El Cortez Blackjack

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El Cortez Blackjack Average ratng: 8,5/10 9548 votes
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El Cortez is notorious as one of the sweatiest places downtown, or even in Vegas. Some counters consider it a rite of passage to play there and get backed off. So, don't expect to play for long if you are skilled, or if you are playing green chips and are lucky.


Blackjack Games at El Cortez All blackjack games at El Cortez pay 3:2. Single deck is the most popular and is the best blackjack game in Fremont Street. It allows double down before splitting. That really is unfortunate. I wonder how they plan to compete with other Fremont casinos. A big draw was that they had some of the best blackjack in town. I wonder what made el Cortez so paranoid about counters, they must have lost a lot of money at some point.

I've got a flatbet restriction for the former and a backoff for the latter. It's too bad, I really liked the place. I had professional 30-something friends visiting in Vegas for the first time while I was there and that was where I took them to show them 'Old Vegas' charm.
kewlj
I have had probably 12 -14 back offs in Vegas for blackjack in the 3 years I have lived here and 4 have been at El cortez including one fairly recent. They are notoriously sweaty. Their backoffs are polite. Pretty much just as heather stated. 'No more blackjack. You are too good' or 'your play is too strong'. The older white guys, Mo and Joe are the worst. Very quick. Asain pit ladies are more tolerant. You must keep sessions short.
My 3rd backoff came with a question. 'Didn't we tell you before....' lol Doesn't really matter. In Vegas, backoffs and barrings, even after having been read trespass act, have no consequences, other than you must leave that day. The Wilkenson decision from the 70's still stands today in that even after being read the trespass act, the patron must first be given the chance to leave. It is not like in the movies. You could show up every day, play and be told to leave and that if you return be threatened with arrest. So being read trespass act has no teeth. It's now really just an intimidation tactic.
If you are wondering why players keep returning to play after being backoffed or trespassed, it is because they do offer very good games.
BigJer

El Cortez is notorious as one of the sweatiest places downtown, or even in Vegas. Some counters consider it a rite of passage to play there and get backed off. So, don't expect to play for long if you are skilled, or if you are playing green chips and are lucky.

El Cortez $5 Blackjack


Next time I'm in LV I'm going to make a trip there just to get BO'd. lol.
The Terror of Casinos.
El Cortez Blackjack
AxiomOfChoice
After hearing so much about the legend of El Cortez, I'm going to go try it out on my next trip. I've heard lots about the great blackjack games and the low minimums, but I'm not really interested in playing for red chips (If I'm going to get kicked out of a place, I want to get kicked out over some real money). What are the max bets on these tables? Are they, at least, in the $500 - $1000 range? How long can get away with spreading $100 - $500? Will they let me jump in mid-deck if I don't make it too obvious? Like, if I'm 'talking to my friend' while he is playing, and I notice the count get good, and I sit down and try to bet a few hundred... will they allow that?
AxiomOfChoice
I got an email telling me that someone had replied to this thread, but then there was the accidental database purge, so I never got the chance to read the reply.
So... feel free to re-post your reply :) I'm heading to Vegas this week...
Thanks!
DenDexter
I was at El Cortez 2 weeks ago. There were multiple single deck tables with a min of $5. I think you had to wait until the next suffle to join. Cards were dealt face down and I don't recall the max bid.
There is also a 2 deck $3 min table. I think it's max bet was $500 and cards are dealt face up. I played at this table. My bet was $5 and I jumped to $25 a couple of times. I got some looks from the pitboss when doing this but nothing said. I wasn't counting, just using my gut on a good hand.
I had fun and ended up plus $190 between the BJ and Pai Gow. The drinks were weak so just keep them coming.
Enjoy.

El Cortez Single Deck Blackjack

AxiomOfChoice
Thanks for the info. I look forward to checking this place out.
nickolay411
Just got back from Vegas. hit up El Cortez.
Spread 1-10 on the ten dollar game. Asian Pit lady was paying attention but no counting of discards,flatbets or backoff.
I was expecting my trophy :( I did like the place though.
kewlj

Just got back from Vegas. hit up El Cortez.
Spread 1-10 on the ten dollar game. Asian Pit lady was paying attention but no counting of discards,flatbets or backoff.

El Cortez Las Vegas Bed Bugs


She is very inconsistent. I have experienced her being very tolerant as well as a little 'uptight'. I guess it depends on her mood. El Cortez Blackjack
At the risk of 'political incorrectness' and sounding like 'The Donald', I think it is that way with all women. Ut..oh, I can just feel Babs growling a little at that remark. :)
nickolay411

She is very inconsistent. I have experienced her being very tolerant as well as a little 'uptight'. I guess it depends on her mood.
At the risk of 'political incorrectness' and sounding like 'The Donald', I think it is that way with all women. Ut..oh, I can just feel Babs growling a little at that remark. :)


Thanks for the heads ups. When I colored up I just wanted to say Thank You but she never looked over or made eye contact.
After reading everything on this site about Cortez I felt quite paranoid while playing. I kept asking myself if they were constantly watching me. Kinda Unnerving but the dealers were all nice... I Sometimes did not bet the max when I should have and playing at least 3 units on a new shuffle. A cover play i learned here form you I think Kewlj. I doubt it was a big enough cover though...
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