Playing alone vs a full table

In the Wizard's Venetian review thread there were some comments about Pai Gow (tiles) tables suddenly filling up, or at least drawing some players, after someone sat down.

This brings up the question, how do you prefer to play at the tables, alone or with more people?

I like being alone with only the dealer because the game moves at whatever pace I set. Also I don't have to suffer slow players, or players who can't make up their minds. In PGP, too, I tend to be a bit slow. More than once I've had dealers offer help in setting a hand. Alas, I've never had a PGP table all to myself. So other players have had to suffer me ;) Oh, and when I'm alone I don't have to worry about how I smoke at the table.

I don't like full tables because I feel crowded, but someitmes the table fills up quickly. Short of quitting the game, there's nothing to be done about it. It's worst at rapid craps, which is slow enough already. Of course it does wonders for bankroll preservation, but playing 2 hours vs waiting to play for two hours is not quite the same thing.

Having a few other players is ok, and you can sometimes learn something from watching other people play. Sometimes, too, you'll find somene pleasant to chat with. A good, sociable dealer helps, too.

I personally prefer a busy table, provided that it is smoke free and the players are relatively friendly. Since I provide the casino with a fair amount of action, playing at a busy table improves my expected loss ratio to comps given significantly.

For example, if I play at an empty craps table with an average bet of $300, I might have 60 to 75 points in a hour. If I play at a busy craps table, that might drop down to 20 to 35 point per hour. The casino still rates me exactly the same, even though I am playing almost 3x as fast by myself.

Of course, when I do take a gambling trip, I plan on spending 8 to 10+ hours a day at the tables, so bankroll preservation is a good thing. If I were there only for a hour or two, I would probably go for an empty table just to get the thrill of playing out of my system.

It depends on what I'm playing. Blackjack or Spanish21: I prefere to play alone, or atleast with people who don't care how I play. Pai Gow Poker: I prefere a full table. Easier to get an envy bonus. Other games: I don't realy care as long as people aren't increadibly slow.

I don't like playing by myself because the game, and the money, goes too quickly.

It's quite common for people to prefer to not play by themselves. For this reason, it's quite common for a table to attract players once the first person starts the action.

On the flip side, except for poker, I don't like a full table only because I prefer a little elbow room.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I don't like playing by myself because the game, and the money, goes too quickly.

It's quite common for people to prefer to not play by themselves. For this reason, it's quite common for a table to attract players once the first person starts the action.

On the flip side, except for poker, I don't like a full table only because I prefer a little elbow room.

My feelings are similar. If I am learning the game, I want an empty table. I absolutely do not like "only me" at a craps table.

Empty if: 1 and 2 deck bj and craps when playing dont
medium full : paigow craps pass-line shoe bj
full: roulette

Quote: jpprovance

full: roulette

Really?

I don't play much roulette, but when I do, I prefer few players so that I can reach the entire layout.

Of course, for similar reasons, I prefer Rapid Roulette - but I don't play that too much either.

With just about all tables I prefer somewhere between one on one and full. You get the social aspect of it but aren't crammed in and dealing with extremely slow play.

The emptier the better, because each additional player increases the odds that someone will light up a pigarette.

It varies with the game and my tolerance levels.

Its nice to have an empty table for a morning craps session. An idle crew are glad to see some action and they won't keep the pace too high since I'm the only one there. After a while some more people joining in and slowing things down a bit is a welcome change.

Be it craps, roulette, blackjack or baccarat ... an empty table is a fast table no matter what. Oh sure, the player can exert some influence but in general, if the table is empty the games go faster and that house edge exerts a consistent pressure on the bankroll.

Some dealers will chat if the baccarat table is just one party. My companion and I were at one baccarat table in the Asian games section and the dealer was talking about a variety of topics to slow the pace of the game down a bit. BJ dealers often try to slow things down, but they can't do it much and if other players are at the table, the pace will pick up to accommodate them.

Its nice if the fellow BJ players are sociable but not overly intrusive. An occasional comment is fine but not a running commentary on my style of play and inability to add.

For Pai Gow tiles I prefer to play alone. This is mainly because I learned to play online. I know the rules and strategies, but don't necessarily understand all the etiquette, customs and superstitions. I don't want to offend anyone, so I just tend to avoid busy tables. Plus, Pai Gow players tend to smoke like chimneys.

For BJ and Pai Gow poker, I prefer a table that is about half full. I find Pai Gow poker to be a very sociable game, so the more the merrier. And I need a few other players at a BJ table just to slow things down a bit.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I don't like playing by myself because the game, and the money, goes too quickly.

True. The flipside is you may win quickly, too. That happened to me at the Fitz at 3CP, curse my flea stakes. I had around $80 (from a $50 buy in) when the only other player left. I then started winning hand after hand, including two consecutive straights while betting the Pair+. The dealer gave me the first three cards out of the shuffler, took the next three himself, then discarded the rest one by one. Had the other player stayed, the dealer would have gotten diferent hands.

Of course losing is much more likely than winning, so I'll accept your reply.

I'd like an empty PGP table mostly to try banking. I figure it's easier with only the dealer involved.

I make it a point to play blackjack during hours where I can play heads up with the dealer. At least 50% of my play is at 200+ hands per hour. I also seek out non smoking areas or request a non smoking table. I will not play at a full table because it's just too slow. I don't begrudge anyone from joining me at the table because I understand that most people don't want to play alone.

I've met many interesting people at the blackjack tables over the years including my share of celebrities. That's almost as much fun as beating the casino out of a few dollars.

For me - it depends on the game.


Pai Gow Tiles or Poker, I can play alone, or with a few people. I've never had a full table on either. If I'm alone, I'll bank for the "edge" but that's about the only beenfit I see in playing by myself. Usually the dealers are a little more chatty then.

For Blackjack or Spanish 21 - I'll look for a partial to full table. I just can't handle the speed of one on one play, esp. because it means I'm losing. I don't mind a social table, and I've played long enough to not let the random plays get to me, as I've seen it benefit me just as much as hurt me for the one hand.

-B

When in Vegas I always play in the afternoon because you can find so many empty tables. I like a fast game and playing alone lets me set the pace. They can't spin the the wheel till I bet and I control everything. In a local Indian joint, finding an empty table is next to impossible, and if you do, in 2min somebody will sit down because now its not empty anymore.

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I once heard a BJ "expert" advise seeking out empty tables as often as possible because at an empty table you will receive 50% of all the BJs, whereas with other players present the proportion will be lower. :D

I very rarely play craps if there are fewer than two or three others at the table. I want to have the option to pass the dice but have the game go on, and as a Don't better, don't want to keep shooting if I make a point. If the table clears out as a result of seven-outs, however, I will sometimes keep playing alone.

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Quote: Ibeatyouraces

You seek out empty tables to get more hands per hour. You will still get the same amount of bj's as the dealer on average.

I knew that of course. And you don't want more hands per hour in a -EV game (that is, if only playing basic strategy) unless your marginal enjoyment of a faster game exceeds the marginal loss in EV. It was his explanation I found funny.

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I seek out empty BJ tables so I won't fall asleep while others are taking forever to make decisions. If I have to play in a crowd, I at least want first base. I once played the single deck at Hooters and it was 2 hands, then shuffle. Penetration less than 50%.