Table Limit Changes

[bjhack]

If anyone is following my posts, I was in LV a couple of weekends ago, and played a lot of BS BJ at the Paris at low limit tables (25 hours over 72 hours).

I understand that BS BJ is a losing proposition, and is proportional to amount bet, but it (in my opinion) offers me pretty high entertainment value.

On our last day at LV, I started playing BJ fairly early (say 11am), and had to leave at 4pm for the flight out.

At 11am, the Paris had a small number of $15 tables. I cuddled up to one. During my play, as the casino became more busy, and my table limit increased to $25 (according to the electronic sign). I noticed it fairly early, but continued to bet typically $15 with no comment from the dealer or anyone else (other than a couple of later entry players to the table)

About 2 to 3 hours after the limit change, a floor person came by (who had been by a number of times earlier) and pointed out specifically to me (he mentioned me by name, based on by players card) that the limits had changed. I said that I thought I was "grandfathered"; he said that only applies to the $25 tables.

I had previously considered moving to $25 bets; afterall, I was up, and going to be leaving soon; no, this doesn't make sense, but I believe my expectations were realistic (I will lose in the long term, but I will have fun).

I was up (say 50% of what I put down initially - small $ - perhaps $150). As I was already considering it, I put up no objection, and continued to play at $25.

I ended up up. In the classic (foolish) situation, I bet $100 on the last hand I played in LV, and lost, but I still ended being up.

Any comments (especially regarding floor personnel behaviour) would be appreciated!

Regards

BJHack

 

[shadroch]

When I used to play BJ at Harrahs, they would only grandfather for an hour or so. One morning I cashed in for $200 and was playing 5-10 on what had been a $5 table but had become a $15. They let me go slightly more than an hour and said no more. I had exactly $10 left and they wouldn't let me play it. Luckily my tablemate let me piggyback his bet. We lost and I left peeved.

 

[hawkeye]

The couple of times I've run into that situation they grandfather everyone for a while, but then at some point the pit boss or the dealer will openly state, usually at the end of a shoe, that the grandfather clause no longer applies and everyone must play at the new limit.

I've seen the grandfather clause run for 4+ hours in a sparsely filled casino though, so I think the amount of people might affect it as well.

 

[callipygian]

My experience is that grandfathering is valid until the pit boss changes.

The only time I've ever been asked to raise my bet was when a new dealer arrived after a new pit boss arrived. The dealer pointed to the table min, we claimed we were grandfathered, the (new) pit boss came over, and told us he had no way of verifying how long we were at the table, so we had to abide by the new minimums. He was very polite about it.

In my experience, almost all the floor personnel have been very polite about situations like this. I once had a woman complain that I was allowed to bet under that table minimum and she was pretty argumentative about it. The pit boss explained that it was house policy, and when she left in a huff, he came back and apologized for slowing down the game.

One unprofessional experience I did have wasn't related exactly to changing the table limits, but the chips. Our $15 table was short on red chips. Every single bet was colored up, and when people bought in for $100, they were given three green and five red. When we complained, the explanation was that our table was going to $25 in 30 minutes, he didn't want to call for more chips because we would not be grandfathered. I ended up Wonging out shortly thereafter with the excuse that the pit boss gave me a "bad vibe", so I don't know what happened after that.

 

[EasyRhino]

I guess I've seen three responses to handling low-betting players at higher betting tables:

1) Run them off immediately (usually rare)
2) Come in with a set time ("1 hour left") that the grandfather works, then run them off
3) Let the grandfathering stay indefinitely.

Running people off immediately would normally be rude, I can imagine a high roller might want that to happen in order to shoo away the fleas.

At one plays, I hung on tenaciously to a grandfathered seat through shift changes of both dealers and floormen. The key was informing each new person that I was grandfathered from the previous person.

 

[GeorgeD]

The local joint here will announce the limit change at the next shoe. Then at the beginning of the next shoe the pit boss will come over and change the sign. Usually they or the dealer will remind anyone who stays below the new limit.

Another place puts tokens in front of players who are grandfathered in at the old limit. I've never seen a time limit on that except of course if the player leaves.

 

[matt21]

1) Run them off immediately (usually rare)

Running people off immediately would normally be rude, I can imagine a high roller might want that to happen in order to shoo away the fleas.

Often, when I sit down at a table and there is no one around, i immediately ask the dealer & pit-boss to INCREASE the table limit so that lower-stake players don't join the table - this works very well for me - less players leads to higher EV - using this approach i have sometimes had a table to myself for 2 hours or more :grin:

 

[Blue Efficacy]

At my local joint they give you a chip spacer to signify you're grandfathered. I have never had any issues. If i get to the casino early enough i can play their 4D tables for $10

 

[FLASH1296]

at Foxwoods

At Foxwoods they give you a "Grandfather" button.
You get to bet at the lower amount BUT only on one spot.

No grandfathering at all from Fri. night to Sun. morning.

 

[Jeff Dubya]

Any comments (especially regarding floor personnel behaviour) would be appreciated!

The casino has no obligation to grandfather anything. If you want to avoid the higher limits, you gotta play at off-peak days and times.

 

[retacky]

Once at a midwest casino, in my rookie days, I was at a $15 table and they raised it to $25, telling me either bet quarters or find a new table. I ofcourse instantly left to find a casino host, thinking now was my time to ask for some comps and complain! Free hotel room and dinner later I was happy :laugh: