Favorite Blackjack stories
I was paid. Paigowdan would not approve.
Quote: MakingBookToday I saw a dealer hit a 21. She had A, A, then pulled a 9; without any hesitation she kept going and took a 3, then busted with an 8.
I was paid. Paigowdan would not approve.
Yeah, you didn't know it was your job to count the dealer's hand for them?
Quote: FinsRuleYeah, you didn't know it was your job to count the dealer's hand for them?
He was counting the dealers hand. She hit 11 and busted. :)
Quote: MakingBookToday I saw a dealer hit a 21. She had A, A, then pulled a 9; without any hesitation she kept going and took a 3, then busted with an 8.
I was paid. Paigowdan would not approve.
Malfeasance!!!
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceMalfeasance!!!
Any relation to the pheasant?
My first trip to Las Vegas in 2007 was one of the best runs of blackjack I have ever enjoyed. My wife and I made about $3000 in the course of three days. I was dealt 6 blackjacks in 7 hands during one session at the Stratoshere. The hand I didn't get blackjack, I was dealt an Ace then a 9. The dealer said he had never seen anything like that, so did my friend who was playing with us, also a dealer here in Las Vegas. It was an unbelievable streak. The most I have ever seen since then was three in a row.
Quote: SONBP2In 2009, my wife and I were at the Majestic Star just outside of Chicago playing blackjack. We play the same way, $10 minimum bet, increase with each win and then back to minimum after a losing hand (I know it doesn't give you an advantage, we just enjoy riding the steaks). I am sitting at third base with my wife directly to my right. There is black woman to my wife's right and the table is all joking and having a great time. I begin the shoe by losing almost every hand, my wife is doing ok and handing me chips to keep me alive. About midway through the shoe my luck changes and I begin to win every hand. I get up to about $50 per bet and everyone at the table is cheering me on with each win. Out of no where the black woman says to me, "You look like Doogie Howser!" The table laughs. With each new hand she starts yelling, "GO DOOGIE, GO DOOGIE!" The shoe is coming to a close and I am now betting $100 per hand. The dealer deals me an 8 and 2 (10) aginst her 4. I double the hand making it a $200 dollar hand. The table, encouraged by the black lady is now all yelling "GO DOOGIE, GO DOOGIE!" My wife and I are laughing hysterically. The dealer turns over an 8 giving herself 12, then a 4, (the table is screaming "GO DOOGIE, GO DOOGIE!") and then a 10 to bust! Everyone cheers, even myself which is embarrasing, but true! We promptly colored up, up almost $700.
My first trip to Las Vegas in 2007 was one of the best runs of blackjack I have ever enjoyed. My wife and I made about $3000 in the course of three days. I was dealt 6 blackjacks in 7 hands during one session at the Stratoshere. The hand I didn't get blackjack, I was dealt an Ace then a 9. The dealer said he had never seen anything like that, so did my friend who was playing with us, also a dealer here in Las Vegas. It was an unbelievable streak. The most I have ever seen since then was three in a row.
Okay, between the Wiz's occasional comments on Asians and your reference to the woman's race; I gotta add this...
When giving words of encouragement to my fellow minorities, I like to point out to them just how much the casino industry values us over Whites; Whites are only worth $1, Native Americans are worth $5, Blacks are worth $100, and Asians are worth $1000.
Quote: GHOkay, between the Wiz's occasional comments on Asians and your reference to the woman's race; I gotta add this...
When giving words of encouragement to my fellow minorities, I like to point out to them just how much the casino industry values us over Whites; Whites are only worth $1, Native Americans are worth $5, Blacks are worth $100, and Asians are worth $1000.
My local casino users "peach" color for $1000...ridiculous.
Quote: GH...and Asians are worth $1000.
Only worth $2 in my book.
Quote: DRichObviously the player should have said something before she drew the card but after the dealer flipped over the hand.
My question, what is the math on hitting and standing your 12 against a dealer 13?
DRich made the same mistake I was mentioning earlier in the thread. That would be a 12 against a dealer 3, not 13. I even hear dealers say this. I call them out on it every time.
Quote: JuniorWizDRich made the same mistake I was mentioning earlier in the thread. That would be a 12 against a dealer 3, not 13. I even hear dealers say this. I call them out on it every time.
But they're dealers. How can they be wrong?
The temptation is to explain that it will be a 13 roughly 30% of the time but I remain quiet and try to look dumb. There's nothing to be gained by showing that you know more than you should.
I've got the looking dumb part down pretty good. People are starting to wonder. :)
Quote: JuniorWizI even hear dealers say this. I call them out on it every time.
