In blackjack, avoid the black (chips)

If you’re counting cards in blackjack, I mean seriously there to win money with counting a significant part of your strategy, you know as well as anyone the last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Hell, counters will employ all measure from losing on purpose to following what the pack would do just to avoid sticking out while the cameras or pit bosses might be looking. One of those attention-grabbers is playing with high denominations. As fun as it might be to bust out a black chip stack and catch the eyes of everyone within 20 feet of you, if you’re counting cards, you’re only going to hurt yourself in the end.

Different draws attention. Learn it well. Not many people play with black chips (or purple – $500 – chips for that matter), so when it happens, and the reaction from the casino, is such a headache you don’t need that it’s never worth it (not that I can really think of a substantial benefit to playing with $100 chips except you can carry more of them at once). The pit boss will call out that you’re betting black chips in almost every casino – and hey! Who does that put the attention on?

Now, there’s a bit of a catch 22 here. First, you have to be aware of what the table minimum is. If it’s $5, and you’re trying to “blend in” by betting stacks of $5 chips 20-25 high, that’s not exactly going at it incognito. Use common sense, and don’t be greedy. If you’re counting, you should know it’s not a quick win and quit type deal to begin with. This type of stupid move not only draws the eyes of the pit bosses, but it also gets awkward looks and comments from the half-drunk players around you – who are now all doing exactly what you don’t want, which is watching your hand and how you play. If that happens, you’re done at that table (probably that casino) at least for the night.

Betting small chip amounts at a small chip table, or medium chips at a table with a slightly higher minimum is the best approach. $50 bet at a $25 table? You could be anybody. $15 bet at a $5 table? You don’t exist. And stay consistent as much as you can within your betting strategy. Don’t start creeping up toward that big stack just to avoid playing a black chip. The casinos have seen all the tricks before, so the best way to blend in is not to try them. Someone smarter than you has already tried and failed. You can see their fingers on display at the museum of pain in the basement.

Just kidding about that last part…I think.