Where Are Your Table Manners?
I have performed a good deal of research, and have probably read every book on playing Blackjack that has been on the "Best Sellers" list available. Table manners (ettiquette) has been the least discussed topic that I have been able to find? Yet, it has been 'ettiquette' that has proven to be my most, absolute, useful tool at the tables to date! Going from my very first venture into the real of casino's to my present-day forrays, basically following the "Golden Rule" has made an immeasurable difference. Just like you're in the casino gambling with your own money, the person(s) seated at the table with you is also gambling with thier own money!
No matter how insane a decision may be, I will generally do no more than raise an eyebrow and simply smile coyly. If the choice a given player makes is ridiculously outrageous, I may even drop my head in shame (sympathy pains for the player in question). But I will refrain from making public forms of humiliation towards that individual! I've actually played at a table where one of the players would repeatedly, without hesitation, double-down on Hard-12's. Both the Dealer and myself grew increasingly amused with each subsequent decision, but neither of us said anything. Even though I am accustomed to hitting 12's, I don't believe that I would ever double-down on the same (no matter what the Dealers' up-card is, or any combination thereof). Yet this particular player continued to do so, much to the chagrin of the other players.
Many of whom began to loudly voice thier opposition to that players perpetual indiscretion, which only served to intensely aggrivate the soon-to-be penniless player. The young man would vehamently respond to any/all of the players present that it was his "(experlative) money," and that he could " bet any (experlative) way he chose!" Granted, the table as a whole had forgotten the golden rule? Some of the ill manners here also falls on our questionable Blackjack player. Had he been more amicable towards "suggestion," some of us may have been more inclined to offer subtle tips on 'Basic Strategy.' Instead, after being put into our collective places - everyone at the table (dealer included) humbly sat, played and watched all of his chips rapidly dwindle away.
Conversely, during one of my trips to Las Vegas I happened to be playing Blackjack at one of the strip casino's. A young man (name withheld) sat down in an empty chair and cheerfully introduced himself all of the way around the table. It was immediately and undeniably obvious that this was the unmistakeable very first time this lad had ever ventured into a casino in his life! From the onslaught this poor fellow proceeded to commit every known no-no that could be. He made several vain attempts to directly hand his initial buy-in money directly to the dealer. After an inordinate amount of coaxing, as well as reassurances that it really was OK, he was finally convinced that it was safe to place his money on the table and merely slide it towards the dealer.
Words cannot begin to remotely described how slow this game progressed, thanks enirely to this newcomer from Iowa. What with all of the players willingly explaining Basic Strategy, Betting Strategies as well as the general (unspoken) "Casino Code of Conduct." This very congenial and extremely apologetic player was truly grateful for all of the positive feedback provided by the players at this table. Although the snails pace of this particular game was visibly un-nerving our primary dealer, who could only manage to get to the cut-card of a six-deck shoe every 45 minutes or so? In a vain attempt to speed up the game, the dealer began to almost 'pitch' the cards from the shoe. In doing so she inadvertantly tossed the cards to the stranger from Iowa slightly askew. He then did the natural thing - Mr. Iowa reached up and attempted to straighten out the cards? Before my lips could form the word "NO" the dealer ws then pointing a very accusatory finger in the face of the poor guy and shrieking "You do not touch the cards! Only I touch cards! You do that again, and I have you removed from the table!"
In a single instance the dealer had managed to collectively alienate the entire table, while at the same time solidify an impenetrable coccoon around our cherry player. Without so much as a single word being uttered, the table had uniformly agreed to punish this dealer for this uncalled-for, as well as totally disrespectufl outburst. The gentleman seated at 1st Base proceeded to split 10's, Kings, Queens and even Jacks! At one point even I chose to double-down on a Natural (Ace, King combination), sucessfully arguing that the Ace had a value of either 1 and/or 11 - at the "players discretions" (my subsequent card was a 10). These measures taken by the table as a whole so un-nerved the dealer, that she repeatedly mis-dealt. After four or five mis-deals, our primary dealer was permanently relieved. Keep in mind that the entire time that all of this transpired, our out-of-town rookie was continually and completely apologitic. Unknowingly, this player had managed to endear himself to all of the players that much more!
I cannot emphasize enough the Golden Rule - "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!" It's also helpful to keep in mind that other players vies this form of entertainment as part of thier livelyhood. I've heard, read, as well as personally witnessed an untold number of instances of what I consider to be "bad manners" which could be minimized, if not altogether eliminated by simply making slight adjustments to the day of week and/or time of day of the visit. I will generally stay away from gaming facilities on weekend nights (Thursday through Saturday after 9pm). My personal preferance is to play Sunday through Wednesday during normal business hours.
My personal observations as well as experiences (coupled with available documentation) have revealed that the more serioius (professional) experienced playerstend to prefer these timeslots as well. For the most part, the inexperience, and/or recreational players tend to frequent the casino's after the dinner hour and/or on the weekend (after they've gotten off from work). The myriad of horro/war stories that I've either heard of and/or been privy to, have generally occured on the weekend and/or nightly between 8pm and 2am. I'm also thoroughly convinced that my overall demeanor has allowed me to harvest the invaluable amount of information garnered from other players, dealers, and even an ocassional Pit Boss or two?
This same easy-going manner has also played a major role in my not being expelled from some casino's. On more than one ocassion a dealer and/or Pit Boss have observed my play (as well as interaction with the other players) and made off-hand remarks usch as; "You're really strong at anchor," or "You're real good at 3rd Base." One Pit Boss even smiled, coyly, winked at me and said, "You must be counting cards?" In response I simply smiled like the preverbial cat that swallowed the prize canary - and continued playing. Being an observant (nosey) person, I've witnessed numerous other individuals being quietly escorted from the tables. In almost every situation I feel that I can safely state that it was "attitude" that got that person removed from the premises.
Since casino's are considered to be "Private Clubs" by the US Supreme Court, it also may not be prudent to invoke your 'inaliable rights' as guaranteed by the US Constitution. Many placarsd at various casino's discreetly proclaim that "management reserves the right to indeterminately refuse service to anyone of thier choosing" Which simply menst that more time than not, even if your level of play has aroused the attention of an overly curious Pit Boss and/or nosey Casino Manager. Your dazzling smile and/or jovial personality, will usually result in no more than a short conversation (or more) with either and/or both of them. It's also a good thing to remember that in other than Pitch games, the dealer is only issueing cards. Given that a lot of casino's these days use some sort of shuffling machine, the only thing that the dealer can influence is how deep the cut-card is placed.
As we all know, this measure only has bearing on (in theory) when/if a run of cards begins and/or ends (good or bad)? My point with all of this is, if you're going to accuse the dealer of any checanery (I've seen people do this) be real sure of the facts and/or conditions. Believe it or not, if it's possible to have a friend in a casino - your friend is the Dealer! Just like Bartenders, and/or Waiters/Waitresses, Dealers also earn thier real money from tips. I don't know about you, but I'm not likely to tip a dealer that I suspect of cheating me? On more than one ocassion it has been a friendly dealer that has quietly and discreetly let me know that the cards we cold - or, that the shoe currently being dealt from was a "bad shoe" - or, that the players currently seated at the table were a bunch of knuck-heads.
I can't even begin to count the amount of money that I've saved just by simply having a congenial relationship with the staff and fellow players. Don't misunderstand me, I'm in no way suggesting that you form life-long bonds with any/all of the participants that you might possibly come in contact with at the Blackjack tables and/or throughout your travels. Instead that you merely extend to others the same courtesies that you yourself expect!