There is no real benefit in calling out the dealer or even other players. It immediately says hey I know a little something about this game. Then the question becomes well just how much do you know. Some basic strategy? Card counting? Shuffle-tracking? Hole card techniques? No I prefer to let them think I know as little as possible. If a dealer or even other player suggests something to me or criticizes my play, I respond with a "yeah, you are probably right." And then I just go ahead and do what I want anyway. lol
Knowing too much or appearing to know too much has other negative consequences as well. When being rated, there are several different levels that they use. I forget the exact terminology, but a pit friend/acquaintance told me the levels were something like 'bad player', 'good player', 'basic strategy player', 'advantage player'. Players betting the same amounts will receive different comp/bonus amounts based on what level they are rated at. Often receiving no comp/bonus is one of the first countermeasures of an AP, prior to backoffs, flat-bettings, bet restrictions and barrings.
After the shoe I was even to the big play, so I hung around for one more shoe. Once the alcohol stops flowing, the crowds thin with the occasional arguement. For the new shoe two others left, and the same AP decided to sit at 3B again. Only one other at 2nd base, so I ask him, Play 2? which he said I been waitin to go 2 handed, and I agreed, so I slid down 1 chair to heads up seat, having the other player to immediate right. I would say the three of us cleared at least $500 each by end of that shoe... a second hot shoe.
So I color up to purples, and as I was waiting, the other guy says, damn, you guys really play well, I figured when you bet more I bet more. But if he knew that hi-lo and A5 can get really out-of-sorts bet-wise (H/L minus with A5 positive) he would have kept his bets at $25. So I said to him, well... I'm not as good as the guy at 3B, and I thought he played much better than me. To which this other guy says, yeah but you got yours counting only Aces and Fives.... thats a miracle. I almost fell-down, there was absolutely no talk about AP play at any time. The guy at 3B started laughing... and said, REALLY??!!!, and I gave him the wink. Yup, was all I said. I didn't think ANYONE had read AND USED Uston's A5.
Quote: MakingBookI saw this one today- A guy was playing (his girlfriend watching). Girlfriend excuses herself to go to restroom. With girl gone, the guy quickly whips out $5,000 and requests all black chips. When girl returns, guy said "Look at all the money I won, baby."
Somethings never change. Like the guys who would buy tickets on every horse in the race. LOL
Quote: JuniorWizDRich made the same mistake I was mentioning earlier in the thread. That would be a 12 against a dealer 3, not 13. I even hear dealers say this. I call them out on it every time.
I guess I must still be confused.
I thought you said the dealer showed a 3, flipped over his hand for a total of 13, then drew an 8. The point I was trying to make was that after the dealer flipped over their hand the player could have stopped the dealer and still taken a hit. What is the math on hitting a 12 against a 13?
Quote: DRichThe point I was trying to make was that after the dealer flipped over their hand the player could have stopped the dealer and still taken a hit.
Are you talking hypothetically, or is this something you attempt to do?
This ten-card hand really happened to me, honestly, and as I was thinking it over recently I realized that it's only TWO HITS away from the theoretical maximum possible number of cards any player could EVER achieve in this game, assuming they played correctly and didn't do anything crazy.
For example, the hand I got as related in my post was: A - 2 - A - 2 - A - 5 - A - 2 - A - 3
Eight hits, Ten-Card hand. The only way it could be more would be to have a hand play out like this:
A-2 starting out, again (can't be A-A because correct play then would be split!)
So A-2, then hit 4 more times and get all ACES in a row:
A-2-A-A-A-A
So here you're on soft 17, but will keep hitting like in my situation assume against a dealer 10 card.
So Hit again, and you MUST get a 5 here to get the lowest possible hard-total hand, TWELVE.
A-2-A-A-A-A-5
Thus, here we are on hard 12, so keep hitting more, and get all ACES again... 5 more times in a row:
A-2-A-A-A-A-5-A-A-A-A-A
...Finally landing on a HARD 17 (or, actually, the last card can be anything from Ace to Five, doesn't matter really, anything that doesn't bust out.
So there it is, theoretical maximum-possible TWELVE CARD HAND in this crazy game of blackjack, LOL
And I nearly got there, with my stupid ten-card hand. I was only two hits away from this far outlier statistical improbability...
SO my QUESTION is (and my reason for this post I guess)... what are the odds really?
How often or *ever* is this likely to happen out of some millions of hands of blackjack played all over the world every year?
