Graduating to Black
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Automatic Monkey
Banned
There's a bunch. One interesting one is CTR forms, suspicious activity reports and related scrutiny that comes with handling transactions approaching or greater than $10K. I don't know if you've had this experience yet, but you don't want it, and it can make it difficult or impossible to play anonymously without committing a felony.
You may have similar problems with transporting your playing stake to and from the casino. And when playing black at a casino it's impossible to conceal from the public how much money you are walking around with so please be careful.
You may have similar problems with transporting your playing stake to and from the casino. And when playing black at a casino it's impossible to conceal from the public how much money you are walking around with so please be careful.
ihate17
Well-Known Member
Some things are different
There are many casinos where I used to spread from $25-2X $250 and actually never had any heat. I think my act was good but at those times I thought it was great and did not realize that certain casinos have tolerance levels and as a black chip player, that extra attention I was not getting earlier, landed up getting me a few backoffs.
Interestingly, I find it harder to play black on non high limit tables compared to high limit tables and rooms. Reason though is really simple. On a quarter table, the guy betting black and much higher is going to stand out, as most players are betting quarters and a little more. In a high limit room, I can easily be the low roller in the group and get ignored even though they may have a higher level of surviellance. One thing that may or may not help, but at this level you can afford to toke at least a little and I do that.
Bankroll concerns: I have two "home" casinos in Vegas. I do not spread aggressively in these places, but have maintained my welcome even though I have a nice lifetime win in both (I do consider myself an excellent rateholer). At both of these casinos I also play a little VP, not much in the way of time but at $1 multiline or $5 single line machines. I also have a credit line at both that will cover my normal triproll.
Ratholing: At regular tables I never ratehole black, as black and higher chips are generally tracked but green is not. There are plenty of opportunities to throw a chip or two in your pocket and if you bet chunky green instead of a couple of blacks, you will have a stack of greens often where one or two missing chips will not ever be missed. People will come in and out of your table often bringing some green or taking a few green away, these are opportunities.
Comps: I have gotten excellent comps over the years, but never be surprised if some place that has treated you very well for years, suddenly no longer wants your action. It is just part of the game.
ihate17
There are many casinos where I used to spread from $25-2X $250 and actually never had any heat. I think my act was good but at those times I thought it was great and did not realize that certain casinos have tolerance levels and as a black chip player, that extra attention I was not getting earlier, landed up getting me a few backoffs.
Interestingly, I find it harder to play black on non high limit tables compared to high limit tables and rooms. Reason though is really simple. On a quarter table, the guy betting black and much higher is going to stand out, as most players are betting quarters and a little more. In a high limit room, I can easily be the low roller in the group and get ignored even though they may have a higher level of surviellance. One thing that may or may not help, but at this level you can afford to toke at least a little and I do that.
Bankroll concerns: I have two "home" casinos in Vegas. I do not spread aggressively in these places, but have maintained my welcome even though I have a nice lifetime win in both (I do consider myself an excellent rateholer). At both of these casinos I also play a little VP, not much in the way of time but at $1 multiline or $5 single line machines. I also have a credit line at both that will cover my normal triproll.
Ratholing: At regular tables I never ratehole black, as black and higher chips are generally tracked but green is not. There are plenty of opportunities to throw a chip or two in your pocket and if you bet chunky green instead of a couple of blacks, you will have a stack of greens often where one or two missing chips will not ever be missed. People will come in and out of your table often bringing some green or taking a few green away, these are opportunities.
Comps: I have gotten excellent comps over the years, but never be surprised if some place that has treated you very well for years, suddenly no longer wants your action. It is just part of the game.
ihate17
I basically don't have a clue but I hope ur original bankroll has quadrupled and u can bet same spread, etc.tribute said:
Otherwise, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. U wanna win what ur winning for the rest of ur life or win 4 times as much for a year or 2 (perhaps lol)?
Or at least maybe inch up to it - like what's wrong with $50 and see how it goes for a while?
Whatever u choose, best of luck.
Cardcounter
Well-Known Member
How big is black compared to the other chips?
That is a good question to ask your self is it the biggest chip in the tray or not. I find that when casinos have bigger chips meaning they cary $500 or higher chips in the tray black is more tolerated than when the highest they have in the tray is black it self. Some casinos might have chips worth as much as $10,000 or more! Making black vary small in those casinos. If black is the biggest chip in the tray the pit boss will watch you very closely. On the other hand if other players in the casino can afford to bet $1,000's per hand the pit will be more interested in those players. Unfortunalty where I live black is what I consider to be big time action.
