Ploppy Problems...

[Preston]

I hate it when people bring attention to counting in any way shape or form. Especially ploppy's!
Good Patience 21forme!

Since I travel so much I am often times in some remote Indian casino. My normal response whenever a ploppy brings up counting I usually say do the dealer "Do you actually get those here? I thought it was a Vegas thing."

 

[Knox]

I agree that acting ignorant is the ticket. Maybe a reference to the movie Rain Man or something.

You want an index play/BS departure to appear to be incompetence or gut feel/superstition. That puts you right on par with the average Plopper.

Also, show some emotion. When you split those 8s, double 1 or 2, and win them all, with a big bet out, pump your fist and say YEAH!! and act like you are just a lucky another lucky ploppy.

 

[Preston]

I got kicked out of the Hilton in AC

This weekend I got kicked out of the Atlantic City Hilton. Not for counting.

I'm playing heads up with a dealer. Count hovering around 0. Two more players sit down. Count starts to rise. Asian lady sits down at first base. Then There was a hand where the count really climbed due to almost EVERYONE drawing out to a 5 card hand of some form. The dealer ripped a 5 card 21 to boot.

Asian lady starts bitching at me (for no real reason). I'm at third base so I guess I'm the one to blame. She was this idiot who stood on 15 against a 7. I let her know about this. She starts to make it personal (despite not even knowing me)

She continues to stand on stiff hands. Count still climbing. She loses four hands in a row. ANd she's blaming ME for it instead of her own stupidity!

So I raise my bets from $10 to two hands of $50. Because the count is high enough and I want to piss her off into leaving, since she is really berating me.

She gets dealt a 15. I get dealt 20 and a blackjack. She then goes off on me about "playing two hands messed up the flow of the cards" and I had enough and retorted "There is no sacred order of the cards. If you think this is a game of luck why don't you go play a slot machine you dumbfuck ploppy cunt!" It worked and got her to leave...

Unfortunately the pit boss was right there and told me that they don't tolerate that kind of hostility nor language to other patrons (despite her digging into me for a good 10 minutes). So I was escorted to the cage to cash out and left the casino.

Marks the second time I've been asked to leave a casino for my language.

 

[Sonny]

She gets dealt a 15. I get dealt 20 and a blackjack. She then goes off on me about "playing two hands messed up the flow of the cards…

A few suggested replies:

1) “Gee, the flow seems to be working GREAT for me [gesturing to your 20 and BJ]. There must be something wrong with your playing.”

2) “I agree. Maybe you should restore the flow by playing zero hands.”

3) “It’s not me, it’s this stupid table. It’s been cold all night! You should get out while you still can.”

4) “Sorry, that’s the way we play here at table [table number], right [dealer’s name]? Perhaps you ladies would be more comfortable at table [any other table number].”

"There is no sacred order of the cards. If you think this is a game of luck why don't you go play a slot machine you dumbfuck ploppy cunt!"

Dude! At the very least you should learn to mumble such things under your breath. Ploppies aren’t worth losing EV over.

-Sonny-

 

[halcyon1234]

She then goes off on me about "playing two hands messed up the flow of the cards" and I had enough and retorted "There is no sacred order of the cards. If you think this is a game of luck why don't you go play a slot machine you dumbfuck ploppy cunt!" ... Marks the second time I've been asked to leave a casino for my language.

Dude, if you're going to go off on a ploppy-- at least make it worth your while! Three words and one two swears? Geeze. If a boot's in order, at least use the oppertunity to get every bit of ploppy frustration out. A loud, gesture-filled verbally abusive rant of at least one and a half minutes is in order. Your face should turn redder than the ploppy's chips. You should be out of your seat, arms waving, ranting the fuck out of them. By the end, you should be foaming at the mouth, out of breath, and the plopyy should be either crying or shocked into submission. Bonus points for each surrounding table that stops playing to watch you.

If you are going to go off at ploppies, do it all in one huge rant, and only lose one session-- rather than just mildly annoying a ploppy and getting booted several times.

