# Hit Me! Or better yet...Hit YOU **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688 "2001-09-10T16:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/1 "2001-09-10T16:00:42Z")
I’m not a professional gambler. At all. I’d sure like to be. I’d like to be a high roller, rings on every finger, a gal in every port…but I’m not. A lot of these games, I’m just learning. So when a fucking cuntsaw like you sits down next to me at a blackjack table in AURORA FUCKING ILLINOIS and starts flapping your gums, I get a bit hot under the collar. Here’s a sampling of what I heard when dealt every hand: “You idiot! You’re staying? WHAT?” “You’re stupid! You don’t know how to play. What are you doing here” “Oh jesus, don’t tell me you’re hitting on that! PLEASE! GOD! Why are you here?” Tell me this cockpocket, if you’re the be all end all genius of blackjack, betting at least $50 a hand (which you were, I saw), GET THE FUCK upstairs and play at the highrolling tables ok? Leave those of us who aren’t making our lives salary on a _Suburban chicago riverboat_ to play our games with the $60 we set aside to have fun with. Better yet, if you’re the God of the six deck shoe, plant your bony ass on plane to Vegas and head over to Mandalay Bay. We’ll see how quick you are to run off your mouth, dick. You ruined my night, and nearly made me cry, fuckwhisk. I was nervous to start with and you made it worse. Take your fistful of $25 chips and rathole 'em up your ass, cockbite. I’ve got friends to hang out with. By the way, how can I possibly be criticized for standing on seventeen? Oh I can’t. That’s right. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/2 "2001-09-10T16:06:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*By the way, how can I possibly be criticized for standing on seventeen? Oh I can’t. That’s right. > \*\* Well, if you count cards like my mother and father do, are at the end of the shoe, have the dealer representing 18 or better, and you know you got aces and fours coming, then… Sorry… just being devil’s advocate. 😉 Sorry that fuckwad ruined your night… come down and hang out in Biloxi with me and the guys… we’ll teach you how to be up 5 hunny by midnight. Remember, always double-down on 11. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/3 "2001-09-10T16:19:06Z")
Sorry the jerk ruined your night. You weren’t, perchance, sitting at “third base,” were you? Third base is the last player before the dealer. Although it’s not rational to anyone who understands statistics, if you’re at third base, and you take a hit and get a card that woulda made the dealer bust, your fellow players may get all jerky on you. They don’t notice, of course, when you take a low card so that _the next card_ makes the dealer bust. Anyway, you’re absolutely right. 99% of all people aren’t weenies about it, and realize the point is to have fun. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that. Chances are the other player had been playing about 1 night longer than you, and so “earned” the right to be all high and mighty. ---
**Author:** ![Hibbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ce73a5/32.png) [@Hibbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hibbins)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/4 "2001-09-10T16:50:26Z")
If you weren’t following him and doing something silly like hitting nineteen, fuck 'em. Now if you’re learning the game, the nice thing to do is to inform other players at the table. Some won’t have a problem with it, some will. Some may help you learn. You have to remember that statistics or not, doing something really silly in blackjack affects other people’s money as well as your own. If you haven’t already, and intend to go again, I’d get a book on blackjack or take a class. It’ll give you a little better edge against the house, and more confidence to deal with others at the table. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/5 "2001-09-10T16:55:59Z")
Hibbins, i’ve been playing blackjack at Aurora for a while. I also play with my friends at home, and I’m pretty sure that I know what the system is. I know when to split, double down, I know the bust cards. I mean, I’m nervous, but I DO know what I’m doing. That’s why he pissed me off. The hands were difficult, some weren’t obvious choices. I mean I was dealt a thirteen and the dealer showed a four…I took time to think about it and the guy just said, “HIT HIT! What are you stupid?” regardless of whether I’m affecting his game, he doesn’t need to talk to me that way. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/6 "2001-09-10T17:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*I mean I was dealt a thirteen and the dealer showed a four…I took time to think about it and the guy just said, > > “HIT HIT! What are you stupid?” > \*\* Apparently “he” was. If you’re not counting, then your best bet on that hand, especially if you’re leaning on the dealer’s right is to stand and let the dealer play it out and hopefully bust. Oh well… that guy is a moron. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/7 "2001-09-10T17:05:06Z")