That is a good question to ask your self is it the biggest chip in the tray or not. I find that when casinos have bigger chips meaning they cary $500 or higher chips in the tray black is more tolerated than when the highest they have in the tray is black it self. Some casinos might have chips worth as much as $10,000 or more! Making black vary small in those casinos. If black is the biggest chip in the tray the pit boss will watch you very closely. On the other hand if other players in the casino can afford to bet $1,000's per hand the pit will be more interested in those players. Unfortunalty where I live black is what I consider to be big time action.
SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
i buy into the table for $200-$300 (the buy in is where most of your comps come from), and i was wondering, is it ok to color out black? i dont vary my bets at all, i just bet $10 flat, and i was wondering is there anything wrong with that in terms of either my comps or in terms of them thinking i made a lot of money or something.. btw this is a $10-$2000 table
blackwater1776
Member
I'd take ihate17's advice, don't rathole the black (if you get any) and I'd stay in the green. For whatever reason, they'll look a player with one black out and not the guy next to him playing 6 or 8 green. Whatever...
SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
false.. my average comp in the mail will be free hotel, $24 of food, $20 cash back, not to mention the things i could ask for at the table..ColorMeUp said:
SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
everytime i get $100 i know i wont need, i color in a black, and put it in my pocket (not to rathole, just cuz i dont want it on the table cuz i leave sometimes), and one time the pit boss said "we are missing a couple blacks" and the dealer said "he has 2".. i think this was a unique case because they were checking all the chip trays at that time
That's what I'm saying! But I think that it's more probably that the player is full of **** than the casino giving those kind of comps to a $10 flat bettor!shadroch said:
If a casino would give those kinds of comps for flat betting $10, that'd be a big time +EV game by just playing basic strategy!
SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
majestic star in gary indiana (its 2 boats).. in fact, i didnt play for 3 months and they sent me free $5 for each week of august, but i threw it out cuz i wasnt planning on going, so what do they do? they send me a free hotel, free 5 entries in a $100,000 drawing, another free $5, and a free $24 in food.. i guess they want me back!shadroch said:
SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
this is a once or twice a month thing.. yup, im gonna come on here and lie about comps (that arent even that great) to a bunch of strangers.. when i played $3 blackjack i got $5 and a free buffet 1-2x a month too.. btw i have to spend $18 in gas just for the trip, and i have 4 casinos closer to me here in illinois, but any1 who has gambled in illinois knows not toColorMeUp said:
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SilentBob420BMFJ
Banned
i said, when they had -->THREE<-- DOLLAR tables thats what i was getting, but now i get $20 since im playing $10.. notice how i didnt need to insult you to say that?shadroch said:
toastblows
Well-Known Member
when i graduated to black (still love green games as they are the max at smaller indian casinos) it was odd. You find the tables lonely...or in my case...exceptionally empty to play a good game. One of the casinos i go to has a high stakes lounge attached to the high stakes slots on one side and high stakes BJ on the other. If i need cover, ill drop a couple hundred in $10 slots....so they can tell im a "gambler", not a counter. You definately are going to need a cover if your winning big. My philosophy at my "home" casino is if i take 1000-1500 or so, drop some in a $5 VP or $10 slot...just enough to look like you re a dumb gambler. Away from home, i try to keep $100 table sessions around the 1000 up range...and then wander the casino for a stupid game of let it ride or 3 card poker. $5 of course :laugh: . You can make quite a killing fast, so watch out for people "watching you", be it the pit, or that guy behind you who doesnt speak english...but probably has a nice knife in his pocket for later 
Ive never had a 10K transaction, but seriously that is asking for heat i dont want....however i did win a royal flush on a $5 VP when i was "dumping" back to them :laugh:, so my cover was blown. Anyway, i think youll enjoy it if you have the bankroll....i seriously get in spells where im just like "its only 2 chips"....not thinking its 2 $5 chips...but 2 $100 chips.....enjoy the rollercoaster! :cool2:
Ive never had a 10K transaction, but seriously that is asking for heat i dont want....however i did win a royal flush on a $5 VP when i was "dumping" back to them :laugh:, so my cover was blown. Anyway, i think youll enjoy it if you have the bankroll....i seriously get in spells where im just like "its only 2 chips"....not thinking its 2 $5 chips...but 2 $100 chips.....enjoy the rollercoaster! :cool2:AnIrishmannot2brite
Well-Known Member
Couldn't one dump a bunch of black chips to a trusted associate? Hug your "wife" and deposit several chips in her purse at the same time.