 

[Preston]

She left after I got only a few sentences out, otherwise I would have gone to town. First base at the next table did turn around to see what was going on, because I was pretty loud.

I was groggy and tired and my brain was starting to lock during counts. Plus I had slept in my car two nights in a row in the freezing cold, hadn't showered either

Losing the EV didn't bother me much, as I ended up making $500 over the course of two days with a red chip spread.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

She left after I got only a few sentences out, otherwise I would have gone to town. First base at the next table did turn around to see what was going on, because I was pretty loud.

I was groggy and tired and my brain was starting to lock during counts. Plus I had slept in my car two nights in a row in the freezing cold, hadn't showered either

Losing the EV didn't bother me much, as I ended up making $500 over the course of two days with a red chip spread.

That's a problem. You did a few things you shouldn't have done.

First off- playing tired and dirty. You don't want to do that. It causes you to make mistakes of both the blackjack and the social kind, and you saw the result. You guys who try to sleep in the car are going to get in trouble. If you were clean and properly dressed you might have gotten just a warning for the language, but if you look like a bum they figure there is no benefit to having you in the game anyway and you got walked.

Second- you used the C-word! That and the N-word are two words that should never pass your lips in public. Those two words bring out primal and illogical emotions in people and somebody might make you pay up. I've gotten warnings for language too, but not abuse to another player (well once I did that but he cussed me first). If that woman's family was in there and you called her that word you might have been beaten.

Finally, what kind of stakes were you playing with a red chip spread? You weren't trying to beat AC with less than a 1:10 spread were you?

 

[Bojack1]

Its funny but playing the way I usually do with a team you'd think that I would have more ploppy problems. The fact is I never usually start a shoe and jump in somwhere in the middle to end when a spotter has signaled an advantage. And more often than not I will leave when its time to shuffle. Using some of the more advanced techniques its not like that, but for the majority of the time I'm in and out constantly. I have gotten dirty looks and rude comments but usually I shrug them off. The most noticeable thing I have come to realize is if you exude confidence you either win over the table or at least shut them up. Playing your hands like you've done this before and surrendering with pride goes a long way into making a ploppy think maybe this guy isn't so stupid. Its even gotten to the point that sometimes they ask me not to leave the table. I still do but I leave with a promise that I'll be back soon, and a lot of times I am. I might give a line like, I believe the only way to win at this game is to move around, if you sit to long you always end up giving it back. They usually eat that stuff up and it sets you up for a couple of more call ins without too much suspicion.

All that being said there was a time just this past New Years at the Mirage where I got called into a shoe and the table was hostile. I wanted to play 2 spots and there weren't 2 consecutive open spaces. I asked this guy if he could possibly move his bet over 1 space so I could play 2. He jumped all over me, cursing, giving me a speech about the harm I was doing the table by jumping in, and that they were on a run and if I thought I was going to ruin it I might get hurt. This never really gets to me as I can usually get the floor people to calm the situation but this belligerent guy annoyed me enough that I wanted to have fun with it. I had a few yellow chips in front of me and I said to the guy, I'll tell you what, I'm playing whether you like it or not, as for me getting hurt, I'm going to take 1 of these yellow chips over to the biggest mf'er I can find in this casino and give it to him to kick the ever lovin crap out of you while I watch. Now which way are we going to play this. He was pretty stunned because apparently he was a bullying blowhard and nobody talked to him like that. He moved and allowed me to play 2 spots with no more than a grunt. When the shoe was over I had won some money and was coloring up when he congratulated me and apologized about his comments when I sat down. I said no problem but make sure you save me a spot just in case I come back. He said sure no problem, I than walked out got in a cab and headed to the MGM. For all I know he's still holding that spot.

 

[Preston]

That's a problem. You did a few things you shouldn't have done.

First off- playing tired and dirty. You don't want to do that. It causes you to make mistakes of both the blackjack and the social kind, and you saw the result. You guys who try to sleep in the car are going to get in trouble. If you were clean and properly dressed you might have gotten just a warning for the language, but if you look like a bum they figure there is no benefit to having you in the game anyway and you got walked.

