What Are Casino Playing Tactics?

It's a sad fact of life that casino personnel, especially floor supervisors and pit bosses do not like card counters playing at their Blackjack games. They know the game can be beaten by a skilled player, so depending upon how deep their paranoia runs, their reaction to a player who wins and is suspected of being a counter may vary from close scrutiny ('heat') to outright barring of that player. Consequently, a skillful player must hide his or her abilities and appear as just another 'loser' while winning at the game. Proper casino playing tactics help to disguise your skills, thus allowing you to continue to play.

A Casino 'Profile' of a Counter

Casino supervisors believe they have card counters profiled and can spot them by their actions. While the list is long, here are some of their prejudices:

1. Card counters are usually young, white males (probably with beards) who dress too casually for the amount of money they throw around.

2. Card counters 'scout' the tables in a pit, looking for a good count before sitting down.

3. A counter will change $200-300 into chips but then only bet $5 or $10 on the first hand.

4. Counters don't talk to anyone; they stare at the discard tray and rescan the table, checking on the count.

5. Counters don't smoke or drink alcohol.

6. A counter thinks a while before placing his bet.

7. A counter doesn't hesitate before playing a 'stiff' hand.

8. A counter never takes insurance with a minimum bet out, but does take insurance when a big bet is out, regardless of his hand.

9. A counter varies his bet beyond a 'parlay'.

10. Counters don't tip the dealers.

11. A counter pulls back a big bet and lowers it on a 'push' or when the shoe ends.

12. A counter always makes a minimum bet on the first hand of a newly-shuffled shoe.

Card Counter Camouflage

To make money at Blackjack, you must maintain your welcome at the casinos. But even though you may feel that there's a big red 'C' on your forehead the first few times that you play as a counter, it really isn't there and if you avoid a few of the 'newbie' mistakes, the casino supervisors probably won't pay any attention to you at all.

If you are playing for high stakes, you'll be noticed whether you win OR lose; high-stakes players are always noticed. But, if you are starting with the $5 to $60 spread which I recommend, you probably won't be noticed at all. How often you play at a particular casino has a lot to do with this. Remember that most casinos have at least two shifts, so try to spread your play around between casinos and shifts. AVOID PLAYING FROM ONE SHIFT TO ANOTHER. Keep your sessions fairly short and it will take them a long time to even begin to figure out what you're doing.

The real key to fooling the casino personnel is to appear as though you are just another gambler. Here are some techniques which I use.

1. Dress appropriately for your betting level. A 'high-roller' should look like a prosperous person not, as one author put it, "like an out-of-work substitute school teacher." If you go to a local casino on the day shift during the week, dress like a business person who's playing hooky from the office. Do NOT dress like a tourist (a very effective disguise) if they are going to see you again next week.

2. When you enter a casino, walk directly to a table where the dealer is shuffling and sit down. Talk to the dealer, or at least say "hi".

3. If you are playing a $5 minimum bet, buy in for less than $100, but more than $40. Do not use terms like 'red' or 'green'; 'nickels' or 'quarters'. Call the chips $5 or $25 chips.

4. Do not order anything from the cocktail servers; they are too slow and waiting for a drink may cause you to play at a negative deck while you're waiting. Instead, order non-alcoholic drinks at the bar (O'Doul's, orange juice, anything with a lime) and carry it around with you.

5. Try to always have a bet in your betting circle. Remember, only counters think about how much to bet; gamblers just put something out there. If you busted your hand or got a Blackjack, place your next bet as the dealer is playing his hand. With practice, your bet will be the correct amount, but it won't appear as though you had to think a lot about how much to put out.

6. Gamblers NEVER leave a table after a win. If the count has dropped below -1, continue playing at the minimum bet until you lose a hand.

7. Hesitate before hitting a 'stiff' hand. Talking to the cards helps.

8. Occasionally, insure your Blackjack against the dealer's Ace when you have the minimum bet out. Do not ask for 'even money'; go through the motions like you don't know how it all works. This will also make the dealer slow down on her insurance calls in the future which will give you extra time to calculate the true count. It's best to do this 'minimum' insurance bet when a floor supervisor is looking.

9. If you are going to tip the dealer (something which you should do sparingly), wait until the count is high and you have a big bet out. Placing a bet for the dealer at that time will make it look like you want her to help you win.

10. Once or twice in each session, start off a new shoe with a bet of 2 or 3 times the minimum.

11. Do not vary from proper basic strategy as a form of camouflage; most casino personnel wouldn't know good play anyway. In fact, perfect basic strategy players look like idiots -- hitting a 12 against a 2 or 3 or doubling an A-7 against a 4 is nuts! (To them.)

12. Do not talk to others at the table about your abilities; do not help others to play their hands properly. Never admit that you've understood a book about Blackjack. Do not appear confident, but don't act like a loser when you're obviously winning -- gamblers love to win!

13. I can't bring myself to wear one, but a 'fanny pack' has got to be one of the most disarming items a counter can wear. With that and a pair of glasses on, damn few supervisors will ever think you're this cold-blooded, card counting, steely-eyed destroyer of casinos. But I guess if my usual act ever starts to wear thin, I'll get one and put it on. I'd rather be rich than cool.

Here are the answers for last week's assignment.