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Observing Dumb Gamblers (add your story here)

RiverRat
RiverRat
Dec 28, 2011
4:56am
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Quote
Originally posted by: Rock'n Rick
Here's one that I failed to see but was told first-hand ........

I was playing the quarter Bonus Deuces Wild Progressive machines just outside The Orleans buffet.
The girl sitting next to me was chatting me up, and we started talking about hitting the Progressive Royal Flush Jackpot.
It was then that she told me that she hit it the week prior by getting the elusive Royal, and only held ONE card, ............ the 10 of Spades.

Huh, did I hear her right ??? ........... the 10 of Spades ?

....... So knowing that in any VP game, one would never just hold a single 10, I asked her why she did that.

She told me, because it just felt like the right card to hold



So I guess there are times that Lady Luck will totally overpower a gambler's stupid play


Rick

I've seen people hold a single 2, 3, or 4 in DB--and I suppose they do it in DDB too. Don't know whether it ever works for them though.

What did work for me many years ago at Circus Circus in Las Vegas was holding a single 8 in quarter Aces and Eights. I converted the jackpot for whatever the progressive was. But later learned that it was an incorrect hold.
RiverRat
RiverRat
Dec 28, 2011
5:05am
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Quote
Originally posted by: INdianapaddler
Quote
Originally posted by: daviddechenne
Quote
Originally posted by: KarenTN
I have shared this one before. Some years ago, i was playing blackjack at a local casino. It was a $25 double deck table. The table is pretty full. The dealer deals and her up card is an 8 or something. I know it was not a bust card and I know it was not a face. The guy in the 5th spot starts to signal to split his 2 face cards. I guess he must have reacted to the gasp of horror that came from the rest of the table. Because he suddenly wants to hit his 20. The dealer asks him if he is sure. He says yes. She lets him know that unless he draws an Ace, he will bust and again asks him if he is sure. He says yes. Then she finally calls a suit over for the guy to confirm in front of her supervisor that he wants to hit his 20. And she deals him a 2 and he busts. The rest of the table cashed out and fled immediately after the hand was finished.


The guy didn't appear overly drunk, and even if he was, he had plenty of chances to back out of making this stupid hit





Why would the rest of the table "flee." As I understand the math of BJ at a table, there is no predictabliity in the "incorrect" action by one player effecting the success, or lack there of, of other players at the table. And, while a specific decision may result in the dealer not busting---for example---in one hand, it is statistically neutral over the long run and is just as likely to hurt the dealer in the next example. I think that "fleeing" a table with an incorrect player simply shows lack of understanding of those who flee.


You are right as far as the math is concerned, but I would flee simply because I do not like to see BJ innocents get slaughtered, same as I would flee from watching whales being harpooned.

Also watch the beginning of Rounders, and see how the other players bail out after Matt Damon loses his life savings to John Malkovich. It's not that they felt that their own chances were diminished; they just lost their appetite for playing.
RiverRat
RiverRat
Dec 28, 2011
5:15am
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Years ago I was playing quarter 10/7 DB on a bank at one of my local joints. The old guy at the next machine had just hit a 4K. I glanced over and saw he had held a low pair with a high card kicker. I thought to myself, how lucky for him.

A few minutes later he hit another 4K. Again he had held a low pair with a high card kicker. This time I thought to myself, WTF???

Nothing like a little dumb luck once in a while.
fredorules
fredorules
Dec 28, 2011
6:35am
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When I was in my first year of playing vp with basic strategy, I was dealt a straight flush. Fortunately, I knew enough to play 5 coins. Unfortunately, I hit Draw rather than hold all of the cards. What a bonehead ...

fredo

Patm123
Patm123
Dec 29, 2011
3:13am
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Quote
Originally posted by: daviddechenne
I make it a personal point to never comment on--and try not to even think about--other people's play. It's their money and they are free to play it anyway they want.


Great sentiment, one I wish every gambler in a casino adhered to.

