What other game(s) do you play for cover?
- Thread starter BJLFS
- Start date
I'm going to agree that games for cover is a myth, unless you have a very specific reason for believing otherwise at your particular store.
Having said that
1) Craps - Fun game with a low HA, but potentially high volatility (if you take full odds). You can also manufacture a huge loss on a crowded craps table through ratholing. Such a paper loss may buy you BJ longevity if you're concerned about cumulative win triggering a review.
2) Video poker - Combining good paytables with promotions can produce a +EV game. VP can also produce free room and freeplay offers more quickly than BJ. Money not spent on a room spends just as well as money won on a BJ table, and zero variance bankroll boosters are immensely valuable.
3) Video Blackjack - Same as VP, potentially very +EV with much lower variance than video poker when combining the right rules with the right promo.
4) Poker - Poker games are typically the most profitable during the same hours that blackjack is the least profitable (crowded weekend evenings).
Having said that
1) Craps - Fun game with a low HA, but potentially high volatility (if you take full odds). You can also manufacture a huge loss on a crowded craps table through ratholing. Such a paper loss may buy you BJ longevity if you're concerned about cumulative win triggering a review.
2) Video poker - Combining good paytables with promotions can produce a +EV game. VP can also produce free room and freeplay offers more quickly than BJ. Money not spent on a room spends just as well as money won on a BJ table, and zero variance bankroll boosters are immensely valuable.
3) Video Blackjack - Same as VP, potentially very +EV with much lower variance than video poker when combining the right rules with the right promo.
4) Poker - Poker games are typically the most profitable during the same hours that blackjack is the least profitable (crowded weekend evenings).
ChefJJ
Well-Known Member
Dice, but it ain't for cover necessarily. I gotta lean towards 21forme's thought...are the casinos that easily fooled if a potential AP goes and jams a $20 into a VP machine?
Seems like the best "cover" just may be moderation. :joker: But I do like this thread...seeing others' perspectives on other casino games is good.
good luck :joker:
Seems like the best "cover" just may be moderation. :joker: But I do like this thread...seeing others' perspectives on other casino games is good.
good luck :joker:
Jack_Black
Well-Known Member
Craps
I can't believe how much this one store changed their opinion about me once they saw me at the craps table. It went from pref. shuffle to "Hi ____! How are you today?" although I just posted in stories that I rolled an incredible 11.57 SRR, which might get me back to square one.
I also progression bet red/black on roulette.
I can't believe how much this one store changed their opinion about me once they saw me at the craps table. It went from pref. shuffle to "Hi ____! How are you today?" although I just posted in stories that I rolled an incredible 11.57 SRR, which might get me back to square one.
I also progression bet red/black on roulette.
NightStalker
Well-Known Member
lol
roulette, craps and bacarat
roulette, craps and bacarat
Automatic Monkey
Banned
I agree, but in the very large stores they cannot evaluate everyone at the BJ tables, and playing other things can make you blend in with the ploppies and less likely to be subjected to the attentions of a game protection consultant.21forme said:
It's like a tax audit- if the IRS goes after you they're going to get you, but certain things make them more, or less likely to look at you.
tensplitter
Well-Known Member
Craps is my second favorite game. I devised a system to hedge my bets in craps while reducing the variance and making it look like I am betting over $200 a point. I played like that for a few hours and got Harrahs platinum and dropped about $300. That itself is worth the free rooms, plus I must have made about $150 of that back on match play coupons.
If I'm playing a long session of blackjack I'll take a break when the count heads south and I'm getting tired, and bet the minimum + odds on the pass or dont pass bar in craps (while rated of course) for a few points. It's low cost cover and a nice break from counting cards. When the pit boss is looking at my bets to determine my rating, I'll bet $25 on the dont and place the 5-9 for $10 each so he enters a higher average bet. Then I take down my place bets after the pit boss leaves. The best part about craps is that I can get rated by just standing at a crowded table without betting.
Another game I like is Texas Hold Em Bonus. I play on a crowded table and try to see as many player hole cards as I can before deciding to raise or fold before the flop. While it may not turn into a player edge, one or two good folds per hour based on the additional information would reduce the house edge. Again, I bet 2x or 3x the minimum on the first hand while the pit boss is looking to get rated higher and then drop to the minimum and even sit out a few hands. If the same pit boss from the blackjack table is watching, they would notice that I bet erratically and sit out on a -ev game too.
3 card poker isn't my favorite since I always seem to lose quickly on that game. I never bet the pair plus.
If I'm playing a long session of blackjack I'll take a break when the count heads south and I'm getting tired, and bet the minimum + odds on the pass or dont pass bar in craps (while rated of course) for a few points. It's low cost cover and a nice break from counting cards. When the pit boss is looking at my bets to determine my rating, I'll bet $25 on the dont and place the 5-9 for $10 each so he enters a higher average bet. Then I take down my place bets after the pit boss leaves. The best part about craps is that I can get rated by just standing at a crowded table without betting.
Another game I like is Texas Hold Em Bonus. I play on a crowded table and try to see as many player hole cards as I can before deciding to raise or fold before the flop. While it may not turn into a player edge, one or two good folds per hour based on the additional information would reduce the house edge. Again, I bet 2x or 3x the minimum on the first hand while the pit boss is looking to get rated higher and then drop to the minimum and even sit out a few hands. If the same pit boss from the blackjack table is watching, they would notice that I bet erratically and sit out on a -ev game too.
3 card poker isn't my favorite since I always seem to lose quickly on that game. I never bet the pair plus.
I quit counting in the places where i holecard. It's not worth getting busted making $10 / hour counting and losing the opportunity to hole card for $200 / hour.21forme said:
I'm a terrible counter. Not that I can't keep the count straight, but I don't talk to anybody at the table, stare intently at all the cards, and look at the discards for a few seconds when making close index plays. So using that for cover is probably massively -EV for me.
Playing without counting? I don't really consider that an option. I don't play without some kind of advantage (or be in the process of seeking an advantage).
blackjack avenger
Well-Known Member
Wasted Time and Bank
I think playing another negative EV game for cover is costly to one's time and bank. It cuts hourly EV through wasted time and lowered bets due to drain on bank. It also raises ror. If you spend 20% of your time playing negative EV games you cut your overall EV by 20% plus the cost of the negative EV game.
:joker::whip:
I think playing another negative EV game for cover is costly to one's time and bank. It cuts hourly EV through wasted time and lowered bets due to drain on bank. It also raises ror. If you spend 20% of your time playing negative EV games you cut your overall EV by 20% plus the cost of the negative EV game.
:joker::whip:
wellmanayres
Banned
Well I dont' play any game for the cover from blackjack. But it depends on the mood to choose the game. When I am in the mood of playing tricky games then I go for poker. When I have to refresh my mind, I use Blackjack. When I wanna play just for fun then I go for Slots machine as it requires no predefined tricks.
flyingwind
Well-Known Member
roflmaomoo321 said:
he said he's playing for fun, and there's no need for predefined tricks.Sucker said:
Scouting for wongable slots doesn't fit either of those.
And don't get me started on how dumb it is to play a slot machine... or gamble in general for that matter. (I think gambling is one of the stupidest things you can do)
As usual, I think AM has it right. So, I play the pass line with greens (same as where I begin usually at BJ) but no odds to keep variance down. And, I will sometimes almost-flat-bet blacks in BJ, with just enough of a spread to be breakeven. I doubt that i am on any radar otherwise, but if surveillance wants to check my play, I'm guessing that they will watch the black action. Which is really boring the way I play it . . .