A common variation is called the
"round robin." There are still three dealers and a relief
assigned to a three game string. But all the dealers on the string will
work every game for an hour, with a break in between.
Example:
BJ-1 Smith
BJ-2 Jones
BJ-3 Lee
R Roberts
Again, Roberts will take first break after
ensuring all dealers on his string; make it to their games. Roberts will
then take out Smith on BJ-1 who, after taking his break, will tap in on
BJ-2. Jones, after returning from break, will tap out Lee on BJ-3. Lee
will tap in on BJ-1, when he returns from break.
The advantages of a round robin are that
all dealers will work one hour on a game and then not come back to it for
three hours and that there is only one tap out required per break.
To manage a round robin, it is important to
make sure your new dealers understand that they will always be tapping out
the same dealer. Which is the dealer that is listed after them, on the
roadmap. When closing down games, a dealer can be assigned another game by
merely scratching his game number and writing the new game number next to
it. When a string is reduced to one game, that game can be added to a
two-game string and then a relief is now free.
Creating a roadmap for pre-assigned
strings.
A week’s worth of roadmaps are created,
usually after the new schedule is made.. A supervisor other than the one
that made the schedule often makes the roadmaps.
In order to complete the roadmaps you will
need a copy of the schedule, a pencil and some blank roadmap forms. Using
a copy of the schedule is preferable to using the original, since you will
be able to mark on it. A pencil is always used since you want to be able
to make changes as you see fit when completing the roadmap and to allow
bosses to be able to make changes later, in the case of call-ins, for
example. There may be only one roadmap form that is used everyday, or
there might be different ones used, depending on how many games are to be
spread.
On Saturday night, in this casino; Craps 1
is a 6:00pm start, craps 2 is 7:00pm and craps 3 is 8:00pm. BJ’s 19, 20,
21, 26, 27 and Roulette 3 are games that will be opened at 6:00pm with
dealers that start at that time. These "back forty" games will
be closed by 2:00am. Dealers that start at 8:00pm will man BJ’s 22, 24
and 25. When the graveyard bosses close those games, those dealers can be
sent home.
On the left is a single column from the
date "Sat 2/19" broken into two halves for you viewing pleasure.
Notice, on the bottom of the right half it says; "HAVE/NEED
62/60." This means that 60 dealers are needed to cover all the games
scheduled, including the mucker on the roulette string. Since you
"have" 62, two of the dealers will be listed in the
"extras" section.
On the right is a copy of the roadmap that
is used for Saturday nights. It is usually best to assign the craps
dealers first, followed by whatever games there might be a shortage of
skilled dealers for. Put a line through the start time of a dealer, after
you have assigned him a game. This will help prevent you from assigning
the same dealer twice. If the dealer has a late or early start time, make
sure you write their start time after their name. After completing the
roadmap, count the number of dealers to ensure the total is correct.
Always be receptive to fresh ideas when it
comes to assigning games. Like not putting chubby dealers on the games
near the podiums, makes it easier for people to traverse the pit. Consider
using multi-game dealers as extras and muckers because it makes it easier
when it comes time for them to replace dealers being EO’d.
Extra dealers can be used as muckers, used
for housekeeping purposes (straightening chairs, removing glasses and
emptying ashtrays) or for giving extra "pushes." Extras give
pushes by tapping in on a game that is one game ahead on the string of the
game the relief is about to tap in on. The relief can then skip that game
and everyone on the string will work a forty.
Running a rubber band.
The second method of assigning dealers to
games is by "rubber band." A list is made of all dealers working
on a shift or all dealers assigned to a pit. A rubber band or paper clip
can be placed on the list so that it positioned directly above the next
dealer that is due for break. For every dealer that returns from break and
replaces the next dealer on the list, the marker is moved down the list,
one name at a time.
Although using a rubber band style list is
common practice, unless you are working in a very small pit, an actual
rubber band or paperclip is often impractical. In the case of a larger
pit; when a returning dealer is assigned, the game number is written to
the left of his name and the game number of the dealer he is replacing, is
lined out. After all dealers have returned from break, you erase the
lined-out game entries and the resulting blank spaces indicate the dealers
that are on break.
Creating a rubber band.
Rubber band lists can be created seven at a
time and once a week or they can be created at the beginning of the shift.
You merely start at the top of the schedule and work your way down. It is
prudent to leave some occasional spaces, as they can be helpful if the
need to move dealers around on the rubber band becomes necessary.
Sometimes, it is helpful to list the games a dealer deals to the right of
their name, so you know which dealers can deal roulette, baccarat and the
carnival games.
Try to spread out your baccarat, roulette
and carnival game dealers on the list, so there will always be some coming
back from break. If you need a baccarat dealer among the dealers coming
back from break and there are none; all you can do is have one of the
returning dealers tap out a baccarat dealer (preferably from a fast-paced
game like BJ and not a slow-paced game like pai gow poker) and have him
tap in on baccarat.
In the beginning of your shift, when you
start to close games and send dealers home and at other various times
during the shift, you will need to compute your dealer to game ratio.
Divide the number of games by three and add that number to the number of
games. Example: if I had eighteen games 18/ 3= 6, 18 + 6 = 24 so I will
need twenty-four dealers to cover eighteen tables. If you are dividing
into a number of games that isn’t a unit of three; you will add one
dealer. Example: nineteen games: 19/3 = 6.33, 19 + 7 = 26. And you not
only have enough dealers, there will be two "forties" floating
around.
If you are running hour and twenties or
fifteen minute breaks, you divide the number of games by four.
When closing a game, you can have the
dealer replace the dealer on the game you want to EO and write down his
new game number. Unlike pre-assigned strings, you won’t have to be
concerned with the dealer’s break, as his position on the rubber band
will not change. If you are closing a game but don’t intend to EO a
dealer, you have the dealer from the closed game send the next dealer due
for break, on a long break. You need only have to remember that the dealer
on the long break won’t be coming back with the dealers above him on the
list, he will be coming back with the next group of dealers you send on
break.
If you are running the rubber band and it
is getting close to the end of swing shift, another consideration is
having the late start dealers "fresh" (just returning from
break) at the beginning of the grave shift. If your late dealers will be
getting their break twenty minutes before the graveyard dealers come in,
then no action is necessary. If you aren’t that fortunate but have extra
dealers, you can have them tap out the late starts, instead of EOing more
swing dealers.
Chapter
10
Game
protection
Resolving
beefs
