Tips on Splits

Ignoring the -EV of tipping, I ran into what I thought was an interesting situation regarding tipping: I had a dollar tip out and got a split hand. Decided to split, and, as I was out of dollars (and too uninclined to change), dropped a 50c piece.

I was told that you can't split for less. Double for less, yes, but not split. But it's a tip. But you can't split for less.

After a rather surprised back and forth, I just took it back. Which is permitted. So my dealer effectively just refused a tip.

Does this policy strike anybody else as odd? I mean, they allow NOT tipping, so tipping for less should be fine. I'd think they'd be more lenient on anything that they're collecting, but I've also had tip bets refused on sidebet spots too.

I wouldn't refuse it, unless specifically told I couldn't accept a split for less tip.

I had a dealer pay herself even money on a $1.50 tip when I hit a BJ on that hand. I was like that pays $2 not $1.50. She said I was wrong. But she called floor over and floor confirmed, it pays $2.

When you tip within the circle (but on the rim) that money is still considered the players until the hand is over at which point its implicit that you'll give the perimeter winnings to the dealer.

If you put out a Green and a White, separated, as far as the house is concerned you bet $26 and what you do with the winnings is your own business.

If you ever want to make a bet for the dealer, I recommend that you place the bet on top of your bet to avoid arguments about proper blackjack payoffs, etc. If you win the bet, you can then keep one of the dollars for yourself instead of HAVING to give the dealer extra dollars.

(accidental double post - please delete if possible)

I have split with a dealer bet up and let the dealers just take one of the split hands, the other being mine alone. Adding an additional tip because you just so happened to get a splitting hand annoys me.

I've only seen a player ask to split a tokebet for less one time, and it was just like the situation you described. I was the floor. The dealer called me over, and I allowed it.

It's one of those pesky "Dem's da rules" things. It's weird because not splitting the toke is fine, but technically uneven bets in a split decision is bending the rules. I imagine most floors would allow it though, because like you pointed out, you're trying to put up something for the dealer instead of nothing. A good floor will appreciate that effort.

The whole 'bet for the dealer' placed on the circle rim, intrigues me. I've played where another player used this approach virtually every hand. I've also played where not a single player did it in a ten hour session. I know we have dealers, and ex-dealers, and probably future dealers that browse this forum. I think I will start a new thread, under forums-gambling-blackjack to discuss the practice, who likes it/ who doesn't, and perhaps why. That has not been the way I've ever tipped, but hey, I'm undercover as the village idiot.... 2F

Quote: nvr55xx

If you ever want to make a bet for the dealer, I recommend that you place the bet on top of your bet to avoid arguments about proper blackjack payoffs, etc. If you win the bet, you can then keep one of the dollars for yourself instead of HAVING to give the dealer extra dollars.

For those who don't sit for long, if the hand loses, the dealer doesn't know you were being kind to them. Even when the dealer loses a bet made for them, they feel appreciated for doing a good job

I never pay extra tips on doubles or splits. Others do

Quote: TomG

Quote: nvr55xx

If you ever want to make a bet for the dealer, I recommend that you place the bet on top of your bet to avoid arguments about proper blackjack payoffs, etc. If you win the bet, you can then keep one of the dollars for yourself instead of HAVING to give the dealer extra dollars.

For those who don't sit for long, if the hand loses, the dealer doesn't know you were being kind to them.

You could always say "you're riding on top" or something similar. That way, the dealer would know it's a tip, but the money remains in your control. If the bet wins, you can refuse to give the dealer one or both dollars if they're being rude. I have bet $51 dollars on a hand and kept the dollars for myself because the dealer was being rude to me. The good thing is that the $1 that the dealer showed the camera slowed the game down and annoyed the bad dealer!