How do I get petter pen?

[Sonny]

I'm always on the lookout for good penetration, but it's been slim-pickings lately. I'm sure that a well placed tip will encourage a stingy dealer, but my experience has not been good. It seems like the dealer either thanks me and continues to deal as normal, or he knows that I'm up to something and shuffles. I hardly ever get an extra round despite my tips, cheerful behavior, and sometimes "subtle" remarks ("I've got a GOOOOOD feeling about this next hand. Maybe we BOTH could make some money!").

Are there any other techniques, or better tipping strategies, that you folks have found to be effective?

-Sonny-

P.S.- Maybe next time a dealer ignores my tips I'll just say "Look, I'm TRYING to count cards here! Can you AT LEAST give me rule-of-seven penetration?"

 

[learning to count]

1. You have to walk a lot. If you see poor pen at most tables it means the casino standard is to have bad pen.
2. Go to areas that have casino competition. Casinos will improve conditions at times to attract players.
3. Learn how to talk and befriend the dealer to get good pen. Avoid tipping to get the cut card moved up. A tip/bribe should be avoided. If the dealer starts dealing you a game that is excellent then think about a tip at the end of your session or when he is being traded out for the relief dealer.
4. Check out the usual info services like CBJN, Track Jack, BJForum On Line.
5. Dont play unless you are satisfied with the playing conditions.
6. Its better to save up all your bottle returns and buy a airplane ticket for fertile playing fields.

 

[phantom007]

Try Progressive BJ

No, I do not mean the usual way, but rather "PROGRESSIVE TIPPING".

While useless in 6D, I have had decent success with SOME dealers in both Toonika and Lost Wages, in both SD and DD games, using the following:

"After 2(or 3) consecutive WINS, I will place a $X bet for you as well, provided you deal another round from THIS deck."

Obviously, I neither tell them this, nor hand the dealer a preprinted card, I just do it by ACTION...if I have won 2-in-a-row, I place a "Dealer Bet" as well. If he/she shuffles the cards, I shuffle the chips, and the Dealer Bet does not reappear post-shuffle.

DISADVANTAGE: Obviously you are "tipping" into Negative Decks almost as often as Positive ones. Appropriate play changes can minimize the damage.

ADVANTAGE: Good Dealers will catch-on to the system quickly..."Do you want one more round from this deck?" is a question I always love to hear. Likewise, my failure to win a few in a row will negate tipping, and thus, cause a premature shuffle....Yeah, yeah, I know one often loses lots of consecutive bets in Positive counts (GOD, DO I KNOW!). When that happens, then just go ANTI-MARTINGALE...Raise your bet, AND MAKE THE TIP APPEAR ANYHOW!

SUCCESS RATE: About 2%, IMHO, NOT to EV, but about 2% of the time you are in situations that it will work.

Hope this was helpful.

phantom007.

 

[Sonny]

Good advice.

> 1. You have to walk a lot. If you see poor pen at most tables it means the
> casino standard is to have bad pen.

Too true. I guess I'm always hoping that there will be one special dealer who will deal deeply, but I'm sure they mostly follow the house rules. Time so search for greener pastures!

> 2. Go to areas that have casino competition. Casinos will improve conditions
> at times to attract players.

Yeah, I only get to Vegas 2-3 times a year so I'm always trying to maximize my time at the tables. I just have to accept the fact that most of the time is spent LOOKING for good games.

> 3. Learn how to talk and befriend the dealer to get good pen. Avoid tipping
> to get the cut card moved up. A tip/bribe should be avoided. If the dealer
> starts dealing you a game that is excellent then think about a tip at the end
> of your session or when he is being traded out for the relief dealer.

Very good point! Instead of tipping to try and encourage better penetration, I should be tipping to REWARD it.

> 4. Check out the usual info services like CBJN, Track Jack, BJForum On Line.

I have a subscription to Trackjack, but since penetration levels change so frequently it is really only accurate in finding games with good rules.

> 5. Dont play unless you are satisfied with the playing conditions.

Ah yes, probably the most important factor. I try to, but I'm always trying to find a way to magically turn poor games into good games. You know, the whole "spinning straw into gold" thing. I should spend less time dreaming and more time hitting the pavement.

Thanks for the good advice.

-Sonny-

 

[The Mayor]

That's too much tipping

Remember, tip only if the long term EV of the tip justifies it. Tipping a single time you play at a joint is usually not to be advised. If you tip today so as to guarantee a decent game tomorrow (and other days) for yourself, then it is much closer to a worthwhile sacrafice of EV.