What do you think of dealers that announce hand totals?

[21forme]

At one of the tables I played today, one of the dealers was announcing running totals as he dealt cards. He was an excellent dealer - very fast and aqccurate. I just found I kept having to repeat the count in my head to keep from getting thrown off.

Me: 12 12 12
Him: 16 20
Me: 13 13 13 13
Him: 18
etc...

Despite this little annoyance, I had an amazing day. Two trips in a row with way high positive variance. And Bojack, thanks for the info on that "hidden blackjack pit" at Borgata. It's tucked away in an area I've never walked through before. It's much less crowded than the other pits I've payed there.

 

[ChefJJ]

I agree...a dealer announcing numbers really messes with your concentration on the count. Interestingly enough, some experts prefer it that way--not me, but I'm not an expert either.

Where is that hidden BJ pit at the Borgata?


Good luck

 

[EasyRhino]

At first, the reading of totals tripped me out, especially when the hand total would be near the running count (And I start KO with a positive count, so it's a threat).

Count = 15
Dealer: "fifteen"
Count: = 14
Dealer: "sixteen"
Count = oh crap?

Not as bad now. And it's sometimes helpful if I have a whole mess of cards out on the table, and the dealer can announce my hand total faster than I can add it up (and maintain the count).

I suspect the dealers do it to help speed up the ploppies, though.

 

[21forme]

Where is that hidden BJ pit at the Borgata?

If I tell you, it won't be a secret any more

It's near Bread and Butter Restaurant and Bobby Flay.
What a difference between that pit and the large one straight ahead as you enter the casino floor from the retail corridor. It was a real zoo there today, and the back pit was dead quiet with a few dealers just standing in front of empty tables. It's hand shuffled (which hopefully I'll learn what to do with in time) and mid-shoe entry allowed on tables with mins less than $100.

 

[ScottH]

At one of the tables I played today, one of the dealers was announcing running totals as he dealt cards. He was an excellent dealer - very fast and aqccurate. I just found I kept having to repeat the count in my head to keep from getting thrown off.

Me: 12 12 12
Him: 16 20
Me: 13 13 13 13
Him: 18
etc...

Despite this little annoyance, I had an amazing day. Two trips in a row with way high positive variance. And Bojack, thanks for the info on that "hidden blackjack pit" at Borgata. It's tucked away in an area I've never walked through before. It's much less crowded than the other pits I've payed there.

I disagree. I like dealer's that announce your hand total. It does not affect my counting ability whatsoever because I have all the cards counted before the dealer gets to my playing decision anyway. And it's not that hard to remember one number for me...

 

[ChefJJ]

If I tell you, it won't be a secret any more

It's near Bread and Butter Restaurant and Bobby Flay.
What a difference between that pit and the large one straight ahead as you enter the casino floor from the retail corridor. It was a real zoo there today, and the back pit was dead quiet with a few dealers just standing in front of empty tables. It's hand shuffled (which hopefully I'll learn what to do with in time) and mid-shoe entry allowed on tables with mins less than $100.

Thanks for the hint...I won't tell anyone What kind of minimums did that pit have?

 

[21forme]

What kind of minimums did that pit have?

There were one $5, a few $15, a few $25, one $50 and one $100 (NMS on the $100.)

 

[geneticfreak]

I've never done anything at that pit. The one next to the B Bar was all hand shuffle today. They took out the auto shufflers overnight to install new plasma tv screens. They did say the shufflers would return once the wiring was upgraded to handle the equipment.

 

[ChefJJ]

When you say "auto shufflers", do you mean the ones that shuffle them all automatically after the shoe is over, or constantly throughout (I hate those).

 

[bj bob]

Minor ajustment...Problem solved!

At first, the reading of totals tripped me out, especially when the hand total would be near the running count (And I start KO with a positive count, so it's a threat).

Count = 15
Dealer: "fifteen"
Count: = 14
Dealer: "sixteen"
Count = oh crap?

Not as bad now. And it's sometimes helpful if I have a whole mess of cards out on the table, and the dealer can announce my hand total faster than I can add it up (and maintain the count).

I suspect the dealers do it to help speed up the ploppies, though.

