Avoiding Good Blackjack Plays

...and do not recognize an expert play when they see it.

If blackjack strategy says to hit ace-7, then hit it. If the dealer thinks you are stupid, fine. Let the dealer, the pit boss, and the other players think that you do not know what you are doing, that you throw your money away too rapidly. Sometimes a pit boss who is watching you intently will walk away when you split 10-10 or double down on ace-9. You will be a preferred customer if you bet heavily and appear to play stupidly. One word of caution — when splitting 10-10 is a wrong decision, it is a very costly wrong decision. Do not split 10-10 just to give the impression of playing poorly. Do not deviate from the correct strategy for the pit boss's benefit. The pit boss likely cannot distinguish a good play from a bad play.             

Are there good plays you sometimes avoid so as not to attract attention?
Although dealers at some casinos alert their pit bosses to some good plays, such as surrendering, I still continue to use an obvious basic blackjack strategy play. But sometimes it is annoying to hear the dealer shout out, "Double on soft eighteen," or "Hitting soft eighteen against a 10!"

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On playing blackjack strategy, with two exceptions, I stick precisely with the book. I even double down on eight; that play attracts zero attention nowadays.

One exception is at single-exposure I split 10-10 or double down on ace-9 only if I have established a "wild" image. If I have established an image as a player who probably knows basic blackjack strategy but occasionally plays hunches, I generally forgo splitting 10-10 and doubling down on ace-9. The problem with splitting 10s is the only people who split them are idiots and card counters. If the rest of my play looks solid to the people watching, I cannot pass for an idiot. Therefore, splitting 10s makes me look like an expert. Other hands I play correctly. Insuring a stiff has never brought me any heat. When I am playing in a casino that allows surrender, I do surrender whenever it is the correct decision. This has never caused a problem for me. My experience is that surrendering does not make me look like an expert. On insurance and surrender and other plays that I think could attract attention, I pause as if I am thinking before I make the play. I also pause frequently before making an obvious play (such as before hitting fifteen against 7), to give the impression that I am seriously considering an alternative.

The only place where doubling down on soft hands or hitting soft eighteen has brought me any attention is Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I too have had a dealer say, "Doubling down on soft eighteen," and, when I did it again, "Doubling down on soft eighteen like he knows what he is doing." I attribute this to my not toking the dealer. Dealers at Caesars Palace are accustomed to generous tokes.

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