Table Games Getting ridiculed for the correct play

This seems to happen to me every time I sit down to play blackjack. I know every basic strategy play and a few variations based on board composition. I make the correct play by BS standards but because the dealer goes on to draw out and beat the table I get comments "you played that wrong"

Latest example. At MGM in Detroit (it does happen in Detroit more than in Vegas, but happens at both locations). I get dealt 9,9 vs dealer up card of 7. When its my turn, i pass and stay on 18. The dealer flips a 5 for a total of 12 and then an 8 for a total of 20 and everyone loses. Bad break right? Nope. It's my fault one lady tells everyone. "That's a split all day! You get two tens and make two 19s vs the dealer 17" She is so emphatic that I begin to question if I correctly applied BS. I step away from the table and Google on my phone the BS chart. I was indeed correct. Once I politely showed her the chart, she says "oh that thing, yeah its wrong a lot". I then tell her she is right and probably should make her own strategy card and publish a "correct" one, she'd make a killing. She shakes her head in agreement.

I've found that the average player splits almost every par, and doubles on every soft hand (Ace, x card) regardless of what the dealer is showing and when I don't, I'm the moron.

Bottom line is when I play something wrong, i don't mind someone telling me I did it wrong. But when I know I'm right and get shit anyways, very frustrating

 

People like that should just pony up some money and get their own table.

 

Oh yeah this pisses me off too. I'm at third base, dealer has a face card, I hit a 15, get a 9. Dealer has a 3 under, hits an 8 for a 21. I get chastised for "taking the dealers bust card".

 

Hitting a soft 18 vs a 9,T, or A is also a play that many will question. But it's the correct play.

Just play the way you should and let others lose over the long term.

 

Hitting soft 18 against a face gets alot of groans, as well as hitting 12 against a 2. People are stupid, i see guys splitting 3's against an ace and then wondering why they lost both hands, it's just sad, making remarks back never really works, probably best to shrug and say nothing unless the other person appears sharp and might want to "learn".

 

Yes I get crap for this as well.. "but you have 18" No I have 8 and 18 is very very weak hand. Isnt the average made dealer hand something like 18.5?

 

yep this is another one. I also get shit for not taking even money on my blackjack when the dealer has an ace up. "you always take a sure win"

 

It's been said many times... there's just no shortage of people who feel everyone one else's business is their business, especially when they think they can draw a connection,however weak or nonexistent it may be, to their money.

 

Another similar situation arises when you are dealt a 12, and the dealer is showing a 2, or a 3. Taking a hit on your 12 is the correct play ... but you will always be a hero if the dealer then busts out ... or you will be an absolute bum if the dealer then pulls a winner 9, or an 8.

I like sitting at 3rd base, but you definitely need to be thick-skinned.

 

I screw with morons like that for fun. If someone is giving me grief for making correct plays, I make sure to make a lot of noise and get in their face (and occasionally even hold out my hand for a gift) each time I make a play that saves the table even though they, in all their wisdom, labeled it "incorrect" a few hands ago. It would be smarter to just ignore them, but that's the problem with jackasses, they never quit until someone calls them on it.

 

The problem is many of these boneheads will win occassionally with their stupid plays. From that point on they figure when they win it's because of how smart they are and when they lose it's just bad luck.

 

Yes I try to avoid 3rd base because that poor soul can't do anything right for the guy/girl losing their ass. I prefer short stop, lol right next to 3rd base.

 

Hey, I gamble at the MGM Grand Detroit a lot too.

Detroit gamblers are crrrrraaaaaazzzzy.

I've learned to ignore them.

I once had an old Asian woman constantly call me "stupid" for hitting 12 against a 2.

One time at MotorCity a man told me he hopes I lose all my money because I wasn't playing the Perfect Pairs [STRIKE]sucker[/STRIKE] side bet.

 

Happens all the time. Applying hindsight to blackjack will ALWAYS result in the "correct" play sometimes leading to bad results. Conversely playing stupid can work out (I've seen people go on a big streak while doing stuff like splitting 10s). Looking back at a hand once you know what the cards actually were is a really easy way to screw up your game. Good players learn to accept that the right move will often lead to bad results.

I personally never offer any advice without being asked, but I make it a point not to complement someone on a bad play that ends up working out well.

 

@ams722, thanks for the reminder. Yes the tables at MGM all have the side bonus bet for perfect pair or high tie bj. I never, repeat never play that bonus bet. I've seen people get really lucky on them and win a lot of money, but still not for me. In Detroit almost everyone plays the bonus with about as much money on their bonus as their normal bet ($20 on each). And every once in a whole when i get dealt a perfect pair or high tie blackjack, the people at the table throw up their arms and shout "how could you not play the bonus, you got to at least play $5 there!!" As I watch them cash in $100 after $100 playing the bonus.

I always offer that they can play my bonus too so that they can win twice as fast!!

 

They really need to issue every player a STFU placard when they sit down at the table. Then every time you get one shown to you, the dealer takes one of your standard bets as a penalty. After 5 fines Vinnie comes over and breaks your fingers, then gives you a math lesson.

 

and another thing ams722 hit on, how miserable the people are in the Detroit casinos. Probably like this in most local joints, but i only can speak about my local area..Detroit. It depresses me to no end to play there. Every time I go I leave with a self promise to allow more time to pass before my next visit. people are grumpy, confrontational and in zombie mode playing for hours without any conversation or smiles. I get the feeling that a lot of people in their are down huge and are playing their last $ to their name. I get the difference between vacation mode while in vegas vs the local joint, never more prevalent than in Detroit.

 

Haha I do the exact same thing. In AC I like playing Spanish 21 (better than BJ) but its only offered at low limits so gets pretty busy. Almost every other player I've ever seen bets as much on the bonus as they do on their bet (or even more if they're allowed to, I can't remember). They even say things like "I don't care about my hand just the bonus". I'm always hearing people say I should be betting mine and I just offer to let anyone next to me play it instead.

And as far as criticisms about play go it happens a lot more on Spanish 21 because most people play it just like BJ. But the optimal strategy is different. I feel like all this type of stuff does happen more at lower limit tables. At higher limit tables I can't recall ever dealing with it. I can also imagine the Detroit crowd and AC crowd being somewhat similar in their hard edged attitudes.

 

I was playing at Harrahs $5 table in 2011 (do they still have one?) and sitting at third base as it was the only seat open. I have played some bj, but am not an expert. I know BS fairly well, but occasionally make a boneheaded call...anyway, I guy gets all over me for making the wrong play....I offer to switch seats with him so I won't "screw the table" anymore, he declines. I say, hey...I'm playing a $5 table to learn how to play better, if you're an expert maybe we should either switch seats or you should go to a higher limit table." A few hands later he tapped out of chips and moved on after saying what an idiot everyone at the table was for continuing to play when the "guy at third base" (me) was screwing everyone. I after he left I got a small round of applause from the other players. There's always an expert I guess.

 

I pretty much stopped playing blackjack about 10 years ago because of the people at the table. I was just a $10 per hand player but it's hard to find a table where everyone knows what they should be doing or they don't criticize others play. Rather than continue to complain about it and be annoyed I pretty much gave up playing completely.