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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:55 AM
Original message
I deal cards in Las Vegas. Ask me anything.
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:00 AM
Response to Original message
1. Oh yeah?
Well I play cards! Ask ME anything! :D
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:02 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. Do you lose most of the time?
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:18 AM
Response to Reply #3
8. No
I used to play a lot more often. I was working part time and supplemented my income playing poker in the card clubs in CA. The california games weren't too difficult to beat if you just played a tight, steady game.
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Lil Missy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:01 AM
Response to Original message
2. Do you recommend splitting 10's in BlackJack?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:03 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. If you want to play by yourself....then go for it. :)
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Lil Missy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:05 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. I think that's stupid to split 10's
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:07 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. It is stupid, that's why you only do it if you want to play by yourself, because
most people will leave the table after you do this. :)

P.S. Sometimes the other players will get angry with you as well.
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Lil Missy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. No shit! I'd leave the table too!
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:24 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. Blackjack players
must be the most superstitious of gamblers.

I never understood the ones that get angry if another player does the wrong thing. They think somehow the deck is "ruined" if an extra card comes off - that they're more likely to lose if they don't get the card they feel they were "supposed" to get. It always struck me as very odd.
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Jimbo S Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 12:24 PM
Response to Reply #2
18. Yes, if the count is in your favor.
Heavily in your favor.
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:25 AM
Response to Original message
10. So what is it you deal?
Poker? Pit games?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:22 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. mainly blackjack, but also pai gow poker.
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MonkeyFunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 09:23 AM
Response to Reply #11
13. hehe
Pai Gow poker is my dirty pleasure when I got to Vegas. Such a dumb game, but so fun.
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driver8 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 11:17 AM
Response to Reply #11
16. I love Pai Gow poker!
My favorite game to play when I'm in Vegas!!
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driver8 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 11:21 AM
Response to Reply #11
17. Quick question -- what are the best places to play Pai Gow?
Ten dollar minimum and below...I'm a "low roller".
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. The Orleans has an entire pai gow pit. All the locals go there.
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driver8 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #19
34. I have played there -- I really like that casino. The last time I was
there, all the lights went out in the casino!

One of the security guards told me that he had worked there 15 years and that was the first time he had ever seen that happen. It certainly was strange.
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GCP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:27 AM
Response to Original message
12. How long was the training?
I see croupiers in movies and they're always so fast and nimble. Do you have to keep in practice with the hands?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #12
21. My mom was a dealer and so she taught me at home. Then
you auditon at a low-end casino and lern the ropes. Eventually you move on to better casinos. Fast and nimble hands come with time and working 40 hours a week is all the
'practice' you need.
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gilpo Donating Member (601 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 09:50 AM
Response to Original message
14. OK. I've always wondered how the tip $ gets split up
I see you putting the tips into the tip box, what happens next?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #14
22. The tips are divided over 24 hour period. Each person gets a share according to how many hours
they worked that day.
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kay1864 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #22
39. Well that sucks.
I want my tip to go to *my* dealer. Same reason I tip waitrons in cash.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #39
43. It's a team effort. Some days you do well and some days you don't but because
we share everyone ends up doing allright. If I kept my own tips, I'd be rich!!
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Gormy Cuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 09:50 AM
Response to Original message
15. How's business?
Does it reflect the economy yet?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:21 PM
Response to Reply #15
23. So far, we are still doing pretty good. I think it will be a slow summer because of gas prices and
the fact that our casino caters to the California crowd. But we also have a locals crowd, so this may help.
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:16 PM
Response to Original message
20. is the pitboss a sexist asshole?
or a good egg?

:evilgrin:
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #20
24. We have some sexist assholes and some good eggs, just like any other job I guess.
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. and the customers? how do you like them? n/t
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #25
29. If it weren't for the customers, I'd like my job. :)
Most players are nice but there are the occasional assholes. But, even the nice players say the most annoying shit. For example, I roll my eyes when a player sits down and asks "Are you going to be nice to me?" What a stupid,annoying fucking question. What am I supposed to say, NO. I always say yes and let the player know that this is my standard answer.
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The Doctor. Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-10-08 04:51 AM
Response to Reply #24
64. What happens when you put the two together?
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:29 PM
Response to Original message
26. Hold 'em question
Why do dealers place the burn-cards into a pile seperate from the discard pile?

Why didn't Matt Damon bang Famke Janssen in 'Rounders?'
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #26
30. I'm not a poker dealer and I haven't asked Matt Damon, but I will.
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #30
33. Ever have players throw cards at you?
Ever have a player get seriously out of line?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #33
35. Yes and yes. For example,
when I used to deal in high limit I had player tell me he wouldn't play until I showed him my tits. The floor supervisor made him apologize but that was it. It was so humiliating. When players have money, they are the biggest assholes.
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kay1864 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:13 PM
Response to Reply #35
40. The supervisor didn't make him leave the table?
:grr:
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #40
44. No....customers in high limit areas pretty much do what they want. :(
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:32 PM
Response to Reply #35
41. Couple more questions
Edited on Thu May-08-08 04:32 PM by pokerfan
What's your opinion regarding http://may.casinocitytimes.com/articles/1170.html">preferential shuffling? I consider it cheating on the part of the house because it screws all players, including the straight ones.

