Question on the Zengrifter interview.

[ScottH]

"Most importantly, I rarely reduce my bet after the shuffle, and I may occasionally place a minimum bet in a rich count. Not too much, mind you, just enough to allay suspicion."

Do you have some sort of limit on this? If you end the shoe on a max bet do you make another max bet at the beginning of the next shoe? Or is this something you would only do if you had, for example, a 3 unit bet out at the end of a shoe?

You said you RARELY reduce your bet, but it seems to me like it should be done only occassionally.

 

[zengrifter]

Do you have some sort of limit on this? Like a maximum bet for the first hand of the shoe. If you end the shoe on a max bet do you make another max bet at the beginning of the next shoe?

Yes, I make a max bet at the first hand, BUT ONLY if I won a max bet at the end of the shoe. This tactic is NOT necessary or recommended for $5 unit bettors. zg

 

[ScottH]

Yes, I make a max bet at the first hand, BUT ONLY if I won a max bet at the end of the shoe. This tactic is NOT necessary or recommended for $5 unit bettors. zg

So you're saying since I'm playing low stakes they won't be watching me close enough to make this play?

 

[zengrifter]

Correct, just stay alert without looking nervous. zg

 

[Mikeaber]

I spread 1:5 with $5 units on Fremont all week long in virtually every casino under the canopy and at the Tez and never got "heat" except at Calif Club. Shouldn't have been there anyway. Pen sucks. But I was ahead. Then this guy sitting next to me caught onto what I was doing and started ramping his bets when I'd raise mine except he was shoving as much as $250 out after having been making $5 and $10 bets all night. Three suits huddled and when I could see one of them mention "the guy in the black hat", (that was ME), I grabbed my chips and left the casino.

Other than that, I had no problems with that low limit 1:5 spread. About the only "tactic" I used was a $1 toke every once in a while after I'd won a hand when I knew the PB was watching.

 

[zengrifter]

I spread 1:5 with $5 units on Fremont all week long in virtually every casino under the canopy and at the Tez and never got "heat" except at Calif Club. I had no problems with that low limit 1:5 spread.

For most of those games 1-5 wasn't sufficient, needed 1-10+. zg

 

[Mikeaber]

For most of those games 1-5 wasn't sufficient, needed 1-10+. zg

I presume you are basing that statement on the low penetration? If so, you are absolutely correct! Most places they have reverted to under 65% on DD tables.

BTW....I still don't know how that guy sitting next to me at the Calif Club caught onto what I was doing. Maybe he was an AP and just happened to start counting when I did. Or maybe it was when, after two hands and the count was at -1 and I caught a freakin' 20 to throw the count negative again and I slammed my cards down and said "What a wasted pair of paints!" Who knows! LOL