Underground blackjack part 2

So tonight I finished work for the day and became bored.

I called up a couple of friends and decided to head over to the illegal poker/bj game with the buddies.

I went with the specific reason to play the bj game. I arrived at 8 and the poker game was only partially full (as I stated in my previous post, they only run this BJ game as a supplement to the poker game). I did not want to play the poker game, so I talked the host into letting me play BJ. I agreed to play poker until the players arrived, and once enough players arrived to fill the poker game, the host would deal bj himself. The host gave me the chips that were due to me on the books, which totaled around 3000.

At around 930, the poker game had a waitlist, so I gave up my seat. One of the dealers, instead of the host, agreed to deal the BJ game to me heads up. The host said that the table max was now $100 because he couldn't afford to lose like he did last time (on a side note, he wanted me to play because he wanted a chance at his money). I talked him into making the max $200, as he wasn't going to win the money back at $100 at a time. Away we went.

After playing for about 2 hours, I was up about another $3000. At this point, the host was a little nervous and came over to watch, as I could tell he was sweating the money. After losing another 1000, the host told me that he wasn't going to have enough money to pay me. I then asked him if he wanted to play another game that was a little more advantageous for him, as I volunteered to play something that maybe the house had a better chance of winning, as I was just getting too lucky. My friend proposed that we play this new game in vegas called Blackjack switch. My friend explained the rules to him, and told him that the house had a huge advantage because the house would push if the house scored with a 22 and all blackjacks pay even money. Plus, the house would win its money back doubly fast because the player is forced to play two hands. Some of the players said they had seen the game in vegas. I told the host to look up the game on a website, and he said, nah, it was ok. To make this game fair, because dealer had such a huge advantage, if the player busted with a 22, the player would push that hand too, and player may switch any way whatsoever, including switching the top two cards or bottom two cards together to form a hand. Split hands can also be switched (switching here makes difference because for example, if you have 8,8, and split, and get a 10, 10 with each 8, you can switch the 10,10 into a 20 hand, and then combine the 8,8 into a hand, and then resplit the 8,8).

Think about it for a second, if someone gave you the switch BJ rules and didn't explain anything else, and you didn't know by example, nothing would elaborate on the above rules. It is called BJ switch. So switch it all!!

Well, the house wound up losing about another $4000 in like 30 minutes (!) and the host said that he was done with BJ. No more blackjack. He looked visibly sick.

$11,000...about 3-4 hours. He cashed out all my chips, but was short 1200. I know, for a fact, that he used poker buy in money to pay me out.

I told him to put the 1200 on the books. I then made a deal with the hostess/massage girl, that if she massaged me for an hour, she could have the 1200 that was on the books. She happily agreed, and I then left, never to return to the best BJ game that I have ever played.

Based on the above, I'm going to guess that I had over a 10% advantage on the switch game. Any calculations as to my advantage?

On a side note, I'm gonna estimate that the hostesses' chances of getting the money are 50/50.

The whole thing sounds sketch, and I think you played it the wrong way (but congrats on the good hit)...

I myself would have showed zero knowledge of the games being played. You knew you had an advantage, and you showed confidence when "offering" to play a game with a "higher" house edge. I would have played the dumb card. If the host, for example, was to ever discover the advantage his game offered, assuming he was somewhat intelligent, it wouldn't be difficult to figure out that you must have known of this advantage. This will likely lead to him feeling cheated.

My plan was to not come back, so I was was killing the golden goose.

I thought it wouldnt be prudent to keep coming back. So I kinda burned the bridge.

I know you had to get as much out of this game as you could after you first found it.
I just think it's a shame that you broke the piggy bank!

Quote: klimate10

I then made a deal with the hostess/massage girl, that if she massaged me for an hour, she could have the 1200 that was on the books. She happily agreed,

It seems like there is a story missing right here.

Quote:

and I then left.....

You killed the golden goose! But I wouldnt feel too bad, it was doomed to a short life anyway.

