Best line of the weekend

I have a quick story I wanted to share. This weekend a few friends and I were playing blackjack in AC. Everyone at the table was playing basic strategy with one exception, the guy at third base never, and I mean NEVER split or doubled down. Not ever. We played with him for a couple of hours and as people would rotate in and out of the table, some people would ask “Are you going to split those 8’s?” or “are you going to double that (11)?”. And third base always said no. At one point third base was dealt a pair of aces and he gave the dealer the sign to hit. The dealer asked him “are you sure you want to hit”. When third base replied yes, the dealer gets the pit bosses attention and announces “hitting a pair of aces”. Third base is then dealt a ten. Now third base has a 12 vs a dealer 9. Third base then gives the sign to hit again. And the third base is dealt another ten – and busts with a 22, instead of splitting and having a pair of 21’s. As the dealer is collecting the cards and the losing bet of third base, someone asks third base why he didn’t want to split his aces. Third base got a little nasty and replied, “I don’t believe in all that superstition”.
That comment became the punch line for the rest of the weekend. No matter what hand we were playing, eEvery so often we would announce to a confused dealer, “I am going to be superstitious and double down” or “I am going to be superstitious and stay on 19”.

Granted third base could have been dealt a 9 with his pair of aces or he could have split and been dealt a pair of 2’s. It’s not so much what he got or that he busted, it was his comment about splitting cards is superstitious that made for a more enjoyable weekend.

If playing $25 a hand for four hours, about how much money would you lose with that superstition?

Quote: mgreiche

I have a quick story I wanted to share. This weekend a few friends and I were playing blackjack in AC. Everyone at the table was playing basic strategy with one exception, the guy at third base never, and I mean NEVER split or doubled down. Not ever. We played with him for a couple of hours and as people would rotate in and out of the table, some people would ask “Are you going to split those 8’s?” or “are you going to double that (11)?”. And third base always said no. At one point third base was dealt a pair of aces and he gave the dealer the sign to hit. The dealer asked him “are you sure you want to hit”. When third base replied yes, the dealer gets the pit bosses attention and announces “hitting a pair of aces”. Third base is then dealt a ten. Now third base has a 12 vs a dealer 9. Third base then gives the sign to hit again. And the third base is dealt another ten – and busts with a 22, instead of splitting and having a pair of 21’s. As the dealer is collecting the cards and the losing bet of third base, someone asks third base why he didn’t want to split his aces. Third base got a little nasty and replied, “I don’t believe in all that superstition”.
That comment became the punch line for the rest of the weekend. No matter what hand we were playing, eEvery so often we would announce to a confused dealer, “I am going to be superstitious and double down” or “I am going to be superstitious and stay on 19”.

Granted third base could have been dealt a 9 with his pair of aces or he could have split and been dealt a pair of 2’s. It’s not so much what he got or that he busted, it was his comment about splitting cards is superstitious that made for a more enjoyable weekend.

The only reason I look at the other hands is to count. Players can play as they like as far as I'm concerned. I hope that player wasn't treated badly but I'm sure gets his share of it.

How much did you make from scavenger play at that table?

No one treated him badly. If anything my friends and I were silently wishing we had as many opportunities to split/double as third base did.
As for money made, one friend and I tripled my buy in, where my other friend went home $500 lighter

What I meant was did you ask if you could take some of his doubles and splits when the time was right?

Quote: 1BB

What I meant was did you ask if you could take some of his doubles and splits when the time was right?

That takes balls in my opinion and I would never even try that when someone was playing like that. Has anyone actually tried this at a table?

I'd sell any hand that didn't immediately look promising for face value... You want my 88v9? Take it and good luck.

I've offered to sell doubles (or parts of it) when at my loss limit though.

I take splits and doubles on other players' hands. I have even insured their hands. It's too good to pass up.

Quote: Boz

That takes balls in my opinion and I would never even try that when someone was playing like that. Has anyone actually tried this at a table?

I ALWAYS do this, I've never gotten any bad response from it, and I've made a ton of money doing it.

About a month ago I was at the borgata at a table with a purple chip player who didn't believe in doubling his 10 or 11 vs anything other than a 4,5,6. Needless to say this was a gold mine. And he didn't double soft hands ever. It's a little tricky when there's a hand that could involve him taking a second hit (A-2 vs a 6, he gets a 2) but he didn't mind.

I couldve made a good living just following this guy around night after night.

Quote: michael99000

I ALWAYS do this, I've never gotten any bad response from it, and I've made a ton of money doing it.

About a month ago I was at the borgata at a table with a purple chip player who didn't believe in doubling his 10 or 11 vs anything other than a 4,5,6. Needless to say this was a gold mine. And he didn't double soft hands ever. It's a little tricky when there's a hand that could involve him taking a second hit (A-2 vs a 6, he gets a 2) but he didn't mind.

I couldve made a good living just following this guy around night after night.

This is something I've wondered about. I've never explored vulturing like this and I wondered about it. Do they let him take another hit for his bet but you stick with his now 15 v 6. Or do they not let him take another hit? I can't imagine any player would be ok with you locking them out of another hit. Casinos are fine with things getting slowed down by tracking who the money came from and what different total it is at? Thanks for the knowledge.

Quote: 1BB

The only reason I look at the other hands is to count. Players can play as they like as far as I'm concerned. I hope that player wasn't treated badly but I'm sure gets his share of it.

How much did you make from scavenger play at that table?

I find how I treat other players depends a lot on my mood, which in turn is quite dependent on how I am doing. I don't want to overstate it since I am quiet and calm basically 100% of the time, but a little ploppy logic never hurt anyone's cover.

This guy would have annoyed me. You want ploppies to double and split in neutral counts to eat cards, and I am sure I would have made a comment or two. In low counts, it's fine, because I would I have used his terrible play as an excuse to backcount/wong. In high counts, well...I'd have defended him against the other mean players.

Quote: mgreiche

...the dealer gets the pit bosses attention and announces “hitting a pair of aces”. Third base is then dealt a ten. Now third base has a 12...Third base then gives the sign to hit again. And the third base is dealt another ten – and busts with a 22, instead of splitting and having a pair of 21’s.

that *is* an interesting difference in results

Quote: endermike

This is something I've wondered about. I've never explored vulturing like this and I wondered about it. Do they let him take another hit for his bet but you stick with his now 15 v 6. Or do they not let him take another hit? I can't imagine any player would be ok with you locking them out of another hit. Casinos are fine with things getting slowed down by tracking who the money came from and what different total it is at? Thanks for the knowledge.

It is placed as if it is the original player's money. The original player might even be required to touch the money last and signal. In general, a player who wouldn't take advantage of doubles and splits isn't too worried about the possibility of not taking a second hit.