Split 10's ..double A 9

This is a subject that is far overlooked. I had one instance while using my own counting. (Uses 10's only, but this is beside the point, I only mention for the rest of my story). Anyway, I was playing 6D $25 min 3 split max (making 4 hands). I had only counted 52 10's with 4 and 1/2 deck penetration. Since the ratio of 10s to number of cards was high my bet was 6 units ($150). I was dealt K J and dealer shows 6. The dealer passed me by and went on to next player. I stopped him right there and quickly pushed out another 150 to split. The other 3 people were bitchin' like you wouldn't believe. Caught another 10, split again, caught a Q, split again, finally caught another K, split a final time. After it was over I had 20, 21, 20, 19. Dealer flips over a 5 to make 11 then pulls a ace to make 12 then K. BUST!! The table's attitude all of a sudden of course changes to a round of "Thank You's" and "You saved us" , but I said (and you should say something like this,politely) "No, No. Just a second ago you were all complaining. I don't mean to be rude but I play my own way and don't want to hear cheers or jeers one way or the other" This makes them defensive and shuts them up for a while and actually earns a little respect for the remainder of your visit. If someone still won't leave you alone, and is actually getting rude with you. TELL THE FLOORMAN RIGHT AWAY!! DON'T ARGUE BACK!.....but not get off subject.

Bottom line here is 10 10 vs 4,5,6 can be a powerful move and is vastly overlooked by the majority. What kind of odds does this move give to an overly rich shoe of 10s and why is it not discussed more? The pit floormen look to you like you're a retard when you do this and discounts any clue that you are counting. I know the attitudes of floormen and bosses since I am a dealer at the Grand Victoria in Elgin. Most are just normal people who don't want to be there because it's work. As long as you are not taking 10,000 or more they couldn't care less.

Please reply with an anecdote of this nature of your own, or comments.

Can you please explain your counting system, it sounds interesting.

In regards to your question, most people don't split 10s because a hand of 20 will win most of the time.
I remember a splitting two 10s against a dealers 6 and ended up with a 15, & 17 and the dealer drew to 18. Lost $100 on that play.

Only 52 tens out after 4.5 decks sounds almost incredible.That means 44 tens remaining in 1.5 decks or roughly 30 tens per deck.These 14 extra tens per deck would correspond to a highlow TC of over +20 which is extremely rare.
Assuming your count was correct and you estimated the decks properly you sure did the right thing.The gain in expected value was probably over 30% or $50 in money terms.
I agree with you that the heat factor of this play is often overstated on these pages.For my part I can say that during my career I made a lot of extra money by splitting tens whenever it was called for.

By the way,I don't think your counting system is appropriate for shoe games. It is more difficult than highlow but has a weaker betting efficiency.

Francis Salmon

At the old MGM Grand (before the fire), I was sitting at 3rd base in a 4D game with the dealer only cutting � deck out of play. The 2nd player was "dealt" the cut card; so when it got to be my turn, the RC was -23 and there were only 23 cards left in the shoe!

Nice play. Do you play bj often ? I've never played at the Grand Victoria in Elgin because its crap ! H17 6 deck, no thanks. That isn't your fault, though. Actually, I can't believe that you'd mention where you worked on here. You must not play bj that much to be so forthcoming. I'm just jealous of people that can play without getting backed off or harassed, etc because that is what usually happens to me these days. Do you mean pulling in 10,000 dollars a sitting or over a month's play ? I sit down and make a grand easily and sometimes 2K in about 30 minutes and I get nothing but bitching and rude looks from pit bosses. I even have the dealer trying to mess up my play by encouraging bad moves. Congratulations if you can play blackjack with being hassled. I doubt it will last long if you want to make more money over the long run. I wouldn't mention that you are dealer when you sit down at these blackjack tables but you probably know that. I would be interested in your comments on pit bosses and how to avoid being detected. I bet you have some things to offer counters in that regard.

i've done this at the ac hilton with a bet 2 x 250 and never got a second look from anyone. its a strong play with a high count vs 5,6.

as a matter of fact, about a year and a half ago i pulled into the ac hilton, played 2 shoes in about 25 minutes where this double soft 20 was the key play, & cashed out $2,300 to the good.

took the bride to the knife and fork in for a nice dinner and caught a concert @ the trop. i also claimed a horse at the meadowlands that night.

a few days later i received some nice mailers from the hilton, so it was a good 25 minutes all around :-) :-) :-)

in this store , i see no reason not to take the ev.....

I was dealt an A5 against the dealer's 9. I doubled my $50 bet, figuring the dealer would make a low total; so I had a better chance of beating him than losing to him.

The dealer wouldn't take the bet, instead calling out to the pit critter, "Doubling Ace Five against Nine!" The PC came over, whispered in the dealer's ear, in response the dealer nodded "yes." I figured the question HAD to be, "Is he winning?"

The PC thought for a few seconds, then said, "Go ahead and take the bet."

I was dealt a Five and the dealer turned over a Two, then drew 2 Twos and a Three.

They paid me my $100, then the PC said, "You don't mind cashing out now, do you sir?"

Actually, I didn't because it was after 4 am and I had a 7:15 flight out that morning, and I hadn't even packed yet.

I see that you mentioned the ac hilton
Have you ever had any problems there?
I am a mere red chipper and I play in AC a lot and it is the only place Ive been half shoed

Do they have any choice BUT to take the bet? I mean, doubling here is within the rules... they can't refuse it, can they?

Keith

You gotta remember the times -- the mid '70s -- when most places on the strip had recently gotten rid of their single deck pitch games and gone over to 4D shoes.

Counter paranoia was at a peak then, and was really getting to the point of absurdity.

Obviously, the dealers were under instructions to call out any unusual play so the pit critters could be alerted to possible counters.

So, yes, they wudda had to take the bet, but then the counter could be barred, trespassed, or just asked to cash out, as I was.

although this should probably go on the usa east page, i'll respond briefly:

i've never had any problem @ the ac hilton. i like their game there as imho their pen is good for ac (is that an oxymoron ??? ) and they have 6 deckers on the main floor for >$25 play.

i've never had trouble there probably because i don't use a big spread, rather a short spread with a tight wong out point with a healthy lifetime br.

with those parameters i can play a 'relatively' weak but winning game, enjoy the comps and be pretty much left alone.

the only place i was half shoed in ac with that style of play was the trump plaza....

imho, the only places that are the least bit playable in ac are the borgata and the ac hilton.

I was escorted out of the Horseshoe because I was winning about a hundred bucks and didn't even know what counting was but if I won my first hand in a deal, I would increase my bet and they asked me not to do that. Talk about paranoia? I was just a gambler! Funny to look back....I guess all the books were coming out then?

That's funny. So I guess they were barring progression players too? Talk about shooting themselves in the foot