Posted by DDecker on November 11, 1996 at 10:54:04: In Reply to: Empress Joliet's Double Deck posted by Joliet Jimmer on November 01, 1996 at 14:53:42:
Finally the Chicago area has a good BJ game! Hopefully it will last/spread to other casinos.
The 2D game at the Empress started about a month ago and the great majority of players, dealers, and the pit were almost completely clueless. The game is 2 decks dealt out of a shoe with DOA, DAS, H17, RS up to 4 hands except aces, and no surrender. There are two tables, one on each boat. Table minimums were $25 and $10 when I played.
The amazing feature of the game is the penetration. The first two times I played there, the dealers had no idea how much to cut off, having only dealt shoes before. (They kept complaining about getting confused by H17 and always having to shuffle on the table without the shufflemaster.) Most of the dealers were cutting off between 10 and 15 cards and actively worrying that they might run out of cards before the shuffle! Finally the pit seems to have settled on a target cut card placement at 1/4 of a deck. Of course some dealers vary.
The first time I played I lost quite a bit, but the following two or three trips I had more than a +1 SD fluctuation. While this was great, it also brought me quite a bit of attention and heat.
The heat seemed to be a lot worse at the $25 table in the VIP room. The funny part was the way they administered it. It was time for a lunch break, so I asked for a comp to their cheap deli on the boat, which they have given to me numerous times at $5 tables. After much delay, the pit boss came over and politely told me they couldn't comp me. The dealer seemed stunned and so was I, but I just pretended that it was because I was on a winning streak. After paying for lunch I came back (I know I shouldn't have, but its such a great game) and they finally stepped up the countermeasures. A different pit boss wispered in the dealer's ear to cut off half the deck. I just acted oblivious and then got up and left a few minutes later.
Now I'm afraid that I'm in their computer as a counter. I haven't gone
back in two weeks so I will let you know what happens the next time I visit.
Has anyone else experienced heat at the Empress? Have any other casinos
started offerring 2D games in the Chicago area?