Finally, what kind of stakes were you playing with a red chip spread? You weren't trying to beat AC with less than a 1:10 spread were you?

The fact that I hadn't showered for a couple days had little effect on my appearance. I had kept my clothes relatively clean, my teeth were brushed and I had a hat on so my hair wouldn't be all over the place. Believe me, I didn't look like a slob. I arrived Friday and early Sunday morning there was little difference in my appearance, other than stubble.

With the exception of that lady I was pretty social with the others at the table. I even helped a guy win $6,000 (4 k in one shoe). This lady just happened to pick me at the wrong time. My fuse for ploppies was about to burst before I even came to the city so the last thing I wanted to deal with was hearing about "the order of the cards." That's one of my biggest peeves to hear about at the table.

I was actually looking to switch to poker anyway. Poker is so slow moving when you're card dead it eats up time really quickly. I was trying to push through the night to get a hotel for sunday night (which there was about a $50 a night difference a few miles out of town) I ended up getting a $40 room at the Quality Inn in Pleasantville for Sunday night. They wanted around $85 for Sat night.

I did also play a couple "carnival" games to pass the time. I walked away up at Carribean Stud, 3 card poker, 4 card poker, and roulette. Once I was up near $500 for the weekend I just sat in the craps pit and watched other people bet and try and figure the damn game out. (Which I am finally starting to)

The spread I was using was relative to two things: My energy level, table limits, and trip bankroll. I actually started the weekend off with a green chip 1-8 spread but when I got to Saturday night my brain wasn't working as efficiently so I worked down to a 2-10 red chip spread. By the time I switched down to red I had been up $1k, down $1k and then up $300. I was really disciplined about wonging out and playing for shorter sessions than I normally did.

 

[shadroch]

Two words you never utter in a casino are ploppy and that C-word. Nobody but card counters uses ploppy. Why not just wear a " Blackbelt in Blackjack' T-Shirt next time.
Try renting a room and playing refreshed.End of January and you'd rather sleep in your car than get a cheap room?

 

[ihate17]

Sacreligious comments

You have already been told about some of the words you used towards the lady and that is what most likely got you tossed.

But as an advantage player your comments about the holy flow of the cards was sacreligious to all ploppies and remember inorder to keep the tables open to yourself you should appear to be a ploppy. Should a pit overhear a comment about the flow not existing, you would be instantly labeled as a person of inteligence who actually uses his brain. This is not permitted at the blackjack tables!

ihate17

 

[Preston]

Two words you never utter in a casino are ploppy and that C-word. Nobody but card counters uses ploppy. Why not just wear a " Blackbelt in Blackjack' T-Shirt next time.
Try renting a room and playing refreshed.End of January and you'd rather sleep in your car than get a cheap room?

I have heard the term ploppy used at a poker table. It does not specifically restrict itself to blackjack.

The hotels I looked into Saturday night wanted anywhere from $75-$300 for the night. And This was near midnight. With an 11 am checkout time Figure a $75 + tax room would average out to $11/hour room rental. While waiting for Sunday night I was able to check in at 12 noon and have it until 12 noon following day. And the cost was $45 after taxes. So the cost per hour would be just under $2. We're all about crunching numbers and that seemed to be the most cost efficent way to do things.

 

[rogue1]

How???

How can anyone believe that there is a "sacred order of the cards"?
I really don't get it. Anybody know what they supposedly base this belief on?

 

[Preston]

How can anyone believe that there is a "sacred order of the cards"?
I really don't get it. Anybody know what they supposedly base this belief on?

A) They have to blame something for there inability to win.
B) They idiot (whose name was probably Martingale) is probably the same one who says to "always believe the dealer has a 10 in the hole."

 

[Canceler]

They have trouble with randomness...

How can anyone believe that there is a "sacred order of the cards"?
I really don't get it. Anybody know what they supposedly base this belief on?

