the count drop and I left. An old drunk woman says, "youre gonna leave?" and I said yea. I came back a little later and she has the nerve to ask, "are you gonna play one hand and leave?" I said, "I dont know". She mumbled something to the other guy about table hoppers messing up the cards. I told her if she's that worried about it she should play 2 hands when I leave. She shook her head. We started playing and the count dropped again on the first hand. As I left I watched to see if she played the spot I was playing and of course she didnt. You cannot allow these people to mess up your game. They obviously dont care about you why should you care about what they say? Think about it. That lady was quick to tell me I should keep playing, yet she wasnt willing to risk her OWN money to play the spot I left. Lack of respect. I'm there to make money not friends.

Its always fun when youre playing with someone who plays all wrong though, because then you know they probably wont give you any trouble. Happened to me the other day. A guy told me not to give him trouble about the way he plays. I told him I would never help unless asked. He also switched to 2 hands at this "No midshoe entry" table and the dealer started to get the floor supervisor telling the guy hes not sure he could do that. I told him I didnt mind and the dealer proceded to deal. He was at the table by himself when I got there and we played for quite some time without either one of us giving the other problems. I quit a winner and had fun.

Rounder21

 

[Kaiser]

I had an interesting time playing last night. I don't know if this guy officially qualifies as a "ploppy" or not, because he generally made the correct plays, but his betting was waaaay too wild. I've seen guys bet more money, but not as wildly as this guy.

I had been playing at a $10 table heads-up with the dealer for about 30 minutes, and was down to $90 left from my $200 buy in when this guy sits down at first base. He buys in with $300 and asked for all blues. He plops 2 chips down on each of 2 spots, plus puts a chip in the side bet for each spot (Lucky Lucky). Half of his money out for one hand!

He wins one and loses one, and then kind of broke even for a few more hands, then he wins $175 on a side bet and tosses the dealer a $25 chip. The dealer was talking to the guy asking him how busy the restaurant was, etc, so I assumed maybe he was a chef in the hotel there. He loses all of his money within the next 7-8 hands, so he pulls out 4 more hundred dollar bills and buys in again. It took him maybe 10 hands to lose it all. He mentioned a couple times how he lost big the last couple times out, so I guess that's why he was betting so big - trying to make up for it.

He leaves, and I'm back to being alone with the dealer. I ask her if the guy works there, and she says "oh, no, he works at Montana's". That's a family restaurant (don't know if they're down in the US or not) where this guy would not be making a lot of money. He dropped $700 in about 15 minutes at the most. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Crazy stuff.

Anyway, that dealer left and was replaced by one that I always have good luck with, and I made all of my money back and a little more within about 15 minutes. The count went up as soon as she came in. Weird how that works. It was just a quick session after work, so I tipped a few chips and called it a night.

Oh, there was one other guy who dropped in after the $700 man, and he was interesting. Any time I doubled a soft hand, hit a 12 against a 3 or 4, or surrendered, this guy would look at me. I was starting to get a little uncomfortable that this guy was getting mad, then he'd all of a sudden do something completely off like split sixes against a face card, or hit a 14 against a 3 or 4. He lost his $100 fast and left too.

 

[creeping panther]

Ploppy Heat

Actually I think this can become a major problem for the AP.

As you play your very advanced game, using surrender and all else offered, it may become "apparent" to others at the table that you are a bone head and costing THEM money.

Things can get ugly fast, and it really is no fun. I have resorted in putting forth an ominous apperance and warning players in advance that I may use certain plays like surrender.

I have come to the conclusion that the most relaxing times are indeed playing with another counter, at least you don't feel alone when things get ugly, and they will get ugly.

Creeping Panther

 

[Kaiser]

This 300 pound woman tonight WOULDN'T STOP HITTING 17. She did it THREE times in 15 minutes. These were against a dealer 10, 6, and 2.

The dealer asked her twice if she really wanted to hit every time. Thank god she lost all of her money and buggered off.

 

[jimpenn]

Clearing Table when count +

What are some good ideas on clearing a table as the count is positive?
Ex...splitting 10's vs 5/6 DD 10 for a $1.00

Any additional plays that may end up making players leave during high count?

Thanks, jp

 

[Preston]

A few ways to clear the table:

split 10's against a 5/6
Double down soft 19 or 20 against 4 5 6
Split 9's against a 7
Double down 12 against 2 or 3 for $1
Talk about the wonderful mexican dinner you had
Forget to wear deodorant.. high five whenever you win a hand
Yell at the table when the dealer draws out.