I guess I'm just curious to know, if this is ever likely to happen to me again, or if anyone has ever hit the maximum with a 12-card hand? :-P
-DBJT
Quote: IbeatyouracesI get 13. Dealer 10 up, dealt A,2 and draw A,A,A,A,A for soft 18 then 4 for hard 12 then A,A,A,A,A for hard 17. 13 cards.
Wow! I bet you wonged out after that round.
Quote: DBJTSO my QUESTION is (and my reason for this post I guess)... what are the odds really?
I look at it this way... you got paid even $$$ for a winning lotto ticket. Heck you might have lost even $$$ instead of winning lotto.
At Mohegan Sun in 1997 I got dealt 4 suited consecutive 7s in a 6-deck game, and went on to split to 8 hands!!! I had to dig out $50 on the last hand. All 8 7's were against a Dealer 3 up. Of the eight hands one was a A7 DD to 18, and another was a 37 DD to 16. The rest were garbage one 17 and 5 stiffs.
No Super 7's at the table with unlimited splits at that time. I still consider myself very lucky as the Dealer Flipped a Jack, then drew a 2, and busted with a 8. I got $500 for my "Lotto Winner" LOL.
Never had or saw anything like that before or since (1980 - 2006).
Quote: MakingBookI saw this one today- A guy was playing (his girlfriend watching). Girlfriend excuses herself to go to restroom. With girl gone, the guy quickly whips out $5,000 and requests all black chips. When girl returns, guy said "Look at all the money I won, baby."
Money laundering from the gf! I love it.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceMoney laundering from the gf!
Money laundering ? Mine would spent at least half of it for some crap.
Quote: MakingBookI saw this one today- A guy was playing (his girlfriend watching). Girlfriend excuses herself to go to restroom. With girl gone, the guy quickly whips out $5,000 and requests all black chips. When girl returns, guy said "Look at all the money I won, baby."
You witnessed it, or heard about it?
Quote: DBJTHey folks... I've been thinking about my "Eight Hits Hand" experience that I wrote about in this thread, back around page 5.
This ten-card hand really happened to me, honestly, and as I was thinking it over recently I realized that it's only TWO HITS away from the theoretical maximum possible number of cards any player could EVER achieve in this game, assuming they played correctly and didn't do anything crazy.
For example, the hand I got as related in my post was: A - 2 - A - 2 - A - 5 - A - 2 - A - 3
Eight hits, Ten-Card hand. The only way it could be more would be to have a hand play out like this:
A-2 starting out, again (can't be A-A because correct play then would be split!)
So A-2, then hit 4 more times and get all ACES in a row:
A-2-A-A-A-A
So here you're on soft 17, but will keep hitting like in my situation assume against a dealer 10 card.
So Hit again, and you MUST get a 5 here to get the lowest possible hard-total hand, TWELVE.
A-2-A-A-A-A-5
Thus, here we are on hard 12, so keep hitting more, and get all ACES again... 5 more times in a row:
A-2-A-A-A-A-5-A-A-A-A-A
...Finally landing on a HARD 17 (or, actually, the last card can be anything from Ace to Five, doesn't matter really, anything that doesn't bust out.
So there it is, theoretical maximum-possible TWELVE CARD HAND in this crazy game of blackjack, LOL
And I nearly got there, with my stupid ten-card hand. I was only two hits away from this far outlier statistical improbability...
SO my QUESTION is (and my reason for this post I guess)... what are the odds really?
How often or *ever* is this likely to happen out of some millions of hands of blackjack played all over the world every year?
I guess I'm just curious to know, if this is ever likely to happen to me again, or if anyone has ever hit the maximum with a 12-card hand? :-P
-DBJT
If it was real negative vs dealer face, you might not split aces
Quote: MakingBookI saw this one today- A guy was playing (his girlfriend watching). Girlfriend excuses herself to go to restroom. With girl gone, the guy quickly whips out $5,000 and requests all black chips. When girl returns, guy said "Look at all the money I won, baby."
Old guy with bad comb over sits down with twenty something beauty and buys in for a couple of thousand. Excuses himself for a restroom trip and tells her to bet one green until he returns. Anyone know where this is going?
Yup, she pockets the chips and tells him she lost it all. Rinse, repeat....
Quote: JuniorWizYou witnessed it, or heard about it?
I witnessed it. I was backcounting. The player did not notice me, or did not care.
Of course the dealer said nothing.
MB is pointing out that it's possible to get to 13 cards in a single hand, eleven hits, and still have played correctly.
Only on soft-19 would you STOP hitting, as it's correct to hit soft 18 against dealer ten.
