Poker discussion

[MCgrease08]

I wouldn't say I am "good" at poker, but I can hold my own. I used to play at least 4-5 nights a week in various home games when I was younger. I won a tournament at Borgata in Atlantic City back in the day, but there were only about 120 players in that one.

I took third in a tourney in Reno last year which was the last time I played in a casino.

There are so many situations and nuance to developing a style of play that it's really hard to have a general thread on it. Strategy will change based on a specific hand and situation.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I like to poke... oh, you said poker. I misheard that. Feel free to carry on.

Liquor in front, poker in the rear.

 

[Ingomike]

I used to be into blackjack, know the odds for every situation and move and how they change based on the subtle difference in house rules. The everyone went to a constantly shuffling shoe. It no longer mattered if you could track a favorable or non-favorable 6 deck shoe and it killed a good part of the fun.

THIS 100%. They tilted the odds in their favor and only allow some high rollers to play a shoe. When I started I still could occasionally find a four deck shoe, then it went to all six deck shoes and now there is no getting a feel for the shoe, it is all a first completely random deal. So, don’t play anymore…

 

[Creedmoor]

My dad enjoyed blackjack but had a theory; he said someone goes to Vegas with a grand (or whatever) and thinks it’s a lot of money and wants to sit at a big boy table, when in actuality with a grand you should be sitting at a nickel or a penny table, not a five dollar table.

The house always wins but the house wins easily and quickly when someone runs out too fast.

I’m sure the same applies to poker.

Full disclosure, shes slumming if shes at the $25.00 blackjack table or on a slot.

 

[Creedmoor]

Liquor in front, poker in the rear.

She will make me do both, when shes back from Vegas.

 

[Creedmoor]

I used to be into blackjack, know the odds for every situation and move and how they change based on the subtle difference in house rules. The everyone went to a constantly shuffling shoe. It no longer mattered if you could track a favorable or non-favorable 6 deck shoe and it killed a good part of the fun.

I biggest problem I see and hear about is an uneducated drunk sitting down in the middle or close to the end of a shoe.
I dont think I've seen a constantly shuffling shoe with live dealers before, but I really don't pat that much attention. I will talk to her tomorrow and ask her.
I know she didn't play cards in Indiana until we got live dealers.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

THIS 100%. They tilted the odds in their favor and only allow some high rollers to play a shoe. When I started I still could occasionally find a four deck shoe, then it went to all six deck shoes and now there is no getting a feel for the shoe, it is all a first completely random deal. So, don’t play anymore…

Shoes?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Admittedly, the last time I was in a casino was when my parents took us to Las Vegas for one of Dad's conferences. They let me play a penny slot machine. Actually, now that I think about it, that wasn't even in a casino. I think it was in a gas station or something. Just never been attracted to gambling, although a group of friends and I did play poker occasionally when I was a senior in high school, or maybe a freshman in college, but it was nothing serious.

 

[Mij]

Shoe, shoo, shew, a boy named, O you get it.

 

[Creedmoor]

Admittedly, the last time I was in a casino was when my parents took us to Las Vegas for one of Dad's conferences. They let me play a penny slot machine. Actually, now that I think about it, that wasn't even in a casino. I think it was in a gas station or something. Just never been attracted to gambling, although a group of friends and I did play poker occasionally when I was a senior in high school, or maybe a freshman in college, but it was nothing serious.

It's the block that the decks of cards sit in while in use.

 

[Ingomike]

Shoes?

View attachment 376471

@Creedmoor posted a shoe, the automatic shuffler is the other option. The dealer pulls the cards from the shuffler dealing them to players, then when the hand is over the cards are placed back in the shuffler it shuffles them and the dealer deals again.

With the shoe the player can kind of keep track of the number of small cards or face cards that have been dealt so when the shoe gets thin the player can use that knowledge whether to press their bets or not. With an automatic shuffler all cards have the same probability of appearing.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

@Creedmoor posted a shoe, the automatic shuffler is the other option. The dealer pulls the cards from the shuffler dealing them to players, then when the hand is over the cards are placed back in the shuffler it shuffles them and the dealer deals again.

With the shoe the player can kind of keep track of the number of small cards or face cards that have been dealt so when the shoe gets thin the player can use that knowledge whether to press their bets or not. With an automatic shuffler all cards have the same probability of appearing.


View attachment 376486

I'm guessing that's to prevent "card counters" (people that keep track of the cards dealt and the odds of the ones remaining coming up)? I've always heard that they'd escort people caught doing that out of the casino.

 

[Ingomike]

I'm guessing that's to prevent "card counters" (people that keep track of the cards dealt and the odds of the ones remaining coming up)? I've always heard that they'd escort people caught doing that out of the casino.

Yes, I also suspect that. But what I described is not generally the type of counting card counting that gets one in trouble. Card counting is generally the province of rainman or cheaters…

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Yes, I also suspect that. But what I described is not generally the type of counting card counting that gets one in trouble. Card counting is generally the province of rainman or cheaters…

It's not? It sounds the same to me. Otherwise, how would one be calculating the odds of what's coming up next from the "shoe"?

 

[Ingomike]

It's not? It sounds the same to me. Otherwise, how would one be calculating the odds of what's coming up next from the "shoe"?

A feel for how many face cards or low cards have been dealt is not generally considered counting. Counters assign values to all cards that are dealt in far more detail. Counting is far more detailed than general observation. FYI, I am far from expert on this topic. Some high rollers will even negotiate with the casino for a private table, accept reduced odds to play one in one with the dealer with a single deck.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

A feel for how many face cards or low cards have been dealt is not generally considered counting. Counters assign values to all cards that are dealt in far more detail. Counting is far more detailed than general observation. FYI, I am far from expert on this topic. Some high rollers will even negotiate with the casino for a private table, accept reduced odds to play one in one with the dealer with a single deck.

That all just seems crazy to me. I can't imagine.

 

[snapping turtle]

I'm guessing that's to prevent "card counters" (people that keep track of the cards dealt and the odds of the ones remaining coming up)? I've always heard that they'd escort people caught doing that out of the casino.

I have been asked to keep my bets more consistent or leave the casino before. Twice.



Watch each card played and play it slow.

 

[Creedmoor]

@Creedmoor posted a shoe, the automatic shuffler is the other option. The dealer pulls the cards from the shuffler dealing them to players, then when the hand is over the cards are placed back in the shuffler it shuffles them and the dealer deals again.

With the shoe the player can kind of keep track of the number of small cards or face cards that have been dealt so when the shoe gets thin the player can use that knowledge whether to press their bets or not. With an automatic shuffler all cards have the same probability of appearing.


View attachment 376486

I've never seen in all the years of with her gambling playing cards, with all the casinos we have been in.
I have never seen that happen. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it happen.
Who would play with a 4-6 deck shoe that never ends...

 

[Ingomike]

I've never seen in all the years of with her gambling playing cards, with all the casinos we have been in.
I have never seen that happen. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it happen.
Who would play with a 4-6 deck shoe that never ends...

This article says they are often put at lower tables, where I generally play, not at $50 and up tables.

https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/continuous-shuffle-machines/

 

[Ingomike]

That all just seems crazy to me. I can't imagine.

It comes down to how much the house pays out for a blackjack, traditionally $3 for a $2 bet, but many casinos are paying $6 for a $5 bet, much better for the house…