I've had this bad problem since the early 60's, so I guess it's qualified to go in here.

My problem is that I have a bad problem of judging peoples' intelligence by the way they play the game of Blackjack.

If a player doesn't adhere to Basic Strategy 100% of the time, I place them in the Stupid section.

If a player adheres to the principles of Basic Strategy 100% of the time, I consider them to be very smart!

A pretty simple way to gage one's intelligence if one is playing Blackjack in a casino.

It's black and white to me. No grays! No in-betweens!

You are either very smart or very stupid!

That's the way I felt until someone at the table told me that I was very stupid!

"But I play 100% Basic Strategy", I retorted!

"Yes, I see you do. And that is why you are very stupid! But let me explain why you are very stupid! OK?"

"Sure! Fire away! But I'm too smart to be convnced that I'm really stupid!"

"OK, well let me attempt to change your mind ......

Basic Strategy works over a period of time! A very, very long period of time. A period of millions and millions of Blackjack hands.

You would have to sit at a Blackjack table for days and days in order for Basic Stratey to be effective.

But I bet you only play for hours at a time. Not days and days!

You and eveyone else in the casino plays for a "short run"!

And anything is possible in that "short run" period.

Take the game of Craps for instance. The "theory of random numbers or whatever it is they call it nowadays says that the number "7" will show up 6 times out of every 36 rolls of the dice, but that computation is based on thousand and thousands of rolls of those dice.

The "7" could just as well disappear for a long period during the "short run".

And in roulette, over the very long run, the number "36" should show up at least once in ever 38 spins of the wheel.

But during the short run term, it may never show up at all.

So, my point is that Basic Strategy is basically true for long term players and not essentially true for short term players.

And the only long term player is the House!

So, take that Mr Basic Strategy Know It All and smoke it!"

I don't smoke but I stared thinking!

Maybe this guy is really smart. Maybe he has something there!

But i'm way too smart to be convinced and I still got that guy in my stupid section.

But, I'm still thinken?

Do I really have to play a real long time to make Basic Strategy effective?

will800,

If you throw out basic then I suppose you go to hunches or something like "don't hit anything 12 or over". What makes that fellow believe some other way of playing will be more apt to win than playing basic strategy? I very rarely stray from 100% basic and when I do I feel guilty and am sure I will lose that hand. I'll stick with you and the other smart people and play basic strategy.

Bob

Sometimes, simpler can be better. I owned a very basic blackjack program that only worked on whatever Windows came before Windows 95, but that program could be set to run 1000-hand simulations in about 2 minutes, with 1,2 or 6 decks and whatever rules I wanted as far as splits, insurance, betting progressions, and I could set up 2 players starting with a $1000 bankroll. The house did pretty well in all scenarios.

I can't remember the exact percentages any more, but I'm guessing that I could get a player to survive the entire 1000 hands maybe 1 out of 10 times on single deck, 1 out of 50 times with double deck, and NEVER in a 6-deck shoe ... that last one is the only number I'm positive about, and that's the reason I still won't play 6-deck games.

I intended to play some blackjack on my last trip, but I was disgusted with the 6:5 payouts at Sam's Town and forgot to even look downtown<g>.... maybe next time.

Daisy, I recall someone offering a similar BJ program on line but I never did make a purchase.

Those 6 to 5 payout tables must be for single deck games with a five or ten dollar minimum

Or possibly the $1 or $2 tables if they have those anymore.

But it still amazes me that anyone with an ounce of brains would sit at those tables.

Anyone know the House percentage when they only pay 6-5?

Back in the old days the guys who made those decisions would be buried in the desert by irate players or other usual suspects.

First let me say, that thier are a lot of people gambling that don't have a clue what good odds are. That's how they fill those tables. Second, I say let the casinos have those 6-5 tables, it's a suckers bet and if it helps keep the casinos doors open and they still offer a decent game at some other level or type game (ie VP) I think it's wonderful. Let the suckers pay the operating expence of the casino is my feelings.
As for places that just offer bad games, well, I vote with my wallet, and my wallet says no to places like that!

Great comment, Lee!

The only "rebuttle" I can make is that the casinos already keep those open thanks to those of us who will only play BJ offering 3-2.

And I know a lot of long term dealers who say that we 3-2'ers are suckers even if we play by adhereing to Basic Strategy.

But those 6-5 players are a bit more bigger suckers than the 3-2.

I guess my feeling is that every casino should give every blackjack player an even break with enough of an advantage to stay in business.

And I say that that "even break" is a payoff of 3-2 and anything else is a major "rip-off".

The casinos can keep their doors open on us 3-2'ers!

I am a bit surprised that the Gaming Control Board even lets them get away with 6-5. It's apparent that they have no concern for the players in this respect.

Believe me when I say that I do everything I can to get everyone to stay away from 6-5 tables and sometimes I even leave a casino immediately upon seeing a 6-5.

Thanks, Will

Will800: The name you asked for is "Oatman". Twas named after my great great great cousin, Olive..I still have a lot of her letters and she stayed with my great grandparents on their Donation Land Claim here in Oregon....Nough triva of her..
The couple that you asked of was Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. They honeymooned in the Oatman Hotel. They made several trips back there as he liked to play cards with the locals and not be bothered. I have been there a few times.....
Route 66 is almost untravelable now, even for a four wheeler......We visit Laughlin some!....