All you have to do is just do increasingly strange things. Eventually they get upset enough and leave. I love when I win the battle of wills. My two favorite things to do are to 1) Split 10s, and 2) Stay on hands under 10. I just smile back at the glares I get. I win and lose just as much as when I play by the “rules”, so it makes it fun for me. Or if you’re in an antagonistic mood, just say “waah” everytime the person says something to you. It’s amazing how effective that simple sound is. Or you can just point out everytime the blamer does something that causes you to lose. This is only effective if they’re before you though, and it’s a bit provoking so it may end up getting both of you kicked out. Anyway, my point is that this is a common occurence, and nobody should let it ruin their playing experience. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/8 "2001-09-10T17:21:25Z")
What a fucking jackass! I would have asked the dealer to get rid of him or talked to the Pit boss. All casinos that I’ve been to absolutely forbid swearing on the gaming floor (at least where the dealers can hear it) and would not put up with a fellow gamer insulting others. Too bad you couldn’t have ordered a drink from the waitress and thrown it in his face. What a total jerkoff. For what it’s worth, I would not hit on 13 with a dealer showing 14. And who the hell hits on a 17? Zette ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/9 "2001-09-10T17:22:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Hibbins:_ > **You have to remember that statistics or not, doing something really silly in blackjack affects other people’s money as well as your own.** Um, could someone help me out here? How exactly does hitting on 19 (or standing on 13) affect other people’s money? Aren’t you risking your **own** money by risking a bust and/or ending up with a lower hand than the dealer? I’m not trying to sound belligerent. I really would like some clarification. Blackjack is one of the few games I’ll play upon visiting a casino (slots? feh), and I’d like to know if I’m missing something. Oh, and that guy was a moron. Play the game the way you want. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/10 "2001-09-10T17:28:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scott \* > **I’m not trying to sound belligerent. I really would like some clarification. Blackjack is one of the few games I’ll play upon visiting a casino (slots? feh), and I’d like to know if I’m missing something.** Depending upon where you’re sitting and the people to your right’s hands, you could stupidly bust on a card they need, or take the dealers bust card, thus causing the guy that stood on the 14 when the dealer was showing a six to lose. I’m not explaining it very well… does that make any sense? ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/11 "2001-09-10T17:42:18Z")
Yeah, **Simetra** , except that in my mind, they only know that I hit and busted on a card they needed **after** I did so. At the time, hitting on a 14 might not have been that stupid, especially if you’re not counting (plenty of cards between A and 7). So to make a comment about someone hitting on 14 **as they do it** is rude. And again, I’m losing my own money as well. If that guy was so frustrated that **jarbabyj** wasn’t playing the way he wanted, he should have moved to another table. There’s no rule stating that newbies must move on if they don’t respect the experienced pleyers. I hope. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/12 "2001-09-10T18:03:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Hibbins, i’ve been playing blackjack at Aurora for a while. I also play with my friends at home, and I’m pretty sure that I know what the system is. I know when to split, double down, I know the bust cards. I mean, I’m nervous, but I DO know what I’m doing. That’s why he pissed me off. The hands were difficult, some weren’t obvious choices. I mean I was dealt a thirteen and the dealer showed a four…I took time to think about it and the guy just said, > > “HIT HIT! What are you stupid?” \*\* The moment he said this the correct move is to tell him “I’m sorry, sir, but if you continue being abusive I will have to complain to the management.” If he says anything else, complain. He’ll either shut up or they’ll deal with him. Blackjack is a baby’s game, anyway, which is why I like it (and roulette!) You can learn to play blackjack properly in about an hour. If Mr. StrategyGod was such a fucking genius, he wouldn’t be playing blackjack in the first place. He’d have been playing poker. ---
**Author:** ![Hibbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ce73a5/32.png) [@Hibbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hibbins)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/13 "2001-09-10T18:53:43Z")
I second RickJay. That is also why I stick to Blackjack. jarbabyj, > [@](#): > > A lot of these games, I’m just learning. I just assumed Blackjack was one of them. Furthermore, if the guy didn’t like the way you were playing he should have moved. That is unless you sat down at “his” table. If you sat down at “his” table and if (and only if) you are really playing stupid, (i.e. everyone is glaring at you and the dealer has a big Cheshire cat grin) then the courteous thing is for you to move to a different table. Oh well, some people just like to be jerks (see c\_goat). > [@](#): > > regardless of whether I’m affecting his game, he doesn’t need to talk to me that way. :consued: This from someone who willingly attacks people with words like ‘cocksocket’? 😉 Yes and no! (answer to “That isn’t the same thing!”) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/14 "2001-09-10T19:12:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scott \* > \*\*Yeah, **Simetra** , except that in my mind, they only know that I hit and busted on a card they needed **after** I did so. At the time, hitting on a 14 might not have been that stupid, especially if you’re not counting (plenty of cards between A and 7). So to make a comment about someone hitting on 14 **as they do it** is rude. > \*\* I agree with you, as I posted above. There’s just as good a chance that the card that’ll make the dealer bust is the _second_ card from the top of the deck, in which case your taking the hit saves the table. **Sam Stone** , though, in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=85846) pointed out that taking a card removes it from the shoe, which does affect things minimally. Then again, you don’t know whether it was good for the table or bad for the table until you take it. At any rate, it wasn’t the jerk’s buiness what **jarbabyj** wanted to do. If he doesn’t like it, find another game. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/15 "2001-09-10T19:15:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > > \*\*Hibbins, i’ve been playing blackjack at Aurora for a while. I also play with my friends at home, and I’m pretty sure that I know what the system is. I know when to split, double down, I know the bust cards. I mean, I’m nervous, but I DO know what I’m doing. That’s why he pissed me off. The hands were difficult, some weren’t obvious choices. I mean I was dealt a thirteen and the dealer showed a four…I took time to think about it and the guy just said, > > > > “HIT HIT! What are you stupid?” \*\* > > The moment he said this the correct move is to tell him “I’m sorry, sir, but if you continue being abusive I will have to complain to the management.” If he says anything else, complain. He’ll either shut up or they’ll deal with him.\*\* I don’t think I could be that polite if some asshole was doing that to me. I’d have said, “Hey buddy. Shut the fuck up. If you don’t like the way I play, go to another damn table.” I’m too chicken to try to play Blackjack or Poker when I go to the casinos. It’s probably easier to play if you know how to count cards. Hey, I’ll give 10% of my winnings to the person who can teach me how to count cards (and _win_ doing it) before I go to Las Vegas next year! Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![LocalLoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@LocalLoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LocalLoop)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/16 "2001-09-10T19:21:24Z")
Well, if this asinine individual was really that upset, they should have changed tables. If they stayed because they were winning…well, what’s the problem? As far as hitting a 17, it may have been in reference to a “soft” 17, (6 + Ace), which most methods recommend taking a hit on. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/17 "2001-09-10T19:33:54Z")
**jababyj** , that sucks. I love gambling, and I hate it when some (usually drunk) loser wrecks it for me. Yes, it’s nice when people play blackjack in a reasonable manner. However, I am playing **my hand** , not yours. I took your card? Bullshit, I took **my** card. Yours comes next. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/18 "2001-09-10T19:41:47Z")
While I would never call someone I don’t even know “stupid,” in public, I have to admit that when I’m playing blackjack it does irritate me a bit when novice players hem, haw, and wring their hands over plays. I try to minimize this by playing at the higher-stakes tables - sometimes that isn’t an option because of crowding, and sometimes there are no $25 tables open. At the Sands, in Atlantic City - my favorite gambling haunt - the $25 tables typically don’t open up until the evening. If I’m playing in the afternoon, I find that there’s not much choice but to play at a $10 table. When that happens, and I’m sharing a table with a rookie, I simply remember that there was a time when I wasn’t too sharp on basic strategy, and that everyone has to learn. The only thing that really causes my blood pressure to boil is when (a) a rookie, (b) consistently delays the game by © asking for advice which he/she then consistently (d) ignores. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/19 "2001-09-10T19:53:21Z")
I just wanted to say “fuckwhisk” could be the funniest cuss I’ve heard in a while. I just picture this big idiot attempting to have sex with an electric mixer. It will now be a part of my lexicon. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688/20 "2001-09-10T21:26:25Z")
**jarbaby** , from what you’re describing, not only was this guy a jerk, but he was absolutely wrong in his advice. Unless you’re playing a perfect count system, you can safely assume it’s NEVER acceptable to hit 17 or hit 13 vs a 4. Especially the second one. You did the right thing and this guy should be slapped on principle. **c\_goat** , I’m not going to hijack this thread into proper BJ play, but I will say this. First, while, mathematically, you aren’t affecting anyone else, psycologically you are. Someone sees you playing stupidly and gets pissed at you for losing the hand for them, their play will suffer. Secondly, doing stupid things like that, just for the hell of it, may be fun, but it also costs you A LOT of money. You wanna throw it away? Fine. But let me give you my address and you can come over to my house to play. Free booze too, just like the big leagues! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-me-or-better-yet-hit-you/80688.md?page=2)