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Sconjo USA
11-05-05, 07:24
Has anybody been to bA casinos?
Do they have slot machines, do they have blackjack game, do they have crap tables?
Above all is the gaming on the up and up.
Thank you for any info.
Sconjo USA
Sconjo.
I went into one of them once. I am not sure if there are others but the one I went to was close to the water.
They did have blackjack and slots. I don't remember a crap table. They did have roulette.
I don't believe the rules for bj were very favorable. I think the house hits on soft 17 there. But the dealers seemed to be on the up and up so I wouldn't worry about that.
It just reminded me of one of those cheap riverboat casinos in the states. The one I was in was actually located on a boat. It was kind of run down and not very luxorious at all.
If you do play there, you will most likely be a high roller though. I think the table minimum in black jack was very low, like 10 pesos a hand and most people were playing that amount.
Several craps tables there. The riverboat, though most definitely not the Mirage Las Vegas, is as nice, luxurious, and well-run as any riverboat in the USA. Optimal BJ rules - dealer stays on soft 17, you can split and double whenever you want.
I think the table minimum in black jack was very low, like 10 pesos a hand and most people were playing that amount.Most of the BJ tables are 10 peso minimum, which is like 10 dollars in the USA. Congratulations, you actually wrote/remembered something that wasn´t wrong!
Daddy Rulz
11-12-05, 05:47
On more than one floor, higher minimums as you go up. On the top floor they play in US dollars and also the poker tables (2) are there. Dealers can't be tipped.
They play a strange variation of no-limit holdem. The game starts around 2pm daily, later on weekends. The players draw for seats and the game lasts 2 hours. They run a timer as is done in tournaments everywhere else. There is no hit-and-run as the player is committed to play for the full 2 hours, winning or losing. When the time is up, you have the option of leaving or committing yourself to play another 2 hour session.
The minimum initial buy in is 1000 pesos, though most players buy in for anywhere from 2000 to 5000 pesos.
There are no blinds, but all players ante 25 pesos EVERY hand. The button acts first. Whoever raises before the flop will act first after the flop, so there is no advantage to position.
Now the bad news: This is the highest raked game I have ever seen anywhere in the world. The house takes a full 5% of the entire pot!
Even with the high rake, the game is easily beatable because of very weak, non-aggressive play.
Most of the regular players are very friendly, but no english is spoken during the game.
Be careful after cashing out at the cage, as often you can be carrying a years salary for many of the locals wandering around the casino. It's easy for someone watching to call downstairs on a cellphone to an accomplice and say:" good looking gringo wearing red jacket just cashed out 10,000 pesos and will be on his way out to taxi stand shortly"
Just a warning if you play blackjack, and are used to playing in an American casino. The players in Argentina are the worst in the world. They play on feeling and do crazy things with their cards.
You will lose money to these players. Try as much as you can to play by yourself.
Regulr Travlr
12-09-05, 15:09
See my post in the Panama section on the International board. It is hard to play and hope for any kind of logical flow of cards when people make the craziest decisions I have ever seen.
The advantage in Panama was I could kill some time, spend $2 to $3 per hand and find a chica all at once.
It is true that Argentine BJ players seem to make incredibly stupid plays. Hitting a hard 16 when the dealers showing a 6, etc. However, in a six deck game this has no affect on you. I have had great luck playing with these people.
Norman Stormin
12-10-05, 12:13
Is incredibly stupid. And that is the most popular game here.
I read today that BA casino workers are currently on strike. The newsbrief did not mention if the casino had closed. Can anyone confirm?
Ive been meaning to visit, its been a while since I last lost my ass.
I noticed most BJ players in BA never hit anything. For those of you who don't know, blackjack is played differently in BA (International Rules)? The dealer is only dealt one card while the players are dealt 2 cards. Once everyone is done hitting, the dealer will deal him / her their last card and more if necessary. This tends to promote conservative play as no one wants to take the dealers card. I always play to basic strategy, hitting when dealer shows face and I have a hard 12-16. However, the players on my table almost never hit in the same situation all on the hopes the dealer would bust. It's a terrible strategy to not try and improve one's position when dealer already has a face. Unless your counting cards, you have to assume a face will be the dealer's next card and hit til you have at least 17. Needless to say, I lost a few hundred pesos rather quickly and left.
SINCE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF BLACKJACK. HERE'S A STORY ABOUT MY ONE TIME EXPERIMENT WITH COUNTING CARDS.
Moore: You count cards? You seem intelligent enough to do it. I wish I had the time and patience to do it. My buddy is able to do it quite effectively. It's really cool knowing you have an edge. Initially, the same rules apply which is to always play basic strategy until the count is in your favor. When the count is good (more small card have come out of the shoe so likelihood of face cards is high) abandon basic strategy i.e. don't hit hard 12-16 even if dealer shows face, bet high, and double/split if possible. The other key is not to have third base hit at anytime when the count is high. Also, work in a team so you can takeover a table, and poole your money together since 1st and 3rd should always bet the minimum.