With that in mind, dumbest gamblers I encountered were two who did not follow that simple rule.

At the Sahara, a new $5.00 BJ table opened and three people joined me and one guy who had just sat down. One of the girls reached into her purse and pulled out a Basic Strategy card. When he saw this, the other guy at the table made a huge deal out of it, telling the dealer and anyone else who would listen how he refuses to play at a table with people who need a strategy card. First we're at a $5.00 table in the Sahara, not exactly High Roller Central. Second, if he was indeed the expert he tried to portray, he would know that what the girl played would have no influence over what cards he got, its all random. A truly dumb and rude person.

Second dumb gambler I witnessed was a women playing next to me at the Bellagio last year. Again it was a 5.00 table. She was playing 5.00 a hand, I was playing $35.00 a hand and up and doing OK. I doubled down on 11 against a dealer 6 but lost when the dealer drew to 21. This women then got mad at me for doubling down, explaining that I am supposed to play as part of the group, table versus dealer, not as an individual! Fortunately she left after that hand so I did not even have to respond to this mensa candidate.



INdianapaddler
INdianapaddler
Dec 29, 2011
3:42am
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Quote
Originally posted by: Patm123
Quote
Originally posted by: daviddechenne
I make it a personal point to never comment on--and try not to even think about--other people's play. It's their money and they are free to play it anyway they want.


Great sentiment, one I wish every gambler in a casino adhered to.

With that in mind, dumbest gamblers I encountered were two who did not follow that simple rule.

At the Sahara, a new $5.00 BJ table opened and three people joined me and one guy who had just sat down. One of the girls reached into her purse and pulled out a Basic Strategy card. When he saw this, the other guy at the table made a huge deal out of it, telling the dealer and anyone else who would listen how he refuses to play at a table with people who need a strategy card. First we're at a $5.00 table in the Sahara, not exactly High Roller Central. Second, if he was indeed the expert he tried to portray, he would know that what the girl played would have no influence over what cards he got, its all random. A truly dumb and rude person.

Second dumb gambler I witnessed was a women playing next to me at the Bellagio last year. Again it was a 5.00 table. She was playing 5.00 a hand, I was playing $35.00 a hand and up and doing OK. I doubled down on 11 against a dealer 6 but lost when the dealer drew to 21. This women then got mad at me for doubling down, explaining that I am supposed to play as part of the group, table versus dealer, not as an individual! Fortunately she left after that hand so I did not even have to respond to this mensa candidate.


A $5 BJ table at the Bellagio? You astonish me.

sadlass38
sadlass38
Dec 29, 2011
3:48am
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A young lady at Palms was dealt a 4 of a kind. She failed to hold any and hit the draw buton. She was so upset at herself.
jdnicoloff
jdnicoloff
Dec 29, 2011
4:56am
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Like Rockn' Rick, one of my more scratch-your-head-in-wonder moments occurred at a deuces wild bank of machines. It was at the 25 cent progressive bank at the Palms. The royal was up to over $1400 and several of us had been playing for hours after it had reached $1100. A darling little blond sat down next to me - end spot by the entrance door - and hit the royal after less than 5 minutes. She'd held the ace of hearts only. While waiting for the attendant to come, she told me that she KNEW there was a good reason on that hand to throw away the deuce that was included in her originally-dealt hand.
Patm123
Patm123
Dec 29, 2011
8:00am
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Quote
Originally posted by: INdianapaddler[/iA $5 BJ table at the Bellagio? You astonish me.


Surprised me too, but on Saturday morning about 11:00AM, they had one open.
mrmarcus12LVA
mrmarcus12LVA
Dec 29, 2011
8:41am
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Quote
Originally posted by: jdnicoloff A darling little blond [e] ... hit the royal after less than 5 minutes... she told me that she KNEW there was a good reason... to throw away the deuce
Keep in mind that without these people, there would be no casinos, no comped rooms, etc. etc.

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