ER, Easy way to tackle this problem. Just tell the dealer to either call out the RC or TC instead of the point count. Makes your life a lot easier:laugh:

 

[geneticfreak]

The regular shufflers, not the continuous ones. If the Borgata would make the mistake of installing the CSMs, they would instantly go from having the best conditions in town to the worst.

 

[NDN21]

What do you thinkg of dealers that announce hand totals?

Maybe you should associate the symbol of the number or a certain picture or image with the running count number instead of just actually verbalizing the number in your head. Then you wouldn't get the number mixed up with your running count number.

When you verbalize or repeat the number in your head that takes time. Not alot of time but it does add to the amount of time for your calculations.

I visualize the number symbol and am getting to the point where I can visualize the running count as images (one is a thumb, two is a guy on stilts, three is a tricycle, four is a wagon with four wheels, etc., then switch to arbitrary things at the really high counts like 11 is a boat, 12 is a plane, etc., I go up to 25,). I do not lose track of the running count anymore.

Getting used to visualing the number is very hard at first (without switching back and forth to the verbalizing to yourself) but after a few weeks you get used to it and it's a piece of cake.

 

[ScottH]

Maybe you should associate the symbol of the number or a certain picture or image with the running count number instead of just actually verbalizing the number in your head. Then you wouldn't get the number mixed up with your running count number.

When you verbalize or repeat the number in your head that takes time. Not alot of time but it does add to the amount of time for your calculations.

I visualize the number symbol and am getting to the point where I can visualize the running count as images (one is a thumb, two is a guy on stilts, three is a tricycle, four is a wagon with four wheels, etc., then switch to arbitrary things at the really high counts like 11 is a boat, 12 is a plane, etc., I go up to 25,). I do not lose track of the running count anymore.

Getting used to visualing the number is very hard at first (without switching back and forth to the verbalizing to yourself) but after a few weeks you get used to it and it's a piece of cake.

That's a good idea, you can't confuse an object with a number. So if your RC is 17 and the dealer announces your total of 19, you wont have to remember if the RC is actually 17 or 19, since you know the RC is a boat! (Which will have a count attatched to it somehow)

I wouldn't use this since I can do it just using numbers just fine, so no need to change, but it sounds like a good thing to try if you're having trouble.

 

[shadroch]

I visualize Yankees.Hope there's nothing wrong with that.Obviously for the negative counts I use Mets.

 

[halcyon1234]

I suggest using Kama Sutra positions. That way, even if you lose count, you've got something nice to "look" at. =)

 

[ihate17]

Use retired Yankees for most situations

I visualize Yankees.Hope there's nothing wrong with that.Obviously for the negative counts I use Mets.

Since the Yankees have so many retired low numbers, for the vast majority of situations one must use retired Yankees. By the way, you should have wonged out long before the count reached a negative Stengel (-37)

ihate17

 

[shadroch]

Since the Yankees have so many retired low numbers, for the vast majority of situations one must use retired Yankees. By the way, you should have wonged out long before the count reached a negative Stengel (-37)

ihate17

Yes,but in a way thats good as they don't change year to year.
Martin-Jeter-Ruth-Gehrig-Joe D-Roy White-Mickey-Yogi-Roger-Chris.
I learned BS visualizing them,as well.

Try doing that with the Knicks and you'd spend mo' time learning the roster than playing

 

[rogue1]

like it

i like it when the dealer announces the hand total assuming he is correct. It makes it a bit easier for me to hold on to the count and react correctly.

 

[Sonny]

i like it when the dealer announces the hand total assuming he is correct.

I like it even more when the dealer is wrong! If the dealer calls out "21" when I've got 22, I might just tuck those cards. :devil: This can work nicely in pitch games if you just give the dealer a quick glimpse of your first two cards. If they see it wrong or add it up too quickly then they will often “remember” what you had without adding it up again. And it doesn’t hurt to have your thumb conveniently covering a pip or two…

-Sonny-

 

[person1125]

good ideas

I really like the idea of using a picture to keep the count. using pictures is a great way way to remember any sort of list and a count could be seen as a list.

as far as the dealer counting your hand - it's not too bad and I have no problem with it. I think that it's done sometimes just to speed people up. Cause when you watch some people you can just see the gears turning really slow to add up their hand.