Do you HAVE to be considerate of the other players at the table? Is there some kind of "etiquette" or "code" regarding that? I realize that a bad play from one player can screw it up for everyone at the table except the person who made the play. One time when I was playing, there was a woman who kept doing the total opposite of basic strategy, but yet and still, she kept winning, while the rest of us were losing. Example, she would take a hit on 14 while the dealer was showing a 5. Her hit card would be a 7, so she would win, but the rest of us who "stood" with our 13's and stuff lost because the dealer didn't bust out!
Everyone at the table was pissed at the time including me, but when I thought about it later, I said to myself "why should she care if we lost, as long as she won. She's here to win money for herself, not to make sure everyone wins".
Do I HAVE to be considerate of the table,or can I do what I want to make sure I win, and say screw everyone else?

I would say, "Screw everyone else." Those other players aren't going to be sharing their money with you if they win.

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"I am in so far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin" - Richard III

Personally, I think that it is better to be at a table where everyone is winning and having fun. That woman will lose money in the long run, since she will bust out more often than not when she makes that play.

However, that being said, you are not required to play basic strategy at a blackjack table. If you want to make a play, you should not be concerned with what the other players at the table think. If they don't like the way you are playing, they can leave and find another table.

W mentioned that he would take double down on an 11 in that situation, this is a bad example, since any blackjack player worth his chips would do the same thing. However, he is right in saying that if that player had gotten a 6 (or any card that would have helped the dealer) you wouldn't be complaining about it.

By converse, even playing Basic casino Strategy can burn you. I've seen hands where someone makes a basic strategy play, and ends up burning the table, since the card they got would have led to a dealer bust, for example, hitting a 16 against a dealer 8, recieving a 2, standing, only to see the dealer turn over a 3, then hit for a 10 to get 21. This is the right play, but if the player had stood, everyone would have won. The fact is, that player has no more idea what is coming than you do, and can only make the play that they think is the best at the time. You can let them know what Basic Strategy says, but leave it at that.

No, the Value of the next card is UNKNOWN to everyone. Just because someone, or everyone else at the table "FEELS" you should or should not take a card is their own opinion. You should do what you think is best for you. Rather that be taking a card or not. Do what will best put you in a winning position. Remeber it is your money riding on your hand.

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Some where, some one made for you.

William,

I feel your pain and that is why I have quit blackjack and believe that players at the table can sometimes ruin the chances of you winning. My feeling towards blackjack is "As long as everyone else is playing perfect strategy, I don't care if I lose." If I lose when someone hits/stands when they shouldn't I would be very upset. Do I have the right to be mad? YES! Do I have the right to yell at that player? NO! If they aren't playing the way they should, you should go to a different table. Keep in mind that that player is probably novice and is just having fun. They are also playing with their hard earned money. Imagine someone telling you what to do with your own money. My advice is to play at a higher limit where less novice are likely to join or play at crowded table with players who know what they're doing. Sometimes when players do the wrong thing and saves the table, I doubt they will get the credit they deserve. People tend to remember the negatives than positives.

Just have fun when you're gambling. You should be having fun even if you lose. But regarding that situation, I would voice my opinion in a considerate way, just be aware it might rub them the wrong way.

GOOD LUCK at blackjack (even though I hate it),

TOP DOLLAR PLAYER

Yes, there is an etiquette to be followed at the blackjack table. One of those rules of etiquette is to not tell other players how to play. Another is to not spill your drink. Standard etiquette like "please" and "thank you" still apply.

There are no etiquette rules for which plays you should make at the table, and your actions have no effect on anyone else's outcomes. Blackjack isn't really a team sport. (Unless you're on a card counting team.)

Great Thread.

I find that the quality of the play often relates to the $ min at the table. There is no ediquite but other players do influence the ultimate outcome.

I agree with the earlier poster who said never tell someone else how to play. It is the sureset way to find yourself beat up.

If I find people are playing stupid I exercise my right to get up and leave.

I like single deck and double deck blackjack. I can easily count into two decks

... unfortunately I am a bit like a dog chasing a car as I am not always sure what to do with it after I catch it......

I do know that lower cards are the dealers friends so when there are lots of 10s are in the deck and some Dumba** is pulling on a 4 against a 6. Their chances are breaking are high but also diminish the odds of the dealer pulling a break card. I have seen too many dealers turn a 6 into a 21 which burns my britches....

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.

in the short run it doesnt matter what a player does, all that matters is the next card in the shoe, i am sure you all had experiences where a player plays a hand wrong and every one winds up winning, nobody blames the player when that happens. also if your losing at a table you can always get up and go to another table