btw, what is a ploppy?

I take it that a "ploppy" is a "seat of the pants" type player who knows "some" basic strategy, no counting. But what is the origin of the name? Why ploppy??

"Ploppy. A term coined by gambling author Frank Scoblete to describe a typical uninformed gambler."

Probably because the typical bad blackjack player, "plops" down in a seat at a blackjack table, wants to bet one red chip at a time, hoping to make his money last as long as possible until he loses it all, and therefore gives him the maximum amount of time to moan and groan about the way everyone else is playing their hands.

I first read the term "ploppy" in a book entitled Best Blackjack by Frank Scoblete. While there are certain very reputable authors in this field that don't really...well...like what Mr. Scoblete has to say, there's no denying that Chapter 10 from his book (Ploppys to the Left of Me, Ploppys to the Right of Me) was a very entertaining read. Here is a quote I picked up elsewhere that pretty much sums up what a ploppy really is:

Although you have the general idea of what a ploppy really is, there's more to it than just categorizing this unique species as a type of player that knows some basic strategy without the use of counting cards. A ploppy really is more than a mere type of player...to understand what the essence of a ploppy really is, one must first understand that a ploppy is more of an ideology...a way of life, if you will.

Have you ever seen that grossly overweight and very unclean (now, as a general rule, I do not poke fun at those who are unclean...but a ploppy is unclean by choice, both in body and in mind, and there are just some things I will not stand for) 50+ year old male who is always sitting at third base? The same guy who is chewing tobacco and happens to place his spit-cup right next to your chips on the table? The same guy who cusses at the dealer for giving him a "naked lady" on top of his hard 14 when he doubled down against the dealer's Ace? (Are you noticing a trend yet?) The same guy who manages to grab the ass of any waitress who wanders too close? The same guy who is wearing sweatpants about 3 sizes too small for his body, while wearing sandals with no socks so everyone may gawk at his nail fungus?

This, my friend, is a ploppy. If you treat them with a healthy amount of fear, you should be ok. Just don't ever make eye-contact with a ploppy, or you may not live to regret it.

-J.

"Oh, the horror!"