Math experts please respond

[ElIguana]

My friend's Psycology professor opened up his class by saying that we only use 10% of our brains (to prove some point). That's a myth. Smart guy, but also wrong...usually because people believe what they are told.

The truth is that we use most of our brains, it's just that a small percentage of our brain (10%) that controls most of the body's major functions (breathing, circulation, digestion, movement, senses, etc.). The rest is used for memory and higher cognitive functions that we don't need every minute of every day, so it may appear on a cat scan or (similar measurement of brainwaves) to lay unused or dormant, but we use all of our brain. If we didn't, we would evolve with smaller, less complex brains over time.

People also believe that if they spam all of their friends and co-workers with chain e-mails they will get free tickets to Disneyworld and $9,274.12 from Bill Gates. Those people can keep looking in the mailbox for their tickets, check, and a clue!

 

[ElIguana]

It shouldn't make much difference long-term.

What a bad player does is ruin the table in another way. The table becomes tense and not fun to play at. I'd rather have a table where people are enjoying themselves, it's a better overall experience.

Amen, Brotha! Like most people I play blackjack for fun, and it's not much fun at a table of negative people who are more worried about everyone else's play than their own.


Illini, the sad truth is that this f#$kstick "professor" will never admit he is wrong no matter what evidence you present to him, so save your breath. Next week he will be talking to another player at another table and use your logic and argument to prove your point to someone and try to pass it off as his own, but he will never admit to you at a gaming table that he is wrong.

 

[koidog]

From the above example I gave before, a player 12 vs dealer 10:
If the player decides to hit until >16, there are three possible outcomes...
He can hit one high card, he can hit one low card followed by a high card, or he can hit with two (or more) low cards.
He cannot hit with more than one high card because the first high card would end all his hitting.
However he could possibly hit with more than one low card.
If the player decides to not hit the composition of the deck remains unchanged. But should he decide to hit then over the long run the deck's composition will be skewed slightly towards less low cards remaining in the deck.
The player's decision to hit or stand affects the composition of the remainder of the deck/shoe, so therefore the professor was right and you are all wrong.

The guys decision to hit would change the composition of the deck, but it could change it equally Good or bad. What if his one "extra" hit caused the dealer to draw a 5 and a 10, instead of a 10 had the guy not hit? Mathimatically a bad player would make ZERO difference.

However, Doug is probably right on in that it could piss the table off and take the fun out of it. It may even effect how other players play their own games thus hurting their changes of winning.

 

[koidog]

I have been saying this for years and this seems liek the FIRST time where the majority of the people agree! Finally!

I know you say it Sherm and you are 100% right.

As far as people not agreeing, I bet most blackjack players would be like 13 here and INSIST it does change the odds.

 

[kermit16]

Funny that these bad card players are disliked at the BJ table, but welcome ( usually) at the poker table.

LOL I guess everybody must love me at the Poker table then !

 

[kermit16]

The guys decision to hit would change the composition of the deck, but it could change it equally Good or bad. What if his one "extra" hit caused the dealer to draw a 5 and a 10, instead of a 10 had the guy not hit? Mathimatically a bad player would make ZERO difference.

However, Doug is probably right on in that it could piss the table off and take the fun out of it. It may even effect how other players play their own games thus hurting their changes of winning.

Agree with both of these statements !

 

[Number13]

The guys decision to hit would change the composition of the deck, but it could change it equally Good or bad.

More low cards remaining in the deck will help the dealer. Therefore by making the correct decision in this case (hit) this player is helping the table.

 

[ronaldn]

Trust me, the so called Prof is wrong but I also just can't stand playing BJ with idiots. It just seems to ruin my fun !

While I agree with what you say I think that if you refuse to play at a table where there are no "idiots" then you will not play very much BJ. Unless you can find an empty table. In all of my trips to casino destinations if I find more than 2 players during my whole stay that know and play proper basic strategy it would be unusual. I deal BJ for a charitable cause in my area and have yet to see anyone who plays correctly most of the time. The amount of bad play is unbelievable. Have seen people double down on both sevens and twelves and stand on soft 15s. Now, while the average player in Vegas plays a little better than that, I have seen some unbelievably bad play there too. I just have to ignore it or quit playing so I ignore it and overall it has been a wash. Stupid play can help you just as often as it hurts you. JMHO.

 

[Doug]

I find a lot of Vegas players play decent basic strategy,esp. at locals places, to the point they tell you ( unsolicited) to hit your 16 vs. dealer 10, not knowing I'm standing because of a + count.

I like to play 3rd base ( esp. in single-deck) to see as many cards as possible.

But, yes there are tons of bad players. I hate get criticized for making the right play, varying to more hands when deck is ace-rich, etc.

Blatant idiot moves like hitting 15 vs. 6, splitting 6's against 9 just have a way of ruining the atmosphere at a table.