Page 8 - Jackpot Magazine South ~ November, 2022

PLAY TO WIN
Even when thankful, pet peeves still exist
“Pet peeves should be kept on a leash.”
— Author Daniel Thompson
November is a time when the word “thankful” is tossed around with abandonment. We are thankful for this, thankful for that. There is even a holiday with the word “thanks” right in it. A holiday, I will add, for which we are mostly thankful for food, football, family and friends (not necessarily in that order). In fact, we are thankful for so many things this month, it is almost hard to understand being annoyed by something.
But, annoyances happen; we know that aswellasweknowwehavealotfor which to be thankful. Sometimes these annoyances or pet peeves even take place at our favorite casino, while we
are trying to play our favorite table games. We all have a few gripes: players who are loud and pushy or those who are gum-smackers or ice chewers.
Best-selling author and gaming expert Henry Tamburin knows a few things about pet peeves. In fact, he has
a whole list, which includes people calling out his name. In a past column for Jackpot!, Tamburin wrote that sometimes other players recognize him when he is playing and want to meet him right then and now and even brag about about how much money they won after reading one of his blackjack books, such as, Blackjack Take The Money & Run, or after taking one of his blackjack courses. He asked that everyone have patience and wait until he was finished playing before saying hello.
We’re sharing Tamburin’s list of annoyances in his own words. How many are also yours?
Coming in the middle of a shoe
This never bothered me; now it does, but not for the reason that you think. I say
this because most players
don’t like it when other
players enter a game in
the middle of the shoe
because “it changes the
flow of the cards,” and can result in players losing (which is hog wash). The reason I don’t like it has to do with the fact that when I play shoe games and count, I often have to wait patiently until the shoe becomes positive. That’s when I fire away with big bets. And it’s precisely at this point that I don’t want another player entering the game because this player could dilute my chances of getting the high cards plus I will get less rounds to play before the shuffle.
Players playing more than one spot
I don’t mind if a player plays more than one betting spot, but, for the same reasons as above, I do mind it when he decides to do at the very moment in the shoe when the count goes positive. If I happen to be at the same table as you, go ahead and play as many spots as you like, just don’t spread when it’s near the end of the shoe and you
see me make a big bet.
Other players telling me how to play my hands
God only knows how many times I’ve been lectured to about how I should be playing my hands. And because I sometimes deviate from the basic playing strategy (based on the count), this seems to always bring out the worst behavior from other players. “You know you’re supposed to stand on 12 against a dealer’s 6.” Well, if the count is negative, I’m going to hit. “That fellow over there just split 10.” Yep, and I’ll do it again when the count gets to plus-5 or higher. The point is this: Unless another
player asks for playing advice, don’t offer it.
Chastising my third base play
I often take a seat at third base. It’s not because I get to play my hand before the dealer plays hers and can influence her busting by my playing decision (more nonsense). It is because I’d like to see as many cards as possible before I have to play my cards. I want my count to be as accurate as possible before I play my hand.
Blowing smoke in my direction
I respect the fact that smokers have the right to smoke. But lately, I seem to always get the smokers who don’t respect the fact that non-smokers prefer not to inhale their smoke. I’ve even had a few smokers deny my request to either stop smoking or to blow their smoke in another direction. Please, if you are a smoker and you happen to be on my table, either refrain from smoking or be careful where you blow your smoke.
Grumpy dealers
In my 36-plus years of playing blackjack I’ve had many pleasant dealers. But I’ve also had the grumpy ones. You know, the ones that don’t say hello, don’t say boo when you tip them, deal the cards at 100 mph, or give the body language that they would rather be on their break than dealing the cards. My solution to this peeve is the following: if they are fast dealers, I purposely take my sweet ole time deciding how to play my hand (that really burns them) or I don’t leave squat for a tip. If you are dealer and reading this, please be pleasant if I’m on your table.
Do you have a question on the best way to play to win? Or, do you have your own pet peeve you want to share? Email jackpotmagazine@gmail.com.
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