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Old 11-03-2007, 09:02 AM
StatFreak StatFreak is offline
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I agree that this is a good question. What most people forget is that the bad player's bad choice is just as likely to help the table as hurt it; it's just human nature to remember the plays that hurt and not the ones that help, especially if one gets mad at or builds resentment of the person who made the bad play.

The simple answer is that good manners belong at the BJ table as much as anywhere else, and one should not say anything to the bad player: it is their money and they should play as they wish. If the situation is not pleasant for you then you should find another table. After all, the point generally is to have fun, not to be annoyed. If you think that the player is a novice and that they would be open to a helpful suggestion, you might politely offer an opinion as to how to play the hand, but don't push it.

I am a successful card counter. This means that there are times I need to make plays that look bad to basic strategy players. I try to keep it low key, but believe it or not, there are times when the right play is to split a pair of 10s against a 6. (A rare play, and I don't do this even when it's the correct play because it brings on too much heat) My point is that obviously I cannot explain to everyone at the table why I made a non-basic strategy play - I have to let them think I'm an idiot. Usually what happens is that if I end the session a winner they think I'm smart, and if I end the session a loser they think I'm an idiot throwing my money away.

I had a high roller who had just won several thousand dollars ask me how long I'd been playing after I had lost most of my buy-in during a losing session, and when I said over 20 years, he scolded me for standing on 12 against a 2 more than once and suggested I "learn" how to play before taking on the high limit tables. I politely thanked him for his "advice" and left it at that.

Bad players don't generally bother me anymore unless they waste too much time or constantly break my concentration. But at this point I can joke with the pit boss, watch the cocktail waitress walk away, and keep the count without breaking stride so I just live and let live.

The only exception to this is if the player is so drunk that they can't see the cards or make a decision. That is not fair to the rest of the table who all have to wait for the drunk to make a choice. Requesting that the pit boss step in and stop the player might be ok in such a case.
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