Has anyone here ever been on a blackjack team?

How did it go? What were your experiences? Etc.?

Quote: BigJer

How did it go? What were your experiences? Etc.?

I was in the 80's for awhile. We'd meet in Vegas
and play BJ for a week several times a year. It pretty
much sucked because there were so many complaints
about the other players. All they did was argue. It
was all nonsense stuff, like X didn't play long
enough, or they saw Y blow the count all the time,
or Q got cold feet about raising the bet.

I learned my lesson.

Quote: EvenBob

I was in the 80's for awhile. We'd meet in Vegas
and play BJ for a week several times a year. It pretty
much sucked because there were so many complaints
about the other players. All they did was argue. It
was all nonsense stuff, like X didn't play long
enough, or they saw Y blow the count all the time,
or Q got cold feet about raising the bet.

I learned my lesson.

I hear a lot of teams don't last that long because of mainly interpersonal issues.

I was recruited in the early days of Atlantic City. About two weeks in they wanted us to take a polygraph. See ya!

Quote: 1BB

I was recruited in the early days of Atlantic City. About two weeks in they wanted us to take a polygraph. See ya!

This doesn't look good.

Quote: 1BB

I was recruited in the early days of Atlantic City. About two weeks in they wanted us to take a polygraph. See ya!

why quit because of polygraph?

Quote: newbie49

why quit because of polygraph?

That was just the last straw. The pleasant people I first met turned out to be unsavory, controlling jerks with huge egos. It didn't feel right and I'm glad I got out.

We all know who the big names were back then but I don't know who was behind this team because as they put it to me "They'll ask the questions."

I was not .. for obvious reasons. (Slow, dimwitted... can't do math).

I knew of two beautiful girls who were professional blackjack players, but didn't learn much from them except some casino terminology and not to blow it for them. I really pissed off one when I hit a hard 18 and took "her" 3 to get 21 when dealer turned out to have the 20 that I thought she had. Floor person heard the hitting hard 18 and came from the other side of the pit in two quick bounds even though I was a minimum bettor.

The only team I knew of, flew out of Santa Monica airport and were a tight, close-knit group to begin with. They were not ever likely to have any inter-personal issues at all. Its perhaps similar to the way BJ dealers all think that they bring in tips and everyone else is a non-smiling deadweight who mooches off them. Unless a blackjack team starts out as a team its likely to collapse over issues of the split and honest accounting and poor play and dead weight.

Its the same old rule as choosing a partner for the debate competition. Imagine yourself going to the library one morning and you see everybody else is there researching their debate topic but you don't see your partner there also, but you don't worry for a second about it. That is who to pick! And once chosen, don't question your partner's honesty or dedication. Not once.

You can't run a team by Roberts Rules of Order or by polygraphs or audits, because then its not a team at all.

Never have been and do not care to except for more than an afternoon or so. Nobody I am close with in life is serious enough to want to or be able to do it right. Anything I hear about teams is either a disaster or shows that what you see on TV is a dream. The reality is 10 people in a cheap hotel room and it goes down from there.

I was approached about joining teams several different times in the last few years. I declined each time. From people I have talked to that have been associated with teams, I have noticed a re-occuring theme, where after a period of success and everything going well, there usually is a down period, which results in suspicions and trust issues. Despite, knowing the math involved and large swings possible, it seems the human nature quality of distrust always rears it's head, more likely with larger teams, but even with smaller 4 or 5 man teams of players that have known and trusted each other for a long period, this same scenario seems to have played out more often that not. In addition, I am a believer that the players actually generate a much higher risk when joining a team than solo play. It is not uncommon for team players to have many many barrings and backoffs, where solo players are able to avoid this fate. Larger teams of many many players in particular seem bad for one's longevity, as it is almost part of their plan to use up and replace players. Just look at some of the ex players from some of the more publicized recent team ventures. Most are unable to play or find it much more difficult to play anywhere. As a player who's number one concern is longevity and goal is too play for a few years, the benefits of team play are always out weighted by the risks for me. Solo play allows you to find that sweet spot level that is tolerated by the casinos and enjoy some longevity. In addition, I like calling my own shots and answering to no-one.

Now all this being said, after selling my condo on the strip earlier this spring, I am temporarily residing with a close friend in a rental situation, and we have formed a partnership, for most of this year, which has been quite beneficial. The main benefit of such a partnership or very small team is getting to the 'long run' quicker and often smoothing out the ride, as we mostly play at seperate tables, rather than using the team or partnership to get down a larger bet spread via the call-in approach, although at times, we do tinker with a variation of the call-in approach which I came up. Although early in our venture, I am feeling like a very small two or three man team or partnership, if done properly, can provide you with SOME of the benefits of team play while avoiding many of the risks and negatives.