You have really described a poor gambler, this illegal operator. To let you suggest a game to play and go for that? Every gambler knows you have to be nuts to think you can beat somebody else at his own game. I think that is an urban proverb, havent we all heard that one?

It occurs to me that you, as a self-described " gambling addict" recovering but not willing to go for abstinence, that such terrific success as you have been describing... well, it must be like a recovering alcoholic who inherits someone's huge liquor cabinet full of the finest.

Odious, its that i refuse to play unless i can get a deal. I don't have to have the edge, but i am very selective about my gambling.

I won't play a game where house has advantage. Zero advantage is ok, ala Santa ana star craps.

Okay, I'm calling bullshit on this story. A guy with this much money to throw around banking illegal games, and he's stupid enough to let YOU suggest a game to HIM, and trust you to provide the rules, and doesn't even look up the standard rules on the intarwebs? What the hell? Is this guy functionally retarded or did he inherit his father's $60MM estate to fuck around with, or both?

Also, if he payed you with poker buy-in money, how did he pay the poker players when they cashed out? I know he's raking, but some players had to have some chips left over. It doesn't add up.

klimate10, I thought your Santa Ana Star casino report was pretty cool and your posts have been generally good, but I think you're taking us all for a ride. I am not asking you to prove anything, as it would be impractical, but stating my opinion that this story did not happen as told.

Quote: AcesAndEights

What the hell? Is this guy functionally retarded or did he inherit his father's $60MM estate to fuck around with, or both?

HAHAHAH This just made my day.

Quote:

Also, if he payed you with poker buy-in money, how did he pay the poker players when they cashed out? I know he's raking, but some players had to have some chips left over. It doesn't add up.

Told the guys that left positive that he would keep their balances, and to come back to gamble next weekend?

I dunno, the story is a bit....weird, but it doesn't sound that contrived. I know a lot of people that aren't that savvy with Vegas games or casino games in general.

It's believable. I'll buy it, for now.

Wait, did this host guy actually let you play the Split game you described, is that where the 4k in 30 minutes came from, or was that the original BJ game he had running?

Quote: AcesAndEights

Okay, I'm calling bullshit on this story.

Don't be so fast. There can be some pretty desperate "hosts" out there who try this sort of stuff... they have guts but lack brains. I think he is trying to break into a world in which he does not belong but feels out of other options at the moment.

The hostess/massage girl is a nice touch. Its clear the host is trying and knows what should be there, he just doesn't know how to do it.

I 2nd a vote for bullshit.

Quote: FinsRule

I 2nd a vote for bullshit.

Regardless of whether the stories are true or not (I chimed in quite a bit on the last one), there is a spirit of an underground game that has been challenged. Most underground games are a way for a proprietor to make easy money. The rules are usually so bad since it has to be a win situation for the house. If the operator is as dumb as you describe, I'm still not convinced that they won't figure out a way to get the money back.

You mentioned in your previous post that the guy is a friend of a friend. Don't be surprised if you lose that friend in the process, as he's likely not to be invited to any more games. The whole thing still sounds shady to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more repercussions from this.

It has been an interesting read though...

ok. Look, I understand your skepticism. Because of my AP nature, usually always take pics of my reports.

That's why i always accompany my trip report with pics.

But, at an illegal poker game, I am not taking pics.

Anyways, you don't have to believe the story. Just cconsider it fantasy, if you must.

On a side note, there are tons of people who don't understand even the basics of BJ. And its not hard to exploit their lack of knowledge.

How easy is it to find a basic strat chart? Yet in my 20 years of gambling, I can count maybe 10 people who usbasic strat.

Edited

Actually, Nvm my last post.

I am not taking pics of an illegal poker/BJ game.

The story is a fantasy write up for enjoyment purposes.

How's the comps?
Lol...being a WSOP main event top-50 finisher, a LOT of people wanted me to play their home games with them...even still, they eventually did not invite me back...