But I wasn’t counting…

I count cards. I learned 2 years ago, and while I don’t consider my skills to be as sharp as they could be in this area, I’m always looking to improve through practice. The best practice, of course, consists of taking your game to the casinos. And as the rest of you blackjack card counters know, establishing a pattern for throwing off the casino folk is just as important as keeping track of the true count. Well, also known to a counter is the bewilderment and frustration when they’re approached after they know they HAVEN’T been counting – yet they’re still backed off. How does this happen?

At first, this is amusing. You know you didn’t do anything wrong, but casinos being what they are, there’s not really anything you can do about it. The best thing you can do at this point is not make a fuss and get up and go. Any resistance will almost always make you look guilty, and put a big bulls’ eye on your back for the next time you come in – or make it so there won’t be a next time.

Think about this, first. It could be a random test of different players they’ve seen before to see how you react. You can put up a tiny bit of “confused” questioning, but eventually shake your head and get up. If you agree to leave right away without any push back, it appears as though you’re trying to escape quickly without being caught or having your money confiscated. If you put up too much of a fight, you’re going to get yourself banned one way or another.

Oftentimes, the pit boss or whomever approaches you will as you to leave the blackjack tables, but that you’re welcome to play any other game. That’s the backward way of saying they think you’re doing something shifty, but you’re more than welcome to give the casino your money elsewhere in the room.

One other possibility is if you’re been drinking (or even if you haven’t) and you turned into that obnoxious guy or girl who comments on everyone’s play. If you’re that rude, enough complaints will warrant a trip by the staff.

And yet another is that you raised your bets a certain way that caught their eye. The casinos aren’t going to count the way players will, so they’re tracking bet variation or patterns. Even if you’re not counting, this might be a subconscious part of your game, and expose you to increased scrutiny.

But know this, you’re not going to talk your way out of a decision they’ve already made. The casino crew is like a night club bouncer, state senator and drug dealer wrapped into one. They show off their toughness, they’re stubborn and usually don’t research what they stand behind, and they’re sleazy enough that you’d never trust them anyway. So you’re not changing their mind. If they tell you to leave, just leave. There are always other casinos. Better to protect yourself against exposure on future visits when you are going to count.