So that squeezes another ACE in there ;)
So, I was 3 hits away from the maximum theoretical far-outlier statistical improbability, not 2 hits, LOL
-DBJT
Quote: 1BBOld guy with bad comb over sits down with twenty something beauty and buys in for a couple of thousand. Excuses himself for a restroom trip and tells her to bet one green until he returns. Anyone know where this is going?
Yup, she pockets the chips and tells him she lost it all. Rinse, repeat....
I saw a 500 pound guy with a twenty something Asian (blonde, LOL) beauty with at least $700. He excused himself for a restroom trip, and she made a beeline out the exit (with the chips).
First hand he bets $500 and gets 10 against dealer 7, doubles & gets a 4 and dealer flips a 10... Ouch.
Next hand he goes all-in for $1000 and gets a Blackjack!
Everyone at the table congratulates him and in true degen fashion, he puts the entire amount($2500) on the next hand!
The locals gasp and all eyes are on his hand. Which he gets 3-3 against a dealer 2.
Without hesitation, he whips out another $2500 and splits the 3's. Gets an 8 on the first... another $2500 out from his "other pocket" double down for a 6!
Second hand... another 3! Now he's contemplating, does he split again or just hit this one? He reaches into his "inside pocket for a bank envelope and says "SPLIT!"
Gets a 4, hits and gets a 9... Dealer quips "There goes your 19!"
Last hand gets a 7! He erupts "You gotta be kidding me?" At this point, he just empties the bank envelope and says "double for less" It was $1500 and the double was a 3...wowza!
Nobody else has to take a card, so it's all on the dealer.
Dealer showing 2, turns up a 6 and everybody holds their breath dreading the next card. It's a 4! The man props up from his chair sceaming "BUST!" but a 3 comes down... He goes "BUST ALREADY!!!" to be answered with an ACE! Dealer then draws the Yellow shuffle card and He blurts out "For Christ's sake, I can't watch this!" and looks away.
By this point a small crowd has gathered around the table in anticipation and the dealer peaks at the card, then looks at the Man with a concerned look. Turns over a 6, on top of the Ace. And everyone else goes huh? But I knew what he was doing and kept quiet.
The guy looks and says "What'd he get...21?" The dealer says "One too many!" slides the 6 back and reveals the ace. And the table goes nuts, the guy jumps up with a "YEAHHHH!" and high fives the people around him.
Gets paid $11,500, gives the dealer $100, me and everyone else sitting at the table $100 and cashes out.
We got so wrapped up in the guy's hands that most of us even forgot what we were betting until some extra green chips were coming our way before they paid his Purple Mountain!
Quote: JuniorWizIf it was real negative vs dealer face, you might not split aces
OK, so yes, that would make it even more far-outlier statistical improbability, having to start off with SO bad count (and not have wonged out) and get starting hand of A-A and decide not to split them.
So, then hitting your A-A hand you get, what, 6 more aces in a row...
A-A A-A-A-A-A-A
...So you're at soft-18, but vs dealer TEN still have to keep hitting... get a FOUR
A-A A-A-A-A-A-A-4
...So you're starting over now on a hard twelve, hit with FOUR more aces in a row...
A-A A-A-A-A-A-A-4-A-A-A-A
...So that's a hard sixteen now against dealer 10, only one more hit and it can be anything from another ACE to FIVE...
A-A A-A-A-A-A-A-4-A-A-A-A-5
...So THAT, now, is our really maximum possible single blackjack hand... FOURTEEN cards, TWELVE hits.
Kinda makes my measly little eight-hit, ten card hand look like no big deal after all... LOL
-DBJT
What, you didn't offer to take the other $1000 of his double down? ;)Quote: BedWetterBetter
Last hand gets a 7! He erupts "You gotta be kidding me?" At this point, he just empties the bank envelope and says "double for less" It was $1500 and the double was a 3...wowza!
Quote: teddysWhat, you didn't offer to take the other $1000 of his double down? ;)
Nope, learned my lesson from a guy who had 11 and a $500 bet up but no money to Double.
He asked me "You wanna get in on this?"
I figured "Sure, why not?" (Was up $800 at that point and the count was +9) so I tossed him 5 black chips.
Without going into details, the hand didn't go well and I learned play YOUR hand and let others play theirs.
P.S. - I know you were joking, but the thought of re-living that horrid play is enough to keep me at Bay!
Quote: BedWetterBetterNope, learned my lesson from a guy who had 11 and a $500 bet up but no money to Double.
He asked me "You wanna get in on this?"