Can you do http://www.youtube.com/v/n3bnMv3ULes&hl">this? Trivia on that scene: Technical advisor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scarne">John Scarne doubled for Paul Newman's hands in the film. It was he who did all of the card manipulations and deck switching in the film.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:34 PM
Response to Reply #41
56. If a player is suspected of counting cards or analyzing the shuffle
a pit boss may tell you to change the shuffle. Otherwise, I shuffle the same every time.

No, I can't do that. I have a life.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:29 PM
Response to Original message
27. That's cool. I recently won $750 in Vegas playing slots and black jack
first time at blackjack, too! I think it was "beginner's luck".

I had friends along who "coached me". :D :toast:

I didn't read the thread, so you may have already answered this one:


What do you enjoy most about your job? :shrug:

:hi:
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #27
31. I love my days off and the paychecks are nice as well.
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MsKandice01 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:29 PM
Response to Original message
28. Do you ever feel sorry for the people who lose a lot?
I just played blackjack this past weekend and had the worst luck I've ever had. The dealer actually seemed genuinely happy for me once my luck started to pick up...but I still lost all the money I had planned to gamble with pretty quickly.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:37 PM
Response to Reply #28
32. If the player is polite and friendly, I may feel sorry that they lost.
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BlueStateGirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:56 PM
Response to Original message
36. I am in Vegas for three weeks on business. What is there to do
aside from the Strip?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:21 PM
Response to Reply #36
48. Hoover Damn, Mount. Charleston, Redrock, Lake Mead
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #36
60. Buy an all day Strat pass
and see how many times you can ride the http://www.youtube.com/v/SrCPwrgGkiQ&hl">Big Shot!
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LSK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 03:58 PM
Response to Original message
37. can you deal me 4 aces?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:20 PM
Response to Reply #37
47. Are you talking about poker?
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kay1864 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
38. Have you read "Bringing Down the House"?
The "21" movie got really poor reviews, but the book is an excellent read!



For those who haven't heard of either, it's about these MIT math whizzes in the late 80's, who were recruited by an MIT prof to play blackjack while counting cards (which is actually legal), and who made millions. They were more successful than most card-counters because they worked in teams.

Imagine being a college student with roommates in an off-campus apartment, and every other weekend you fly to Vegas with $100,000 strapped to your body, and coming back with three or four times that amount. Then back to listening to lectures in calculus class.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #38
45. Haven't read it and am not planning to. I find movies and books about gaming to be very boring...
with the exception of the movie Casino...loved that one.
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 04:54 PM
Response to Original message
42. Did you see the movie "21"? Was it true to life?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:19 PM
Response to Reply #42
46. Haven't seen it. I would probably have to be dragged to the theater
for that one.
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:00 PM
Response to Reply #46
52. It wasn't a perfect film. But if you are curious about card counters and 21 it did a
good job of explaining how it all worked. I've always wondered what card counting was and now I know.
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pinniped Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:53 PM
Response to Original message
49. What happened to Double Exposure BlackJack?
Now, I have to resort to playing BJ Switch at the upscale Casino Royale.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:32 PM
Response to Reply #49
55. We had duble exposure blackjack for awhile but noone played it so
they took it out.
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Schema Thing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:58 PM
Response to Original message
50. Are you going to be nice to me?
And show me your tits?


O8)
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Schema Thing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 05:59 PM
Response to Reply #50
51. Hah!, it's good to be in the high-limit section of DU!
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JTG of the PRB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:05 PM
Response to Original message
53. I'll be coming to Vegas for vacation in July...
Is it true that if I'm outside during the day and not in the pool, I'll melt?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #53
54. Probably.
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JTG of the PRB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:34 PM
Response to Reply #54
57. Will some SPF 70,000 prevent serious meltage?
I hear SPF 70,000 is the top-of-the-line stuff... I also hear it's just a big box made out of lead that you sit in.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-09-08 04:22 AM
Response to Reply #57
63. That should do it, but you could just
Edited on Fri May-09-08 04:22 AM by Catsbrains
stay indoors.
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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:55 PM
Response to Original message
58. How often do you swap decks?
I suspect the cards get pretty nasty after a while. At what point do you get to deal clean cards? What if a drunk spills his drink on the cards? Do you swap them out or dry them off? Has management ever told someone they were "too drunk" to gamble if they weren't causing a disturbance?
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-09-08 04:20 AM
Response to Reply #58
61. The cards on a shoe game are changed every 8 hours. The cards on
a handheld game are changed every two hours. At least that is how it is done at the casino I work at. Every hotel does it differently.
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crimsonblue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:58 PM
Response to Original message
59. does your casino use automatic card shuffling machines at the tables?
I'd be surprised if they didn't, as it makes card counting near impossible.
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Catsbrains Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-09-08 04:21 AM
Response to Reply #59
62. We use shuffler machines on most tables.
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