Worst plays you've ever witnessed

Quote: Nareed

You can show the average person all the math you want and you may convince a few. But let one moron say "you know, the casinos wrote the strategy card," and back he goes to irrational play.

My friend, who is quite brilliant in many ways, used to draw to an inside straight in video poker. She didn't dispute the math, as anyone can see that if you draw to an outside straight, you have two possibilities of completing the straight, while an inside straight only has one possibility. She just felt it was a bigger challenge, and she gleefully pointed out every time she made it.

She clearly didn't see the game as a series of probabilities, but as a personal challenge, like she was playing a sport (she was a very competitive athlete). She simply didn't care about the odds.

I shouldn't tell anyone this...lol, the other day i was killing time and playing BJ all by myself (i think that fact is important...at least it helps me stomach this) and I decided to play like the "drunken idiot" that can't loose. I was doing basically everything wrong...on purpose, AND WAS WINNING, and of course with winning comes the pressing of the bet. As i begin to bet more and more I found myself on auto pilot and playing damn near perfect BS. This cost me my entire stack as i lost every double and anything else. lol, The funny part is that I play at this casino all the time, know the entire TG staff and they kept asking me if i was drunk or something ( i was stone cold sober). The best part was i didn't care....i have talked about doing this for some time, strictly for fun. I can say it was some fun,watching my stack(s) go up and down and just laughing at all the dumb crap i was trying...i mean nothing was off limits for me to try. results=200loss/1hr of laughs and smiles.

Don't worry I am better now and had a decent DD session the next day. lol

Quote: pacomartin

She clearly didn't see the game as a series of probabilities, but as a personal challenge, like she was playing a sport (she was a very competitive athlete). She simply didn't care about the odds.

I see no problem with making the wrong play so long as you know it's "wrong." That is to say, you can make the bet with the lesser EV, as long as you know that's what you're doing.

Quote: Nareed

I see no problem with making the wrong play so long as you know it's "wrong."

The mindset is totally different. We say the move is "wrong" because it has a lower EV. She just views it as a "challenge". There is no argument, because she is perfectly aware that the odds are much lower.

Quote: DanMahowny

Funny, before I learned basic strategy, I can't remember ANYONE complaining about my play decisions.

Wow. What a spot-on, and yet sad, comment...

Quote: buzzpaff

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him split 8's against a 10.

That should be somebody's signature line.

Quote: Nareed

I see no problem with making the wrong play so long as you know it's "wrong." That is to say, you can make the bet with the lesser EV, as long as you know that's what you're doing.

I have a hard time hitting on 16. If I can't surrender (and it's not a pair of 8s), I'll stand. Except when the dealer has an Ace up, cause I figure then he's got two chances to beat me.

But I tell the other players that I play that way, every time, and they generally accept my statement and reasoning.

Well, DJ, I think your reasoning is fine on a 16 v 10, but not so fine on a 7, 8, or 9.

But you know this.

One of the dumbest plays I see is the frickin' blind bet in Caribbean Stud. My wife has taken up to doing it sometimes and it drives me bonkers. How did I marry this woman? 16.61% HA by playing blind. That's like throwing away a $1 on each bet on a $5 table... oh wait, that's the same dollar you throw away on the jackpot meter.

Out of the woodwork will come, "you know, it's a good play if the dealer hasn't been qualifying!" Well, you know, that's like trying to predict numbers in roulette.

Quote: boymimbo

Well, DJ, I think your reasoning is fine on a 16 v 10, but not so fine on a 7, 8, or 9.

I agree; although 8 out of 13 card ranks will bust a 16, against a 7 the dealer's most likely hand is a 17 so if you manage to not bust you'll be in decent shape. Against a dealer 10 the dealer's most likely hand is a 20, so you are less likely to win even if you don't bust (and why it's a very close decision between hitting vs. standing and hoping the dealer busts). Against an Ace (because there can't be a 10 in the hole) the likely dealer hands are more diffused, but with having two chances to make a hand before busting the bust rate is much lower with a dealer Ace (making hitting the right decision vs. standing).

Quote: boymimbo

One of the dumbest plays I see is the frickin' blind bet in Caribbean Stud. .

The last time I played this, two guys sitting oppisite me were playing this way and literally piling up the chips as I was getting killed!!!! I knew it was time to leave when I seriously considered playing blind.

Speaking of wifes, it drives my wife crazy when we play 3 card poker and I look at my cards. If the first one is an ace or a king, I simply play it without looking at the rest. It is fun to watch her squirm because she wants so badly to reach over and look at my cards.

Quote: timberjim

Speaking of wifes, it drives my wife crazy when we play 3 card poker and I look at my cards. If the first one is an ace or a king, I simply play it without looking at the rest. It is fun to watch her squirm because she wants so badly to reach over and look at my cards.

I play 3 card that same way. It's pretty much the only way to make the game interesting enough to play.

I saw, and I guess created, horribly bad play on 3 card last week, but it was totally unintentional. We (the table) were teaching this girl how to play, and we told her to play Q-high or better (I couldn't talk the others into Q-6-4). It turns out that she was folding straights and flushes that were <Q-high. D'oh!

1st time Let It Ride players are pretty awful too. I've seen people "let it ride" when it was impossible to get a hand (ie, 2 5 7 9 unsuited). I've seen people push a bet back when they've already got a winning hand (pair of 10s or better).

Then there was the dealer that chided me over attempting to help someone who was playing awfully at Let it Ride. How dare I give them advice. Of course, they are right, but the dealer should be offering help.

And as for Let it Ride, Caribbean, or 3 Card, if I see that I have a hand that I'm going to play on, I don't look at the remaining cards, to add to excitement (10s or better, any pair, Q-6-4 or higher).