The Scorecards in Baccarat

Question:  I read that Baccarat is not only one of the best games to play in the casino, but also one of the most simple.  When I went to try it, I found that many people were using scorecards and tracking the results in various ways.  When I saw that, I was too scared to play and walked away.  Can you tell me what's up with those scorecards?

You're right, Baccarat (and all smaller versions of the game) is an easy game to play, and also has a relatively low house edge.  I assume you already understand how the game is played, so I won't discuss that here (although this information may be given in a future article, if requested).  About those scorecards...

Some casinos have provided scorecards to players so that they can keep track of the outcomes of the hands.  Also, some casinos have history boards that display the results of the most recent hands.  These are similar to the history boards that are popular in Roulette.

Players like to keep track of previous hands in different ways.  Most everybody who does this looks for trends by tracking which hand wins - either the Banker or Player.  But many people also like to record the exact values of the Banker/Player hands.  There is no "right way" to keep score, and you can use these scorecards any way you like.

However, keeping track of results, or even counting cards in Baccarat has not yet proved to be of any help when deciding whether to bet on the Banker, Player, or the Tie.  Casinos only offer scorecards to accommodate their superstitious players, or those who believe that past results can predict future results.

Keeping track of the outcomes is a waste of time - you don't have to do it even though everybody else at the table is.  The next time you walk up to a Mini-Baccarat game, don't be intimidated by what other players are doing, or how they are betting.  When it comes to deciding if the Banker or Player will win the next hand, your guess will be as good as theirs.

Do you have a topic or question related to casino gaming that you'd like to see discussed on this blog?  Send me an email at FogOfGambling@gmail.com and let me know!

Why Do They Always Change Dealers When I'm Winning?

I hear this question frequently, as some people tend to think that when they are winning, the casino tries to "mess them up", by doing various things known as applying "heat"... one of the most common being switching the dealer.  In most cases, this simply isn't true.

Most likely what you are witnessing is a scheduled change.  Table games dealers usually get 20 minutes of break-time for every 60 minutes they're on the game.  Depending on the casino and assuming a single dealer for your game (unlike Craps or Baccarat that require more than one dealer), you may see a different dealer every 20 minutes, or one dealer who is there for 60-minute intervals while a second is only there for 20-minute intervals.

Still not convinced?

If you're witnessing a change that you think is not conforming to the above schedule, there are still other explanations.  Sometimes dealers return late from break... perhaps they were eating or something.  Other times, dealers have a restroom emergency.  There are occasions when dealers are being sent home and shuffling of the staff is necessary because not all of the dealers are able to deal the same games.  There are many legitimate reasons for an unscheduled dealer change.

Furthermore, unless it somehow bothers you psychologically, changing dealers doesn't really do anything.  In Blackjack, dealers are typically required to burn a card when coming on to the game, but this can keep a hot shoe hot as frequently as it can turn a hot shoe cold.

However...

I won't lie... I have seen at least one casino try and change the current trend of the table by switching dealers.  This was not my perception or opinion... I heard it straight from the supervisor in charge of the decision who believed that he could "change the shoe" (so that the casino would win) by switching the dealers.  But this happened in a very small casino with a very superstitious manager.  I'm not trying to justify it, or say that it happens frequently in small casinos, I'm just saying that the world isn't perfect.  There's probably a good chance that you will never see something like this happen in the casino you visit.

I think it's fair to assume that most successful casinos (even the small ones) see the big picture.  Your short-term wins are okay because it may lead to your long-term business.  They're not changing dealers to try and jinx you... it's just a part of normal operations.  They won't jeopardize your loyalty by trying to "break your mojo".

Do you have a topic or question related to casino gaming that you'd like to see discussed on this blog?  Send me an email at FogOfGambling@gmail.com and let me know!

Blackjack's Basic Strategy Chart and Other Players

Setting any discussions of card counting, cheating, or ESP aside, many players should agree that playing according to basic strategy is the best way to approach the game of Blackjack.  We have all seen the basic strategy charts, and some of us may have even read about them in books.  So what happens in the casino?

In the casino, many basic strategy players follow the chart religiously.  Some of these people interpret the chart as a road map to figuring out what's coming out next... as if all of the cards have somehow been shuffled in such a manner that allows the game to be beat if everybody plays according to basic strategy.  In reality, nothing can tell you what the next card will be.  Nevertheless, you always manage to see some guy yelling at the player on third base for either standing or drawing a card when he's "not supposed to". 

The truth is, the actions of other players on the table have nothing to do with the reasons why you made the decisions you did on your hand/s.  Note that I didn't say that other players don't affect your hand... this is discussed in the last paragraph.  Basic strategy charts are created by finding the best play with the information you know (your current total and the dealer's up card) and considering all possible combinations of the information you don't know (the dealer's hole card, the card/s you may or may not draw, and the card/s the dealer will draw, if any).  It has nothing to do with what other people do with their hands.

"I saw a guy take the dealer's bust card when he should have stayed.  The guy had 12 and the dealer was showing a 6.  The guy hit a 10, bust, and the dealer had 16 and hit a 5 for 21."

Yeah, that happens.  Other people's actions sometimes have an effect on the final outcome of the hand.  But nobody knows what kind of effect that will be.  It could help, hurt, or not make any difference at all.  The 10 and 5 in that situation could have just as easily been in the reverse order, and that play would have "saved the table".  So why does it seem like these kinds of plays usually make it worse for the players?  It's the product of what I like to call, "gambler's selective memory".  They tend to remember when the "wrong play" hurts them, but completely forget when the same type of decision helps or makes no difference.  In the end, it all evens out.

Do you have a topic or question related to casino gaming that you'd like to see discussed on this blog?  Send me an email at FogOfGambling@gmail.com and let me know!