Your seat at the Blackjack table

I'm pretty new here and I'm not quite sure exactly how to search to see if there has been a related post about this topic. Anyway, needless to say, I couldn't find anything.

My question is this. How do you define your seat at the Blackjack table or at any other table for that matter? Do you only play at a particular seat or is it immaterial to you? Will you wait until you get your seat or take any one you can find open?
Specifically for the counters, which seats do you prefer? Where are you most comfortable?

For me on BJ I always only play the first two spots. I know it is obvious but in favorable counts I want the high cards or as strong a chance of getting the high cards, also I don't want to look like I'm watching Steffi Graf play tennis :)
On Craps I like the be "straight out" as the stick man announces. I want to be in the middle of either end of the table. I'm not a dice control guy, I simply love playing the game.
Roulette I would prefer the spot right next to the dealer as close as they would allow me.

Any preferences?

I think most such preferences are psychological and rather weak. For instance at craps, if those straight out positions are gone, you probably would still join the table.

As far as Blackjack goes, I've often felt that unless there is a slightly sloshed young lady at the table who is likely to invite you up to her room, sit anywhere. People like empty seats at BJ tables but one casino lowered the number of spaces on the felt and thereby increased the dealer's speed and made it less necessary for him to 'walk his game'. Neither First Base nor Third Base have any real advantage.

Gamblers do tend to be superstitious but such superstitions are rather weak and most gamblers will not give in to beliefs that are absurd.

Quote: Tomspur

I'm pretty new here and I'm not quite sure exactly how to search to see if there has been a related post about this topic. Anyway, needless to say, I couldn't find anything.

My question is this. How do you define your seat at the Blackjack table or at any other table for that matter? Do you only play at a particular seat or is it immaterial to you? Will you wait until you get your seat or take any one you can find open?
Specifically for the counters, which seats do you prefer? Where are you most comfortable?

For me on BJ I always only play the first two spots. I know it is obvious but in favorable counts I want the high cards or as strong a chance of getting the high cards, also I don't want to look like I'm watching Steffi Graf play tennis :)
On Craps I like the be "straight out" as the stick man announces. I want to be in the middle of either end of the table. I'm not a dice control guy, I simply love playing the game.
Roulette I would prefer the spot right next to the dealer as close as they would allow me.

Any preferences?

Counting, not counting, one spot or two, hole carding, shoes or pitch? The answer may not be the same in all of these scenarios.

When counting at blackjack, sitting at third base allows you to see more cards before deciding how to play your hand. You will also have more time to decide and you will avoid the Steffi Graf syndrome.

You will increase your earnings at third base. It won't be much and it may go unnoticed by some. With the razor thin edge that today's straight counting players have, every little bit helps. That brings us to heat. Every pit has known for years that counters sit at third base. Should that stop you? Well, counters know that the pit knows this so a little reverse psychology here. Sit there anyway and they may think that no counter would have the nerve to do so.

Quote: 1BB

Counting, not counting, one spot or two, hole carding, shoes or pitch? The answer may not be the same in all of these scenarios.

When counting at blackjack, sitting at third base allows you to see more cards before deciding how to play your hand. You will also have more time to decide and you will avoid the Steffi Graf syndrome.

You will increase your earnings at third base. It won't be much and it may go unnoticed by some. With the razor thin edge that today's straight counting players have, every little bit helps. That brings us to heat. Every pit has known for years that counters sit at third base. Should that stop you? Well, counters know that the pit knows this so a little reverse psychology here. Sit there anyway and they may think that no counter would have the nerve to do so.

I greatly prefer to sit where I can play 2 hands on most games, so that will be next to the ends because it's easier to keep playing there (though I will yield a hand when someone wants to come in and that's the only spot left; I would not want to be that person shut out of playing, so I don't shut people out.) I also prefer to sit 1-2 on games where the number of players affects the cards you get; I prefer not to have the cards change in front of me with people coming in and out. A big disadvantage to the ends these days are where the tables are too close; I don't like getting elbowed and kicked all the time when someone's back-to-back in a tight pit.

I prefer the seat next to 3rd base.

1.) If I am not counting at Blackjack, then I prefer to sit at either first or third base, unless I have the table to myself, then I prefer the middle. If it is myself and one other player, I prefer the middle if the other player is sitting at a base, if the other player is in the middle, then I prefer one of the bases.*

*I said, "If I am not counting," but if I am counting, I only back count and play Wonging-In, so technically, I'll just sit wherever is available or revert to #1, as applicable.

2.) I always prefer to be as close to the stick as possible at Craps, but at a full table, I will stand at whatever position allows me to shoot the soonest.

3.) I prefer to be as close as possible to Black-29 in Roulette, because I play Black-29 and the four corners thereof.

4.) I prefer one of the bases in Let it Ride, and probably any other game. The only exception is if I am the only player, or one other player is at the table, then see #1.

5.) On slots, VP or VK, I prefer any seat where there is NOT someone next to me, unless I know the someone in question. Exceptions are obviously made for advantage plays.

