Before you sit down?

[blackchipjim]

I just thought I'd ask this general knowledge question for the sake of discussion. When you enter a casino and start scanning the tables what is your criteria before you'll sit down. Is it number of decks,people,of course rules are the most important but aside of rules what comes into play before you sit down. blackchipjim

 

[thedon]

my understanding is that you wait for the TC to be in your favor until you sit down, then you play until the count is not in your favor and get up and look for a new table

i seem to have a problem with the number of people issue. i went last night and there was no available seats at any of the low-mid staked tables.. so i was forced to stand around, wait for a good TC, and then ask people if i could bet on top of them...

In two hours i had only played one hand and it was a bet on top of someone already playing ( i did win however, but later ended up losing everything i came with betting on top of someone at another table, count was even more in my favor that time but dealer had 21 )

To me, if I go on lets say a less busy day like monday, tuesday, wednesday, and just stand and watch the tables when there is way less people at the tables and in general at the casino it will seem way more heated if i'm standing in the same general area for hours waiting for a favorable count...

 

[shadroch]

I just thought I'd ask this general knowledge question for the sake of discussion. When you enter a casino and start scanning the tables what is your criteria before you'll sit down. Is it number of decks,people,of course rules are the most important but aside of rules what comes into play before you sit down. blackchipjim

I look for dirty ashtrays,good penetration,low dealer chip trays,big dealer tip piles and happy players.A very tall dealer and distracted pit boss is next.

 

[Sonny]

As you said, the rules are one of the most important things. Make sure you aren’t playing a H17 table when a S17 table is in the next pit. Also, playing with lots of other people at the table will slow the game down. This is good for BS players since you will lose money slower and get more comps for less action. It also gives you more of a chance to use hand interactions in your favor and encourage dealer errors.

-Sonny-

 

[thedon]

my understanding is that you wait for the TC to be in your favor until you sit down, then you play until the count is not in your favor and get up and look for a new table

i seem to have a problem with the number of people issue. i went last night and there was no available seats at any of the low-mid staked tables.. so i was forced to stand around, wait for a good TC, and then ask people if i could bet on top of them...

In two hours i had only played one hand and it was a bet on top of someone already playing ( i did win however, but later ended up losing everything i came with betting on top of someone at another table, count was even more in my favor that time but dealer had 21 )

To me, if I go on lets say a less busy day like monday, tuesday, wednesday, and just stand and watch the tables when there is way less people at the tables and in general at the casino it will seem way more heated if i'm standing in the same general area for hours waiting for a favorable count...

am i on crack? does this sound ok? help!

 

[jack.jackson]

am i on crack? does this sound ok? help!

Sounds fine to me!
However i think he was referring a little more about rules and conditions.
First you want to find a good game. Then backcount.

Dont worry everybody is a little sensitive about what they post. Were all human:eyepatch:

 

[TENNBEAR]

Where I play ( Miss. ) I look for DD table with 25.00 min with no more than two other players, and no-one smoking. After I sit down ( no midshoe entry ) I start playing and check the penetration on the first shuffle. A freindly dealer and players are a plus. If the table gets crowded, or conditions are not good, I color-up and leave, and look for another table. My favorite time to play is from 4:00 AM until Noon, this is when the playing conditions are best. However I will shop around a little more and find good games through the afternoon. When the casino is crowded ( Saturday Night ) I will simply go to the room watch a movie, and turn-in early for my 4:00 AM return.

 

[RJT]

my understanding is that you wait for the TC to be in your favor until you sit down, then you play until the count is not in your favor and get up and look for a new table

i seem to have a problem with the number of people issue. i went last night and there was no available seats at any of the low-mid staked tables.. so i was forced to stand around, wait for a good TC, and then ask people if i could bet on top of them...

In two hours i had only played one hand and it was a bet on top of someone already playing ( i did win however, but later ended up losing everything i came with betting on top of someone at another table, count was even more in my favor that time but dealer had 21 )

To me, if I go on lets say a less busy day like monday, tuesday, wednesday, and just stand and watch the tables when there is way less people at the tables and in general at the casino it will seem way more heated if i'm standing in the same general area for hours waiting for a favorable count...

Honestly, i wouldn't say so. Betting on top of other players is a very bad idea unless you know them and know they'll play using BS. The first thing you learn when learning to count is learn to always use BS otherwise you lose.
A better idea might be to find a seat at a table that's just shuffling, play and wong out if the TC drops below -1 rather than trying to get into a table that already has a good count.

RJT.

 

[21forme]

AC rules (for backcounting):
1. Check out the PC. Make sure (s)he's not one that has busted me in the past.
2. Are there empty seats? Preferably at least two.
3. Is the shoe almost over or just starting?
4. Start backcounting. If the count is negative at the end of one deck, move on. If the count isn't positive by the end of the second deck, move on.

If it's too crowded to backcount and I plan to sit and play, I would substitiute this for #4:
4. Find the best pen available.