My buddy doesn't live close to me, but he recently came to visit. 4 of us went out and experimented the strategy since it was something he just learned. For the most part, the strategy worked well. In fact, it was truly an eye opening experience the first time he signaled us to up our bets. It worked to a T the entire first session. We played a total of 4 sessions. We won 2 and lost 2. Of the 2 we lost, 1 was due to us all getting drunk which impaired our decision making. The other loss was due to the dealer just flat out beat us even when the count was high.
Our only major flaw was not having a decisive strategy for the third base player when the count was in our favor. The third base player is the most important person (besides the card counter who sits at first base.) Third base has 2 purposes, at least for us. 1, to act stupid and slow play so the card counter has enough time to count the table. 2, if necessary, alter the dealers last card when the count is high.
The problem occurs when third base gets a soft 10/11 or a pair of aces when the counts in our favor. Conventional theory says to hit to improve his hand. However, that's a problem because we need the dealer to bust using a face card. On our first session we we're doing well, and this came up. Count's well in our favor so 3 of us bet high, and third base just bets the minimum. We all either draw or hit into to kick ass hands, and it looks like a big score. Third base gets 2 aces, splits them, and gets 2 face cards for 21. Keep in mind, myself and our other player (playing between first and third) just split our hands and caught a couple of face cards. The dealer turns over 14 or 15, and hits to a 21. We all lose are big hands, while third base breaks even.
We we're so happy thinking we're going to be the next MIT team, we didn't realize 5 or 6 face cards came up in row. We should've noticed this and had third base stay on 11. That one hand was the difference in us winning a couple hundred bucks, around a 200% ROI, as opposed to us breaking even for the weekend.
We had a good time, and look forward to trying it again.
Late,
Judd
I believe you can only guage a 1or2 deck game, which may exist in Vegas but not here to my knowledge. With six deck games theyre usually already reshuffling by the time you could get a decent read on the deck. All the BJ Ive played here in BA are machine shuffled games which I like since the play is continuous.
As noted, Argentines generally make very stupid plays. However, when playing with a huge deck that is perpetually shuffled this has no effect on you, probably minimal in a 6deck game as well. The next card to come up might as well be being dealt by a random number generator. It doesnt matter that the last 4 cards dealt were faces. Though it can be amazing and even irritating seeing someone double an 8 against a face, Ive had some great luck playing with these horrible players.
The MIT nerds are currently using a method to beat casinos who use continuous shuffle. To my knowledge, they haven't released any info as of yet, but I'm sure it will be coming. Counting works best with 6 deck shoes cut no more than 2 decks deep. This allows for potential long runs of high counts. Another advantage is the ability of midshoe entry. During a high count, a player can come in, make a big bet, and then get out. 1 and 2 decks, while easier to count, are harder to win, since there's little chance to build momentum, and midshoe entry is not allowed. I'm not some expert, but just referencing some tactics used by the MIT dudes from the book "Bringing Down the House".
Personally, I like continuous shuffle. With continuous shuffle, cards are dealt randomly. Not sure if you noticed this but with continuous shuffle multiple wins or multiple losses are seldom. You usually win a few then lose a few. Basic strategy is based on cards being dealt at random. Playing basic strategy coupled with randomly dealt cards will give you a 2% advantage.
This is why card counting works best with dealer shuffled decks. They don't shuffle the decks enough to get a random set of cards so they clump together forming clumps of high and low cards.
Anyways, some interesting info if you haven't read the books.
Judd
I think that 2% is the house advantage playing standard strategy. I have had incredible win/loss streaks playing against the continuous shuffle. Ive probably walked out the casino here as fast as any other after being in the hole and losing 10 hands in a row. But a few good wins as well. A few months ago I won about p2,000 playing at the 10p table. I know, pesos, but I think of those chips as dollars which softens the losses and dampens the wins. Granted, I increased my bets since the cards were coming so well but I remember I almost busted my bladder - I was chugging Heinekens but wouldnt get up to piss because I simply couldnt stop winning. Actually it was the dealers neverending shitty cards that caused the streak, which is often the case.
That definately sounds like an anomaly losing ten hands in a row with continuous shuffled cards. We have continuous shuffle where I live, and I have never lost more than 4 or 5 in row. Usually those losses are magnified by shitty plays from the table.
We'll have to make a run to the casino one night when I'm in town. Are there any boliches pro or non-pro by the casino. Isn't it located in Puerto Madero?
Judd
Its just off the far (south) end of Puerto Madero. Not much in that area that I know of (actually getting close to the shitty Boca zone) but its not far from the center of town. Quick taxi ride unless its rush hour.