I figured "Sure, why not?" (Was up $800 at that point and the count was +9) so I tossed him 5 black chips.
Without going into details, the hand didn't go well and I learned play YOUR hand and let others play theirs.
P.S. - I know you were joking, but the thought of re-living that horrid play is enough to keep me at Bay!
Scavenger play is very valuable. I would take that offer all day long and so should you as long as it's not over betting your bankroll.
Quote: BedWetterBetterNope, learned my lesson from a guy who had 11 and a $500 bet up but no money to Double.
He asked me "You wanna get in on this?"
I figured "Sure, why not?" (Was up $800 at that point and the count was +9) so I tossed him 5 black chips.
Without going into details, the hand didn't go well and I learned play YOUR hand and let others play theirs.
P.S. - I know you were joking, but the thought of re-living that horrid play is enough to keep me at Bay!
Unless he won and stiffed you, or... split (?)... how could he screw that up? Sounds like it could have just as easily been you.
Quote: BedWetterBetterNope, learned my lesson from a guy who had 11 and a $500 bet up but no money to Double.
He asked me "You wanna get in on this?"
I figured "Sure, why not?" (Was up $800 at that point and the count was +9) so I tossed him 5 black chips.
Without going into details, the hand didn't go well and I learned play YOUR hand and let others play theirs.
P.S. - I know you were joking, but the thought of re-living that horrid play is enough to keep me at Bay!
Seriously? You are going to turn down a great bet like that because you lost one once? Your EV on that bet was probably more than the rest of your session combined...
Now, it's one thing if the bet is too big for your bankroll and you can't afford the variance, but turning it down because it's his hand and not yours doesn't make a lot of sense.
Edit: I looked this up before posting... Dealer will make 19-20-21 more than Dealer Bust (abt. 37.2% vs. 35.3%)
Quote: 98ClubsNot really a superstition... with a 2 showing, the Dealer makes 19, 20, 21 a lot (5-6-7-8-9 vs. 10-J-Q-K).
In know but it's its not like an Ace where you can have two different values and in effect have two chances to make your hand.
Quote: 98ClubsNot really a superstition... with a 2 showing, the Dealer makes 19, 20, 21 a lot (5-6-7-8-9 vs. 10-J-Q-K).
Edit: I looked this up before posting... Dealer will make 19-20-21 more than Dealer Bust (abt. 37.2% vs. 35.3%)
Sure the dealer makes a hand more often than they bust with a 2 up. But this idiotic idea, often repeated by casino personel, that a 2 is some magic card for the dealer (i.e. -- the dealer ace) is ridiculous. I think this is a classic case of players thinking any dealer up card of 2-6 means the dealer is "supposed to" bust. So when it doesn't happen people get all pissed off. As you quoted above, with a 2 showing the dealer can be expected to bust about 35% of the time, so obviously that leaves aprrox. 65% where they make a hand. Which is all people remember.
Quote: vendman1so obviously that leaves aprrox. 65% where they make a hand. Which is all people remember.
That's it right there. They are remembering when the dealer makes the hand. They don't remember the times the dealer doesn't.
Quote: vendman1Sure the dealer makes a hand more often than they bust with a 2 up. But this idiotic idea, often repeated by casino personel, that a 2 is some magic card for the dealer (i.e. -- the dealer ace) is ridiculous. I think this is a classic case of players thinking any dealer up card of 2-6 means the dealer is "supposed to" bust. So when it doesn't happen people get all pissed off. As you quoted above, with a 2 showing the dealer can be expected to bust about 35% of the time, so obviously that leaves aprrox. 65% where they make a hand. Which is all people remember.
It's not the worse piece of advice for a player who doesn't know BS. Consider that in a standard low roller 6 deck, H17 game, a basic strategy player
1) Hits a 9 versus a 2 when he doubles versus 3-6
2) Hits a 12 versus 2 (or 3) but stands versus 4-6
3) Hits all soft hands but 18 versus a 2 but doubles many sof hands versus 3-6
It is simply a reminder that it is appropriate to double and split a lot when the dealer is showing a small card, but that you should pull it back a little when he is showing a 2 compared to a 5 or 6.
Keep in mind there are a lot of players out there who do not appreciate the fact that any total in a player's hand under 17=0....
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceSeriously? You are going to turn down a great bet like that because you lost one once? Your EV on that bet was probably more than the rest of your session combined...
Now, it's one thing if the bet is too big for your bankroll and you can't afford the variance, but turning it down because it's his hand and not yours doesn't make a lot of sense.
Once bitten, twice shy.
The best way to lose profits is to abuse profits.