My preference is any of the middle seats. I play short sessions and exit quickly and the middle makes for a cleaner get-a-way. Sometime both first base and third base are wedged in against the next table and prevent quick exits. Also a pit friend told me that it is well known that counters like third base, so they sometimes take an extra look at that. Lastly, most of the time that I play I am tracking a second table simultaneously. When the count at my table tanks right off the bat, I will jump to a more favorable count at the next table. Playing in the middle of the table provides me better sight lines to neighboring tables on both sides. If you get squeezed in either end, you are limited to tracking only one secondary table and you are sitting as far away from it as possible.

All good observations and it is quite amazing that there are so many different opinions.

I neglected to mention one thing. If I am alone at a game I prefer also to sit in the middle, just so that I can make it easier for the dealers, not having to deal to an uncomfortable spot if they don't have to. I started out as a dealer many moons ago so I still feel at least a little sorry for them :)

When counting, as mentioned I would much rather sit in first base. Possibly less heat (but not by much), no tennis match going on and I get the benefit of good counts right off the bat. Again I have been at way too many tables where, sitting in 3rd base with a TC of +4 deep and the jackpot cards are dealt to the 3 people sitting ahead of me. I play sound basic and VERY rarely deviate because, if you ask any surveillance agent on the planet, what the biggest giveaway is at a BJ game about a guy counting it would always be "insurance on a big bet".

You don't get "the first crack at the high cards" at first base. They will be randomly and equally distributed among all the seats. As a counter, third base gives you more time to scan the cards as they're dealt and make your calculations before playing. Sitting at first base may let you glimpse the last card in the pile as the dealer places the shuffled cards in the shoe and you may then deduct it from your running count as a card out of play. I personally do not feel this is enough to outweigh the advantage of more time sitting at the other end of the table. If you're part of a hole-carding team sitting at first base gives you the opportunity to place a drink glass just near enough to the shoe where it may subtly influence the dealers motion and make him/her expose the bottom card for your partner at the other end of the table a little better but not putting the drink glass so close the dealer asks you to move it. This is sometimes useful in actually creating a flashing dealer where they weren't readable before. Sitting at the seat next to last also allows you to crowd the last seat if it's empty with used glasses, ashtrays, your elbows and body and some of your chip stack thus "saving" it for yourself if the count becomes favorable. If the dealer is a well endowed cute girl third base usually allows you to peek her boobs between the buttons better that first base as well.

Quote: Tomspur

All good observations and it is quite amazing that there are so many different opinions.

I neglected to mention one thing. If I am alone at a game I prefer also to sit in the middle, just so that I can make it easier for the dealers, not having to deal to an uncomfortable spot if they don't have to. I started out as a dealer many moons ago so I still feel at least a little sorry for them :)

When counting, as mentioned I would much rather sit in first base. Possibly less heat (but not by much), no tennis match going on and I get the benefit of good counts right off the bat. Again I have been at way too many tables where, sitting in 3rd base with a TC of +4 deep and the jackpot cards are dealt to the 3 people sitting ahead of me. I play sound basic and VERY rarely deviate because, if you ask any surveillance agent on the planet, what the biggest giveaway is at a BJ game about a guy counting it would always be "insurance on a big bet".

Whether it be first base, third base or anywhere in between all players have the same odds before the hand is dealt. The players ahead of you could just as easily take the cards you don't want.

Quote: 1BB

Whether it be first base, third base or anywhere in between all players have the same odds before the hand is dealt. The players ahead of you could just as easily take the cards you don't want.

You are absolutely 100% correct and the reasoning for my statement is completely personal but then again, isn't 90% of our decisions based mostly on personal feelings or experiences?

Anyway, I'm not superstitious which makes my above statements seem even more ludicrous but sometimes we have to stand by our decisions and not waver from what it is we believe?

Quote: anonimuss

If the dealer is a well endowed cute girl third base usually allows you to peek her boobs between the buttons better that first base as well.

Only if she's wearing a men's shirt, women's clothing buttons from the left so the placard is covering the opening from third base. :P

Heads-up to Dealer when possible.

Quote: chickenman

Only if she's wearing a men's shirt, women's clothing buttons from the left so the placard is covering the opening from third base. :P

You have put way too much thought into this.....I like it!!! :)

I sit at the position where I've done the best at home while practicing.

I usually prefer to sit at first base for a number of reasons. When I first started playing and counting I felt that by sitting there I was getting the most out of a high count by getting my cards first, I now know it's not true but that's how I first came to prefer that spot. Another obvious reason is that I can see that whole table without having to swivel my head around obviously. Lastly, I personally prefer to sit here when playing with others because it affords me the most room.

On a side note, when in Vegas at the low limit DD I prefer to play solo or with one other person. When in these situations I will sit in the middle and spread out my chips and bottles of water as much as possible, trying to cover the two spots on either side, to deter others from joining.

Feel free to spread out bottles of water but do not ever spread out your chips... that is a bad habit to get into and the dealer's primary responsibility is to HER chips, not yours. Rail thieves and friendly visitors to the table may take note of your habits and visit you after you've had a few drinks.

Reference above: APs looking for Flashing Dealers....

I thought APs meant Advantage Players, Not Advantage Perverts, LOLOLOLOL.