That definately sounds like an anomaly losing ten hands in a row with continuous shuffled cards. We have continuous shuffle where I live, and I have never lost more than 4 or 5 in row. Usually those losses are magnified by shitty plays from the table.I was at the casino a couple days ago. Losing/winning 10 in a row was not a problem. My last run was a 5 in a row loss. I had 125 left and sat down at the 25 table - lost 5 straight before I could blink and left.
Saw a guy double a hard 12 against the dealers 6 - bust and took the dealers stiff (was at 3rd base). But stay on 13 against dealers face. My best winning streak was playing next to him at a 10 table. Argentine players.
One other difference you'll notice are the acceptable signals for hitting/staying. IIRC, in Vegas you have to signal with your hand, partially because that way they have you on tape in case of a dispute. Argentine players will usually say what they want - "carta" for hit. I only use hands.
The barmaids come around to the BJ tables about once every 2 hours. Argentines don't drink, or if they do it's a tiny coffee. I'd get up once in a while and go directly to the bar for another beer which doesnt bother me unless Im having a great winning streak and won't get up.
I recommend grabbing a good meal in Puerto Madero before or/and after a visit to the casino since you're right there. Especially close to Estilo Campo and La Bistecca (you can see the casino from both).
Could anyone post the best places for playin Texas Holdem in BA?
I'll be there soon and besides the chicas hunting would like some poker action.
Thanks
They play a strange variation of no-limit holdem. The game starts around 2pm daily, later on weekends. The players draw for seats and the game lasts 2 hours. They run a timer as is done in tournaments everywhere else. There is no hit-and-run as the player is committed to play for the full 2 hours, winning or losing. When the time is up, you have the option of leaving or committing yourself to play another 2 hour session.
The minimum initial buy in is 1000 pesos, though most players buy in for anywhere from 2000 to 5000 pesos.
There are no blinds, but all players ante 25 pesos EVERY hand. The button acts first. Whoever raises before the flop will act first after the flop, so there is no advantage to position.
Now the bad news: This is the highest raked game I have ever seen anywhere in the world. The house takes a full 5% of the entire pot!
Even with the high rake, the game is easily beatable because of very weak, non-aggressive play.
Most of the regular players are very friendly, but no english is spoken during the game.
Be careful after cashing out at the cage, as often you can be carrying a years salary for many of the locals wandering around the casino. It's easy for someone watching to call downstairs on a cellphone to an accomplice and say:" good looking gringo wearing red jacket just cashed out 10,000 pesos and will be on his way out to taxi stand shortly"Is this the way the game is played In every poker room or just one? Were can I get a list of places toplay poker in BA?
Member #3319
10-26-07, 00:14
It has been a while since there has been anything written about the casinos, and I was hoping someone could offer some more specific information about Blackjack in BA. I saw two different posts, one saying dealers hit S17 and one saying they stand. There were also conflicting posts about the hole card vs "European" style no hole card blackjack.
What are the casino policies regarding backing off players who they think may be counting or shuffle tracking? I have looked but have been unable to find any specific information about the laws pertaining to advantage casino play in Argentina.
If anyone is a regular BJ player and can offer more specific information about # of decks, and penetration offered (by the casino, not the chicas, please send me an I'm.
Thanks,
Tryan
Born To Die
10-26-07, 12:12
I do like a good game of BJ and I have played in BA before. I usually am very aware of the rules, but nothing struck me as a large difference in the odds like s17 hit in the casinos. I like to accompany my BJ with a good Poker game. I have not had any success in establishing if there is a good game in town or even at the casino. It is usually mandatory to post rules of gambling for any licensed establishment. I will have a look around, but more than happy to accompany anyone to a casino.
BTD
Any new reports on the blackjack down in Puerto Madero? Is it still the shitty constant shuffling machines or do they deal out of a shoe like a civilized casino?
Stand on all 17s or hit on soft 17?
More broadly, is the Puerto Madero boat casino still the only live game in the region? (I don't want to play an electronic game.)
Rock Harders
07-10-08, 00:56
Mongers-
I cannot speak to the Puerto Madero casino, but there is a private (but accessible) poker house now operating 6 days a week from 8pm to 4am in Palermo. There are tournaments several days a week and cash games every night that the house is open. The rake gets the player free food, soft drinks, and it pays the dealers. I have been there several times, security is a non-issue, and the cash games are pretty soft in general. They also run a sportsbook out of the same place. If anybody with a I know or with a reference wants more details, PM me.
Suerte,
Rock Harders
Member #3319
07-10-08, 06:18
The casino in Puerto Madero still uses CSMs, and all of the games were S17.
If you're looking for a real game, take come cash, and head to the high limit room at the casino in El Tigre. The reason I note to take some cash is that they have no ATMs on the property.
Tryan
Any new reports on the blackjack down in Puerto Madero? Is it still the shitty constant shuffling machines or do they deal out of a shoe like a civilized casino?
Stand on all 17s or hit on soft 17?
More broadly, is the Puerto Madero boat casino still the only live game in the region? (I don't want to play an electronic game.
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