Prose from a Poshboy

[rfgqqabc]

Just to keep the blog alive, I'm back in Nottingham in 2 days after my jaunt to Vegas.

Just busted right near the end of day2 of event 59, the $1k. Cashed for $4.2k coming 93rd out of 4500ish runners.

First WSOP cash, first US flag, one of the first winning days of the trip!

It's not gone very well at all pokerwise, but I've had a great time, absolutely loved it here. Will be back again soon! Probably before the end of the year in fact!

September please! There from the 19th-26th with my family for my 21st. Major need for drinking partner(s) (Spearmint)

[cambridgealex]

My last night in vegas was so epic! We partied with RASTAFISH. Such a boss.

I'm telling you, get that man in a limo with a pole in and you'll know what I mean.

I think there's a bunch of photos and videos that were taken so hopefully they'll be put up soon.

Had a sick day yesterday. Railing Mitch in the Wynn was like watching paint dry so we spent all day in the pit getting smashed playing table games. Honestly some of the best times of the trip have been from when we've all been getting drunk playing blackjack together. We know it's gonna lose us money in the long run but it's definitely worth it if you're sensible with it. Plus we're all EXTREMELY skillful players and the dealers love us cos we have a laugh with them, tip them well and they help us out with basic strategy tough spots we're unsure of.

Table games have actually been the one thing on the trip that's gone well financially. Yesterday was a sick day - won $700 in an hour playing cash then won 1.7k playing blackjack, lost about 700 playing roulette, but I was only "playing with profit" then so I was never "lose" money on the day after the blackjack win.

Then we all got changed and went out, met at the Palazzo, the others got held up so obviously we had to get some "free" drinks by having another dabble on blackjack. Took out $200, spun it up and down and finished on $250, the others arrived we all decided to go "allin", I win, so I have $500, everyone's like "ah bet he doesn't have the balls to do the $500", "yeh he'll never do that", obviously playing on my ego trying to get me to do it, wpwp boys. I was already up loads on the day and was smashed so thought fuck it, it's my last night do it!

I pull a 5 first card - marv, then another 5! Now I'm sweating the dealers card massively because if it's a 2,3,4,5,6 or 7 (?) then I have got to pull out another $500 and double down, it'd be very-EV if I didn't. Unfortunately/fortunately the dealer gets an Ace so I don't double. I pull a Ten though so I have 20 and the dealer busts so SHIPPP the $1k! Was hilarious, I guess I won about $2.5k on the day.

Obviously that meant for fairly liberal spending in the clubs after and we had a sick sick night, didn't get in till 7.

VIVA LAS VEGAS, I'LL BE BACK BABY

[leethefish]

Great to hear you had a good time Alex nice one

[rfgqqabc]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, thought you got stung on the table games, not sure how i thought that when your name is Goulden...

[JK]

Wiiii nice one. See you when you're back mate

[david3103]

How were you sweating the dealer's card when you knew you'd got two fives?
Is blackjack dealt differently in vegas? As in, the dealer's cards are facedown till all hands dealt?
(this was the only way I could make sense of the 'sweat')

However they deal - nice results!

[cambridgealex]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-7 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

[PeeJay]

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

That's a harsh, immediate reality check.

[rex008]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-97 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

FYP. See:

Click to see full-size image.

Maths, IS IT.

Ouch about the fleas. Not pleasant.

[cambridgealex]

Orly. Yeh I probs don't dbl in some spots where you should. not sure when to dbl with Ax vs certain dealer cards.

Might learn that basic strat chart.

Or just forget about blackjack until I go back to Vegas probably a wiser plan!

[david3103]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-7 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

Cats eh!!

I hadn't realised that the dealer's cards are dealt face down over there - Vegas is on my bucket list but seems a world away at the moment.
Basic Strategy needs to be played to the full - take every edge you can when you can. Even though the edge at the extremes is small, it all adds up to a much slower loss rate than those who stand on 14 vs dealer's 10 because they are sure they are going to bust....

[rex008]

Orly. Yeh I probs don't dbl in some spots where you should. not sure when to dbl with Ax vs certain dealer cards.

Might learn that basic strat chart.

Or just forget about blackjack until I go back to Vegas probably a wiser plan!

Worth doing. Although you get some funny looks. Soooo many people don't double 11 vs a dealer 10. I've had several people berate me in DTD about my "weird" strategy. I still miss some spots - hitting on soft 18 I often forget about, which soft 12-16 to double against what, some of the lines on what to split... But then I'm not one of those who thinks that mistakes at the table change the ev of anyone else, and get angry about it. While playing blackjack with mates is fun, it's most definitely not a team game.

Once had a long argument with grumpy pit boss guy in DTD about how a Surrender option is +ev for the player. He didn't believe me and wanted to bet me my stack at the time (about £90). Wish I'd been more confident to take him up!

[OverTheBorder]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-97 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

FYP. See:

Click to see full-size image.

Maths, IS IT.

Ouch about the fleas. Not pleasant.

Surprised by that splitting 9's bit, I can see the logic into 4-6 as bust cards but 2-3 must be pretty close with a "made hand" you will certainly get annoyed ill advised comments for "upsetting the shoe" cause that shoe is pretty sensitive apparently, always getting upset

[rex008]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-97 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

FYP. See:

Click to see full-size image.

Maths, IS IT.

Ouch about the fleas. Not pleasant.

Surprised by that splitting 9's bit, I can see the logic into 4-6 as bust cards but 2-3 must be pretty close with a "made hand" you will certainly get annoyed ill advised comments for "upsetting the shoe" cause that shoe is pretty sensitive apparently, always getting upset

If you really want your mind blown, check this calculator:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/strategy/calculator/
Note how the tables change around depending on the number of decks.

Blackjack is a perfectly solvable game statistically, so yes the edges may be incredibly tiny, but if the edge is there, there's no disputing it. Of course risking the bust when you've got your entire stack in the box may be +ev in the long run, but heart-stopping at that point in time, and I've been known to stand my 12 against a dealer 3 despite knowing the odds favour the hit. Just!

[JK]

 You guys realise those charts are made and published by casinos?