Is it a good idea to play with whales? Do you get More heat or less heat from playing with whales?

I wish this question was for poker, but that'd be too good. No, it's for blackjack.

Is it a good idea to be playing at the same table as whales in high limit? Or whales who are playing at a normal limit table? Let's define a whale as someone who is at least betting black chips, a high roller. Minimum maybe 4 black chips per bet. And I'm green chipping.


I'll explain the choices. And my guess on pros and cons of playing with a whale. I don't know which ones I'm right, and which ones I'm wrong. So let's hear your opinions.

A) Do you get watched more because the whole table gets watched more (by surveillance and pit boss), due to the high roller? Would it be videotaped (duh) but actually getting analyzed afterwards instead of all the 24/7 recording that nobody ever looks at?

Choice 5: Assume the whole table gets more heat, not just the whale. Everyone, you included, are being watched harder for possibly cheating or colluding.

Choice 6: Assume the whole table gets more heat, not just the whale. Everyone, you included, are being for card counting.

Choice 7: Any other possible downsides playing with a high roller?

B) If A is false, then is it beneficial to play with the whale?

Choice 1: Yes, because you get less attention if the whale is getting more attention. They could care less what you do, pit boss and surveillance eyes are on the high roller.

Choice 2: Yes, because you can get away with a much bigger spread. Because compared to the whale, your bet is small, even if relative to your own min bet, it's huge.

Choice 3: Any other possible benefits of playing with whales that I'm missing?

I’ve seen large bettors tip low rollers for taking a ‘bad’ card, or even offer to pay you to hit or not to hit. This was many decades ago.

I could be wrong, but I doubt more eyes trained on your table can’t be good for a counter.

I also think you need to redefine ‘whale’. There are probably a dozen members here who routinely play black chips. At least at some during their progression.

Quote: SOOPOO

I also think you need to redefine ‘whale’. There are probably a dozen members here who routinely play black chips. At least at some during their progression.
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Ok, definition of whale:

A high roller who draws attention of the casino to either himself, or the entire table, entirely due to the size of his bets.


Hence with that definition, my question becomes. Is the whale drawing attention only to himself, so that you can get away with more card counting. Or is he drawing attention to your entire table, which makes you more likely to get caught card counting.

Your question doesn't make very much sense. Whales do not play with minnows. They often reserve a table.

Interesting

Quote: aceside

Your question doesn't make very much sense. Whales do not play with minnows. They often reserve a table.
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I have played at many tables betting $100 or less with people betting $1000's per hand. Obviously I don't know if a $1000 to $3000 player would be considered a whale.

Quote: aceside

Your question doesn't make very much sense. Whales do not play with minnows. They often reserve a table.
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Perhaps the question is about joining the whale's entourage.

How about redefined as "Someone with the highest tier player's card"

Quote: VladPutin

How about redefined as "Someone with the highest tier player's card"
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My EXTREMELY limited experience would have me believe they are paying more attention to the $1000 player and less to you betting $25-$100. I am sure there will be examples both ways. I don’t think it would be valuable to a low level counter to somehow try and find a table to be the guppy at, nor do I think you automatically leave if you find yourself in that situation.

Counters get kicked out of the casino on You Tube when they've hardly played a shoe. Casinos don't care if you're a red chipper or a black chipper. They don't like that card counter play.