What was going on????

[adventureboy]

I was at the buffet in a casino in ******* 2 days ago. A guy walked up to my table and intoduced himself as "Dave". He said he had been observing my play earlier and wanted to know if I wanted to make some extra money. I was apprehensive and asked what he meant. He said he wanted me to play 3 hands of $25 at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th position--just play basic strategey. He would play at the end (3rd base). If he wanted me to vary from basic strategy he would signal me with chips (hand on chips "hit", folded arms, "stand", etc.) He said he would cover my losses and if he won big, I would get a good peice. I have never done anything like this, but it seemed pretty exciting so I agreed to give it a try.
At the table this guy was good--he was playing the drunk high roller to perfection! He bet from $200 to $2000 and did very well. I played basic strategy for the most part, but he signaled some weird plays. Once he had me not split 3's against a 6! Also hit a 12 vs 14. I was not sure what his angle was but after about 2 hours he was up about $12,000!! All at once he got up with his chips (acting very drunk) and told me--"You are a good player, I couldn't have done it without you." He tossed me 2 $500 chips and staggered away. I asked the pit boss if I could keep it and he said it was his money and he could give it away if he wanted. I played to the end of the shoe and got out of there with the loot!
This man's skills were obvioulsy way, way, above anything I could even dream about reaching. Do any of you have any thoughts as to what strategy he was using. Counting, shuffletracking, etc. Why did he need me and why the strange plays he asked me to make? After he left the table I did not see him again. Any help solving this mystery would be appreciated!

 

[RJT]

Alright AB,
I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like he was using some form of steering technique. Basically he knew the exact location of one card in the deck (possibley more) and was using you to eat up excess cards so that card landed where he wanted it. As i said, it's impossible to tell without actually seeing him play, but that's certainly what it sounds like.

RJT.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

It sounds like card steering, but it probably wasn't. Players who play that kind of a game at those kind of stakes don't just walk into a casino and buttonhole a stranger at the buffet to be their partner. They come very well prepared, and in established teams who have practiced this together.

So my guess is that it was just a superstitious player who got lucky. But I could be wrong.

 

[Kaiser]

Maybe he had a session planned with LVHCM, but he was too busy trying to respond to his challenge here that he couldn't make it.

:laugh:

 

[Mimosine]

It sounds like card steering, but it probably wasn't. Players who play that kind of a game at those kind of stakes don't just walk into a casino and buttonhole a stranger at the buffet to be their partner. They come very well prepared, and in established teams who have practiced this together.

So my guess is that it was just a superstitious player who got lucky. But I could be wrong.

i agree.

 

[positiveEV]

Maybe he was together with the dealer or the cards were marked so that he knew exactly what card would come next.

 

[RJT]

Maybe he was together with the dealer or the cards were marked so that he knew exactly what card would come next.

If he was using marked cards he wouldn't need another player. A small hand and a big hand would suffice. You'd draw to the small bet until you saw the card you wanted then stand and let the big hand get the goods.
I do agree with those that posted above however, it is very suspect that this guy approached you in a casino. It's far from inconcievable that a steer-carder was by himself, saw a great opportunity and grabbed the first compitent player he could find, but it's very very risky. On top of that winning 12k and giving away 1k of it seems a bit OTT to me.

RJT.

 

[EasyRhino]

Sounds like fun though. Hello, I would enjoy playing a break-even game at a table with crackhead high rollers... for a while, anyway.

Was the dude occassionaly, (like, once or twice per shuffle) putting HUGE bets out on the table, relative to others? That woudl be be a sign of some kind of steering (right?).

Maybe a slim chance that he found a flashing dealer, but needed someone to sit on the other side of the table to get the exposure? Was the play for one dealer or multiple dealers?

I wouldn't expect him to encourage that for any type of regular counting or shuffletracking game, since you'd be eating too many good cards. (unless he was going 1-3 hands?)

I also would expect anyone serious to do their recruiting at the buffet, no matter how tasty.

 

[Kasi]

What did he buy in with? Money laundering?

Did u win?

You're a pretty trusting soul lol.

 

[shadroch]

Adventureboy,
You seem to a nexus for some cosmic wierdness. Reading your posts,it seems like you have quite the adventures playing BJ. Dealers making you bet more,than paying your losing bets,strangers tossing $500 chips your way.
Quite the Karmic volcano,eh?

 

[adventureboy]

Sorry I haven't replied to you guys---been away from my computer for a few days. No, I am not a magnet for weirdness. I have been playing the game seriously for several years, and for the most part it has been boring (but profitable!) I will agree that over the last 2 months I have had a couple of pretty freaky occurances---could that be called "positive flux" since both ended up putting money in my pocket?
I have done a little reseach on card steering and I agree with other posters that that is probably what was going on. How he new where the next card was(that he needed) is still a mystery. It's hard to see how he was marking cards-- there was a pitt person camped out at our table. He was definetly not counting though---I was and his bets had nothing to to with the count.

 

[NDN21]

I would be very careful of playing with someone like this.

If he would have lost he could possibly have turned to you and said something like "ok, now you owe me $3,000" (despite him having told you that you were under no obligation) and all of a sudden two big guys could have just shown up behind you. That would be totally messed up but people can be messed up.

No way in hades I would trust someone like this in a casino.

 

[adventureboy]

I will probably never run across such an offer again--but if I ever do I think I will decline. I did not really consider the negative aspects that have been suggested in this thread (money laundering, physical roughness, etc.) As I said I was apprehensive at first but the guy had a vey easy way about him and it put me at ease. The money laundering thought makes me sick--I sure hope that was not it. Doubtful of the possible strong arm tactics. While I am no Hulk Hogan I do have a fairly imposing physcial presence---don't think he would have picked me if rough-n-tumble was expected.