 

[Preston]

Actually I think this can become a major problem for the AP.

As you play your very advanced game, using surrender and all else offered, it may become "apparent" to others at the table that you are a bone head and costing THEM money.

Things can get ugly fast, and it really is no fun. I have resorted in putting forth an ominous apperance and warning players in advance that I may use certain plays like surrender.

I have come to the conclusion that the most relaxing times are indeed playing with another counter, at least you don't feel alone when things get ugly, and they will get ugly.

Creeping Panther

AMEN!

The biggest problem I have run into besides standing on a 14-16 on a + count against a 7 thru 10) is when I leave a table if the count goes south. By this I mean I stay at the same table and will play until the count gets to -2. Once it hits this point, "the coffee's kicking in" and I leave for a few minutes. Then I won't come back until next shoe. I get blamed for throwing off the cards by leaving mid shoe

 

[ihate17]

The bad player of today

A few ways to clear the table:

split 10's against a 5/6
Double down soft 19 or 20 against 4 5 6
Split 9's against a 7
Double down 12 against 2 or 3 for $1
Talk about the wonderful mexican dinner you had
Forget to wear deodorant.. high five whenever you win a hand
Yell at the table when the dealer draws out.

Preston:
So very often I land up clearing a table while doing nothing but playing simple basic strategy.
Split 9's when you are supposed too
Double soft 18 when you are supposed too.
Hit soft 18 when you are supposed too.
Hit 12 vs 3
And on these kind of things if the cards happen to fall in the dealers favor, there is a strong chance you will see people leaving.

ihate17

 

[Preston]

Preston:
So very often I land up clearing a table while doing nothing but playing simple basic strategy.
Split 9's when you are supposed too
Double soft 18 when you are supposed too.
Hit soft 18 when you are supposed too.
Hit 12 vs 3
And on these kind of things if the cards happen to fall in the dealers favor, there is a strong chance you will see people leaving.

ihate17

lol I guess you didn't catch my sarcasm.

It doesn't matter what you do, if someone is losing they will probably leave. If they want to blame me before they leave, fine.

But then again, the first three things I listed will do the trick if you really need to get a point accross...

 

[mdlbj]

A few ways to clear the table:

split 10's against a 5/6
Double down soft 19 or 20 against 4 5 6
Split 9's against a 7
Double down 12 against 2 or 3 for $1
Talk about the wonderful mexican dinner you had
Forget to wear deodorant.. high five whenever you win a hand
Yell at the table when the dealer draws out.

If dealer has a 6 showing and I have a soft 19 and the table rules h17, Im going to double..

I like to say wow this dealer is hot tonight, she/he has been hitting BJs all night..

Or rip a nice fart.

 

[Cardcounter]

You will never win!!!

If you are dealt a 15 vs a 8 even with a count of plus 12 you still should hit on a 6 deck shoe. The dealer will beat you 75% of the time if you stand. You are a couple % better if you hit your hand even in a extremly positive count.

If you want to play a winning game read Playing blackjack as a business this will really help you out!

 

[Preston]

Almost got my ass kicked last night...

While playing last night a situation arose that kinda caught me off guard.

I as playing at a near full table. $10 min bet, I was betting green. 1 unit as the count had dropped pretty neg and was starting to get ready to leave the table. I was letting the green chip ride until it died as I had already made some $$. It won about 3 hands in a row and then...

I got dealt a 12. Jack and a deuce. Dealer had a 4 up. Everyone else had stiffs, except for one guy who has 18 and another who had soft 15. Soft 15 waves it off, but the dealer hits him for a 9. So he protests the hit (?????). Pit crew is called over. Says he didn't want to take the dealer's "bust" card. Pit boss says next person to take a hit gets the 9.

so everyone stands. Except me. I know I'm drawing to 21 so I double down. Whole table starts bitching.

Dealer flips over an 8. So the 9 would've given him 17. Instead, he pulls a deuce then a King for 20. So the table is bitching and moaning with a -EV count where the dealer drew out. Then I started hearing shit about "messing up the flow of the cards" between the neg count that was pushing me away anyway the grouchy players settled it and I took the $50 I just won and left.

Fast forward about 3 hours later... I had to get going to I cash out and conveniently Mr. 18 from that hand was still bitter about the draw out and approached me in the parking lot. He got in my face, started threatening to kick my ass 'cuz apparently he had lost money at the end of that particular (neg) shoe. He blamed me "throwing off the cards" instead of his inability to grasp the concept that he sucks at blackjack. (he made stupid plays when I was at the table with him i.e. splitting 7 7 against a 10. Near neutral count)

I let him get it out, told him to calm down, if he can't handle losing money at a casino he should call 1 800 BETS OFF, and afterward go home and google Stanford Wong.

