Black Jack Ettiquete: Am I rude?

[bigbootch]

If you have 16 and the dealer shows 10, the EV of hitting is almost the same as standing. It is so close that the true optimal play really depends on the card composition (do you have a total of 16 with just two cards, or with 4?), and the count. There is a detailed analysis in Griffin (The Theory of Blackjack) somewhere, I don't remember exactly where. I do remember offhand though that any time the count is favorable, it is correct to stand; any time the count is unfavorable OR NEUTRAL, it is correct to hit. So if you had to pick one, that's why it is "hit on 16", because of the neutral case.

A quick google found this wizardofodds.com article: http://wizardofodds.com/askthewizard/57

[El Diablo]

Witzo,

"I'd much rather have someone playing by the book off a strat card then doing stupid crap like staying on 15 and 16 with a face card showing."

Why does it bother you if someone stays on a 15 when the dealer has a face card showing?

[LuckyTxGuy]

Blackjack players and their fuzzy "math" kill me. I even know a couple decent poker players, who understand odds, random-ness of the deck etc, and they still swear that one "bad" blackjack player messes up the deck.

I always like to ask the question, so if this amateur hits when he shouldn't and "messes up the deck" but all the other players hit black jack and the dealers busts on the next hand, do you still blame him then? If by randomly taking one card out of the deck, he gives the dealer a good card, then by that same logic, wouldn't he just as often give the dealer a bad card? They hate those questions and never give honest replies.

Logic is not something most serious blackjack players seem to have.lol

[mrjetguy]

You normally ask the table if they would mind you entering mid-shoe. Usually the table won't object. I always wait for a new show before getting in, but it's more of a personal preference than anything else. Also, I would be glad to see someone taking a minute to look at a basic strategy card, instead of spending that time pondering whether or not the feel lucky.

[toots]

Actually, I rather like the guy reading the strategy card. In fact, if there's anyone at the table with one, I'll keep asking them for advice on my hand.

Why?

Because it's a losing game. The best way to slow down your long-term loss rate is to slow the game down, period. In the long run, more hands played=more money lost, therefore play fewer hands.

Which doesn't stop me from playing the game, 'cause at a low stakes table with a rack of gregarious poods, it can be a heck of a fun game. Unfortunately, one sourpuss superstitious rude drunk can ruin the whole thing.

[Gotmilk]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're slowing down the game because you're reading the strategy card, then yeah, you are being at the very least an inconvenience.

[/ QUOTE ]

the people who argue that because they are all being douches for carng so its ok would also argue that slowing down a -EV game is in their best interest.

[Five-Star]

They are the rude ones. Pay no attention to them.

[*TT*]

I don't play blackjack, so my explanation could be off. But from my understanding this is why you were given a hard time. If I am wrong or used the wrong terminology, someone else please jump in. I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this yet:

The player may have been counting (or he thought he was counting which seems to be more common). Counters wait for a shoe that is "rich" in tens so they have more favorable odds. They will manipulate their bet size when they are getting the best of it, but in order for them to know they have this advantage they must also assume their fellow players are practicing basic strategy or their count can be off. So if they suddenly go from $100 a hand to $500 its because the conditions are now favorable, but one extra card requested, or if you split a hand that normally shouldn't be split might mess with their ability to catch that ten. Yes its a lot of voodoo, but at least there is a modest amount of math behind their superstition.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[jba]

TT,

you make valid points, counters dont like extra players eating cards in a high count. on the other hand counters don't sit at full tables very often, and the # of bad BJ players that believe a new player "messes up the flow of the cards" outnumber counters about 10000000000:1. maybe I'm exaggerating but it's close.

[Gotmilk]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't play blackjack, so my explanation could be off. But from my understanding this is why you were given a hard time. If I am wrong or used the wrong terminology, someone else please jump in. I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this yet:

The player may have been counting (or he thought he was counting which seems to be more common). Counters wait for a shoe that is "rich" in tens so they have more favorable odds. They will manipulate their bet size when they are getting the best of it, but in order for them to know they have this advantage they must also assume their fellow players are practicing basic strategy or their count can be off. So if they suddenly go from $100 a hand to $500 its because the conditions are now favorable, but one extra card requested, or if you split a hand that normally shouldn't be split might mess with their ability to catch that ten. Yes its a lot of voodoo, but at least there is a modest amount of math behind their superstition.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

This has nothing to do with it. They are just superstitious goons. But that doesn't mean they don't deserve respect.