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Table Games "Doubling on hard 15!"

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by mrubs4, Sep 15, 2013.

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  1. mrubs4

    mrubs4 Low-Roller

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    Against a dealer 6.

    No, I didn't make this play, some absolutely obnoxious German kid did. And of course, he drew a 6.

    When you make a ridiculous move like this and the dealer yells it out like they do when they're changing or coloring money, is it something they're required to do? Or is it more just one of those "hey, you guys gotta check this idiot out!" type things?
     
  2. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    they're alerting the pit boss so he can keep an eye on the game. those are the types of moves that people make when the count is positive and if you do it too often like that, they will back you off.
     
  3. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    It is hard to imagine any counter ever doubling on hard 15, and it certainly wouldn't be done in a positive count when the deck is rich in 10s. In this case, it is more likely the player has caught a glimpse of the dealer's hole card.

    Dealers tend to yell out unconventional plays to alert the pit. One reason is the possible presence of an advantage player, the other is to make absolutely sure the player cannot come back and say, "Oh, no, I didn't really want to do that!"
     
  4. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    A couple years ago, the guy seated next to me at the Fremont doubled down on a hard 15. I think it might have been against the dealer's 10, but does it really matter? The REALLY strange thing, however, is that his 15 consisted of a 7 and an 8 and he first tried to split them! No joke. The dealer must have spent 4 or 5 minutes trying to explain to him why he couldn't do that, while everyone else including me were totally dumbfounded. That's when he decided to double. Thank goodness he busted. Had he won, I might have tried to kill him! :D

    For sure, no savvy player, counter or otherwise, would ever double on a hard 15.
     
  5. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    There's another possible reason too. Did you ever see the movie Next? Nicholas Cage can see 2 minutes into the future and used it in the casinos. It's possible the dealers are trained to keep any eye out for others with that kind of precognitive ability. Who knows? The truth is out there...
     
  6. USCHawks

    USCHawks High-Roller

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    I watched my dad double on a hard 20 last year, pull an ace for a 21, and saved the whole table by grabbing that ace.

    Here's a bit of clarification. He was drunk, but he isn't a dumbass. We were playing at one of those video blackjack tables where there's a big monitor for the dealer and about 5 or 6 seats like a blackjack table in front of it. We were having a good time with a few other guys and the drinks were certainly going down quick and he went to press the "stand" button when it was his turn but wasn't playing close attention and accidentally pressed the "double" and drew that ace for a 21. He was a 3rd base and the dealer had a 10. Instead of the dealer pulling 21 he drew a small card then a face card to bust.
     
  7. casinoboy

    casinoboy Low-Roller

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    they call it out to the pit critter in case the player later tried to say he wanted to stand. some people try to cheat like that. he sure got lucky but that is a very bad play to make.
     
  8. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    I've actually doubled on 12 two or three times over the years (with a negative count), and every time it was called out to the pit by the dealer.
    I believe they are required to call out any very-unusual play.
    Even a double-for-less is called out every time.
     
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  9. Keyser Soze

    Keyser Soze Low-Roller

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    There's a decent chance the kid is an advantage player. Doubling a hard 15 is a smart play if you know the next card is a 6. There are plenty of weak dealers out there.
     
  10. hillwood24

    hillwood24 High-Roller

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    I double for $1 every time I have a 12 against a dealer 2. I'm only gonna take one card anyways, and it's fun to have the dealer yell out "double on hard 12!" More often than not, I win these hands.
     
  11. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    At the casino I work at, it's not required to be yelled out on that kind of abnormal play, BUT most yell it as a way of saying "look at the idiot" and our way of laughing at them. Had a guy doubling on hard 14s like crazy and complaining how he just couldn't win. His justification for the double was he planned on only taking one card so might as well double it.
     
  12. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    This is true.
    More than once, I've run into pitch-game dealers who would reveal a glimpse of the next card when hitting a player ahead of me (visible when I'm at 3rd).
    I might not be able to see the actual value, but could always tell whether or not it was a face card.

    A nice edge whenever the player to my right was standing (because the angle prevents me from catching the glimpse on his hit).

    But I can only recall one or two times ever where I've been able to actually catch the next card's value.
     
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  13. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    I had a dealer in a pitch game who would deal the cards from near his chin, when he would give himself his hole card I could clearly see what it was almost everytime as he lowered it very slowly...and I still couldnt win. he would have a 10 up and i knew he had a 5 or 6 down so i would be standing on all these weak hands, then he would get the 4 or 5 that I would have drawn...god that was frustrating, and the other players all thought I was an idiot to boot.
     
  14. IWannaBeInVegas

    IWannaBeInVegas VIP Whale

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    Karma I'm sure.
     
  15. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    It may be karma but what am I supposed to do, i was sitting right in front of him.:thumbsup:
     
  16. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    I've seen this done a lot of times in tourneys, but BJ tourneys kind of defy conventional BJ logic.
     
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  17. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

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    It's 99% the second reason and 1% the first reason. There actually aren't any counting playing deviations (except splitting 10s) that I can think of that would call for a 'call out' to the pit. Usually you're doing stuff like taking insurance, standing on 15v10, or perhaps doubling down on 10v10 or a slightly 'wrong' soft hand , which you'll see normal players do all the time.
     
  18. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

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    There is no count EVER that you double a hand that can bust. Never! Hit some things you might normally stand on, (like 12v6 in a negative count), but no doubles on stiff hands.

    If he KNEW the next card he might do that, but I'm guessing it's 99% that this was a drunk dufus, nothing more. Most hole-card play is about the dealer's down card, not the next card.
     
  19. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    Wade... try a minus-5, on a two deck game, 3 total players, 3 hands already dealt, you have hard-12 and the dealer has a 6 showing.

    Yes, I realize that the dealer will likely hit 'small' cards too, but I'm looking at an almost 2-to-1 chance of making 17 or better with my double.
    The dealer may very well have to hit multiple cards, any one of which can bust her.

    It might not be the "correct" play in that situation (or similar), but on the few times where I've been in it, I've doubled my hard 12...and I've never busted... I haven't always won, but I have far more often than not.

    PS - as long as you don't bust, it is no more incorrect than doubling your 11 against a dealer 6.
     
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  20. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    Dont kid yourself, just because you do something "wrong",and you win, doesn't mean it was "correct". It will catch up with you in the long run, I also see people doubling on 6 or 7 quite a bit, which is equally crazy.
     
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