 

[ihate17]

Blackjack is a team sport=====NOT

Preston

You can not explain to these people that no one knows the dealers hole card or which cards are coming out of that shoe, but the only thing you knew for sure was taking that 9 gave you a 21.

Had it worked out that the dealer landed up busting on your hand, no one would have said a word and in fact since the dealer would have had a 17 with your 9, all would have been grateful to you.
Blackjack is just not a team sport. If it were even close to a team sport then some of your so called team mates would cover some of your losses but that does not happen.

The only problem with speaking at length with the guy in the parking lot is that if you did not size him up correctly (which I guess you did) you could land up dead.

ihate17

 

[mdlbj]

Dang Preston,
Kinda kills the freebe that the PB gave you. I really do not like the aggro types that think they are fortune tellers. When people biaaatch about me throwing the flow off, I will tell them.. If you want me to play by your rules, give me your chips..

 

[Preston]

Preston

You can not explain to these people that no one knows the dealers hole card or which cards are coming out of that shoe, but the only thing you knew for sure was taking that 9 gave you a 21.

Had it worked out that the dealer landed up busting on your hand, no one would have said a word and in fact since the dealer would have had a 17 with your 9, all would have been grateful to you.
Blackjack is just not a team sport. If it were even close to a team sport then some of your so called team mates would cover some of your losses but that does not happen.

The only problem with speaking at length with the guy in the parking lot is that if you did not size him up correctly (which I guess you did) you could land up dead.

ihate17

regardless on that hand the 9 should have been taken anyway by soft 15. My move had no effect on the "flow of the cards" it was just ploppy bullshit to deal with.

He wasn't alone when he approached me.. I'm assuming either his wife or girlfriend was with him trying to get him to leave me alone.

The whole incident maybe lasted a couple minutes. I just thought that it was ridiculous to blame me for doubling down on a guaranteed 21.

 

[rogue1]

just remember

They're out there Sculley!

 

[bartbart]

a ploppie advising another ploppie

Normally, I never advise other players on what to do. After all, if they want to lose their money, its not my problem. But last week in Vegas, these two ploppies sat down next two who were friends with each other. "Expert" ploppie thought he knew how to play basic strategy and would give advice to his friend on almost every hand. He gave the wrong advice almost half the time. After those two hemorrhaged several hundred dollars each, the "expert" ploppie said, "We're just having incredibly bad luck, because we should be winning half the time. That's just how probability works." When he got up to take a leak, I actually broke my own rules and told "novice ploppie" that he was getting terrible advice from his friend and that was why he was losing so much money. Novice ploppie was very grateful and then left.

 

[Preston]

Usually when I have a new novice player at the table I will let them use my basic strategy card to help out. I also remind them when to double down, and if they are chicken shit with 11 against a 10 I'll buy their DD. They're usually the coolest about it compared to the average ploppy since I'm helping them out.

But I also point out a few more advanced techniques.. like looking at board condition to determine what next to do with a hand.

 

[jimpenn]

Preston...A pure AP move. Letting a poppy use your BS card. It sure is an ice breaker to conversation. I will never be without one again along with my Keno card in shirt pocket.

 

[Kaiser]

I got to play with a real life professional gambler last night!!

Well, at least that's what he told the dealer. :laugh:

This guy sits down at my $10 table where I had been going heads up with the dealer. Pulls $50 out of his wallet and loses it in two hands. Pulls another $100 out and loses that in about 10 minutes. It was a bad run of cards, and I was getting kicked around too, but this guy would sigh really loud and look away after every single loss. He was constantly whining and complaining. You know the type; "oh my GOD", "oh! come on!", "jesus, this is ridiculous!!" after every. single. hand. It was wearing me down just listening to the guy.

Then he starts whispering under his breath if I made a play he didn't agree with. I stood with a multi-card soft 18 versus the dealer's 8 and he says "jesus, he's supposed to hit that" while he turns his head again in disgust. He busts and I win, and it just sends him over the top. I considered telling him to shut his hole and worry about his own hand, but I didn't feel like getting into it. I was in too good of a mood. I just looked him in the eye and gave him a nice big smile. He left a few hands later, and I could see he was dropping $25 chips like crazy at a $5 table and continuing his antics.

I made a comment to the dealer, and she told me about how he tells her he's a professional gambler, and he does this for a living. I almost spit my beer out. :laugh: