probably does not matter much anymore — particularly in shoe games. Since players generally use fewer indexes than in the older days of counting, the seat also makes very little difference in results in shoe games.

First and third base have some additional risk, as this is where hole-carders often sit. Hole-carders try to peek at the dealer’s hole card. Sitting in the middle at a full table also has some disadvantage, as you cannot see all the cards without swinging your head back and forth, which can draw attention.

Sitting next to third or first base has some advantage as you can make it less inviting for someone to squeeze past you to sit at the end, keeping the table from filling and leaving an open seat for you to spread to two hands. You can also stand in these positions making it even less inviting for an additional player. Although, this might also draw additional attention.

Session Length

The Per Hand entries in the table penalize you for spending too much time at a casino. The more time you spend in a casino, the more likely you are to come under scrutiny. In very large casinos, there are separate pits. Moving to another pit is helpful. However, they still share the same surveillance. Two brief stories, both relating to session length, but long and short sessions:

It was the early-’90s and I was playing on the Las Vegas Strip. Took a cab to the Las Vegas Hilton, about a half-mile off the Strip. In the old days, you could tell the cab driver to take you to the International and they all knew what you meant. It was the original name when the casino was built with Teamsters’ Fund money. Next door to the casino is a large convention center. As there was a convention underway, I decided to enter the casino from the convention side. I think I even had a convention badge. Conventions are common in Vegas and conventioneers are generally poor players. Revere had taught me never to play more than 45 minutes in one place. I was fairly religious about following that rule, and cashed out after less than an hour of play, a little longer since I would have to spend time traveling back to the Strip. Outside, I found no cabs. I had not rented a car this trip choosing to play mostly on the Strip. After

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger