Re: questions to Billb

> Even though
> the money lost is not a big deal, the losses were traumatic at a
> certain level: even though my brain always knew otherwise, my heart
> thought that I could not lose.

You've got to get over it. Blackjack is a game where you lose. On any
given hand, even when the count is sky high, you are more likely to
lose than win. Thing about it. The count is sky high, you are feeling
all smug and happy, you put out your maximum bet - and you are more
likely to lose that hand than win.

Sure, over the long run a counter can achive a positive expectation
verses the house. But even if the counter achieves a 1% advantage
(which would be very good) they are playing a game equivlent to a coin
that comes up heads 50.5% of the time and tails 49.5% of the time.
It's still gambling.

> 1.   What are the dealers really thinking?  On the surface they seem
> to wish the players well, but really . . .?

Dealers are people. They are thinking about their kids, their date,
the spread on a football game, the new CW, the drunken college girl on
table #6 who is spilling out of her dress, what new car to buy, how
are they going to pay their bills this month, how much they hate their
job/boss, when can they get a break, etc. What do you think about at
work.

What the generally aren't thinking about is the actual game - which
they can deal in their sleep. Unless of course, they players at the
table draw them into it.

> 2.   Assume for this question that I bring a pleasant demeaner to the
> table, play basic stratagy, and make a small toke (I have been in the
> habit of placing a nickle bet for dealer on the first hand.)
>      Now, If I look down and find that I am being paid for a push.  
> Is it more likely an error or not?   Should I say something or keep my
> mouth shut?   This has happened twice, so it can't be that rare.  I
> did not say anything, because I did not want to make the dealer look
> foolish, especially if he were really trying to cut me a break.

Nothing good comes from pointing out dealer errors in you favor.
Nothing. Just pick up your chips and move on. On the other hand,
squack loud and fast on a dealer error in the house's favor.
 
> 3.   I have not really become a good counter yet but I am working on
> it.   As a dealer you see the tell-tale signs before anyone . .  what
> does the casino expect you to do about it?  What do most dealers
> actually do?

Dealers are almost never trained to watch for counters and are not
expected to do much about it. However, if a floorman or pit boss
suspects you are counting, one of the first things they often do is
ask the dealer about your play.

In addition to squeeling to the floorman, sometimes dealers will bust
you just for sport. A decent number of dealers are also counters, and
they can be insulted when you try and count agaist them - or if you
just insult the institution of counters.

I remember my first trip to Vegas. I looked like a counter, I acted
like a counter - I wouldn't be surprised if my lips moved as I tracked
the count. I was playing a 1D game downtown, mechanically betting
$5-$20 with the count. At one point, the count goes high, I nerviously
push out 4 red chips and get dealt a blackjack. The dealer then breaks
out in a LOUD Gomer Pile voice:

"Well gwall-lee. Look at that. You uped your bet just before getting a
blackjack. How about that! It's like somehow you just knew that was
going to happen, so you upped your bet. Like somehow you knew there
were a bunch of good cards left in the deck, so you bet more.
Golll-lee."

> 4.   Is it safe to think that if I am playing a bet spread of 10-50
> and my winning per session are under $1000 I will be too small a fish
> to attract attention?

No amount is "safe". People get busted at $2 tables. But yeah, you'll
get less attenetion.

But there's a bigger issue here. If you are only spreading $10-50 -
and you are tipping - and you are probably being cautions, not upping
your bet more than a double, not reducing your bet after a win, etc -
you probably aren't playing a positive expectation game. Heck, put
down too many $5 tips, and you are doing worse than the basic strategy
player who doesn't tip.

Even if you do have a positive expectation, it's tiny. And a tiny
positive expectation is pretty much indistinguishable from 50/50
gambling. Don't be expecting to win $1000 too often. And be prepared
to loss $970 just as often.
 
If someone is looking to see if you are a counter, there's no way to
hide it. Spreading $10-50 is just as obvious as spreading $10-90. The
best bet is

A) Don't spend too much time in one place. This is *by far* the most
important step.

B) Don't give them any reason to suspect you are counting

C) Don't worry about getting busted too much.