One man in a crowd of people is struck by a bolt of lightning and killed instantly.

Skilled player reaction: He was a random victim of negative variance.

Ploppy reaction: God didn't like him very much.

As applied to blackjack: Something, maybe the blackjack gods, or whatever, put these cards in order, so if we all play correctly, we'll all win. So don't you mess things up by hitting your perfectly good soft 18, or doing something really crazy, like surrendering.

 

[Preston]

One man in a crowd of people is struck by a bolt of lightning and killed instantly.

Skilled player reaction: He was a random victim of negative variance.

Ploppy reaction: God didn't like him very much.

As applied to blackjack: Something, maybe the blackjack gods, or whatever, put these cards in order, so if we all play correctly, we'll all win. So don't you mess things up by hitting your perfectly good soft 18, or doing something really crazy, like surrendering.

ROFLMAO!!! I AM PUTTING THAT QUOTE ON MY MYSPACE PAGE!!!!!

 

[ihate17]

Visit a blackjack table anywhere

How can anyone believe that there is a "sacred order of the cards"?
I really don't get it. Anybody know what they supposedly base this belief on?

It is really amazing but not only do they believe in the sacred flow when they are winning but even if everyone is losing they then think the bad play (which often is really a correct play) will force the evil blackjack gods to continue their negative variance.
I also use the term sacred and use it because the belief in the flow has nothing to do with math or logic and everything to do with superstition and blind belief.
But how else can a casino offer a game with a house edge of less than .5% and make between 2 and 3% on it.

Seriously, we make fun of these people here are times but if they did not exist in huge numbers, does anyone think the casinos would continue to deal the same blackjack games that they deal today? Just imagine what blackjack would be like if everyone either counted or played basic perfectly, even money blackjack would be here to stay.

ihate17

 

[Jeff25]

"Run In" with a ploppy

I sit down at a shoe that is mildly positive hoping to wait one or two rounds for it to improve. The one ploppy playing looks at me and says, "If your not going to play, dont sit here". Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I get up and stand behind. A few rounds later it hits a decent count. I jump in and place my bet, the ploppy colours up and storms off. About 30 mins later im backcounting another shoe and the ploppy approaches me. He says, (loud enough for the dealer and pit to hear) "I know what you are doing, you are backcounting". I tell him, "I dont know what he is talking about". He walks away but returns in two mins and says, "Dont be counting cards at my table", I ignore him. I later see him pointing me out to other players at his table. I decide it is time to leave.

I have never ran into a ploppy like this before, it really was a bad situation. Im lucky it happened at a casino were heat is nonexistant. How would you guys have handled this situation?

 

[ScottH]

I sit down at a shoe that is mildly positive hoping to wait one or two rounds for it to improve. The one ploppy playing looks at me and says, "If your not going to play, dont sit here". Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I get up and stand behind. A few rounds later it hits a decent count. I jump in and place my bet, the ploppy colours up and storms off. About 30 mins later im backcounting another shoe and the ploppy approaches me. He says, (loud enough for the dealer and pit to hear) "I know what you are doing, you are backcounting". I tell him, "I dont know what he is talking about". He walks away but returns in two mins and says, "Dont be counting cards at my table", I ignore him. I later see him pointing me out to other players at his table. I decide it is time to leave.

I have never ran into a ploppy like this before, it really was a bad situation. Im lucky it happened at a casino were heat is nonexistant. How would you guys have handled this situation?

You should leave, because he does have a right to get mad at you for hopping in and playing hands during the good counts that he waited for. He knows enough to know what you're doing, and is mad enough to announce what you're doing, so just leave him alone, or leave the casino.

 

[Jeff25]

You should leave, because he does have a right to get mad at you for hopping in and playing hands during the good counts that he waited for. He knows enough to know what you're doing, and is mad enough to announce what you're doing, so just leave him alone, or leave the casino.

This ploppy was no AP. He was not waiting for the good count. I watched him play the shoe. He probably learned about counting from some random book or the discovery channel.