Counting Cards - Blackjack - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Fonz · 03-28-2008, 12:23 AM

I've been itching to learn something new and exciting, and this caught my attention after seeing that movie trailer "21" countless times over the last few weeks. This interests me, I love numbers, so I thought it may be fun for me to give it a shot.

So, does anyone know how? Has anyone had any luck with counting cards?

And if nobody can help, are there any tutorials for teaching this sort of thing?

The Fonz · 03-28-2008, 12:30 AM

I think I found a fairly decent site...

http://www.homepokergames.com/cardcounting.php

REDVAN · 03-28-2008, 12:36 AM

The only way to get good is to practice. I play at the casinos in Calgary a lot, and I don't count, I just watch for patterns. I usually end up slightly up, slightly down, or even. They don't really care if you count as long as you don't use a device of some sort.

As with any addictive thing (gambling, alcohol etc) make sure you know your limit before getting too interested if you know what I mean.

PYroMaNiaC · 03-28-2008, 01:31 AM

Start with a non-poker game. Say, whist. Play it with my family. In particular, my father. Make sure he is your partner. You will learn. You'll also learn how to keep track of who played what, and what the odds are on what will be played next. If you cannot learn quickly enough, you may be subject to ridicule. Card games are taken as very serious competition in our family with extrodinary bragging rights attatched.

simmer2 · 03-28-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I've been itching to learn something new and exciting, and this caught my attention after seeing that movie trailer "21" countless times over the last few weeks. This interests me, I love numbers, so I thought it may be fun for me to give it a shot.

So, does anyone know how? Has anyone had any luck with counting cards?

And if nobody can help, are there any tutorials for teaching this sort of thing?

The movie was based on the book "Bringing Down The House". Great read.

wpgflamesfan · 03-28-2008, 07:15 AM

You can't pull it off like they did in the book because most casino have change the way they shuffle (ie. mid shoe). There's an essay in the back of "Bringing Down The House" that give a good outline of what they did.

Flames in 07 · 03-28-2008, 07:25 AM

If you are on your own, they don't seem to mind if you count cards. However if you are with a group and/or anyone is talking an any way that can be construed that you are counting they can send you packing.

Agamemnon · 03-28-2008, 08:29 AM

Friends and I have been trying to get into it for about 6 months. It requires a LOT of effort and practise... if you were doing it to 'make money' you're pretty much taking on a part/full time job. Counting the cards as they're dealt in the casino (and maintaining count) is a lot more difficult than you might think. If they think you're counting they'll deal/wipe the cards really fast.

Agamemnon · 03-28-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

If you are on your own, they don't seem to mind if you count cards. However if you are with a group and/or anyone is talking an any way that can be construed that you are counting they can send you packing.

Dealers/Pit Bosses can tell if people are counting by themselves, especially when you're not an expert at it. There are a surprising number of tells the player can betray to show they're counting.

habernac · 03-28-2008, 08:52 AM

My Dad is terrific at it. One of the drills he uses is to flip through the deck of cards very quickly and trying to know what the last 5 cards are. He has a number of books on it, I'll see if I can find out which one is his favourite. He's always had a great talent at numbers. He'll go to the grocery store, buy a cart load of items and try to tell the person at the till what the total is. He's usually within $2.

kdogg · 03-28-2008, 09:26 AM

I tried this several years ago.

I does take some time to practice to make sure you are quick enough, because it goes fairly quick at a casino.

Here is what I found out. It was "alright" if the casino used 4 decks for the game. If the casino used 6 decks, it started to wash out the count, and they shuffle with a larger portion of the deck.

Was it worth it.... no. Sometime you play, even with a good count, and you'll know you'll be doomed. It will take A LOT of time at a casino to finally get a little ahead, and that is assuming a 4 deck blackjack game. It will also take away your enjoyment of sitting and playing cards. Just my findings.....

Another BIG finding... blackjack sucks. It is really, really, boring.

Learn how to play craps properly, and you'll have the best odds in the casino.
________
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

ken0042 · 03-28-2008, 09:27 AM

Also be prepared for people to get mad at you. Once I was at a casino and I had 17. Knowing there weren't many low cards that came up, I asked to be hit and was given a 3. Buddy beside me was showing 14 and was mad that I "took his card." He got a 9 and busted. The dealer also busted so in his mind I could have stayed, he could have hit and we would have both won. However I wasn't comfortable staying with just 17.

Agamemnon · 03-28-2008, 10:01 AM

Counting is really just one half of the equation, the other half is knowing how to play perfect "Basic Strategy". If you can play perfect basic strategy I think the house odds against the player are something like .5 to 1.0%. You still play the basic strategy all the time even when counting, you just alter it slightly to do somewhat unusual plays (which is how the dealers/pit bosses start noticing that you're counting) when the count becomes favourable/unfavourable.

Learning perfect basic strategy can take nearly as long as learning how to count.

Agamemnon · 03-28-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Also be prepared for people to get mad at you. Once I was at a casino and I had 17. Knowing there weren't many low cards that came up, I asked to be hit and was given a 3. Buddy beside me was showing 14 and was mad that I "took his card." He got a 9 and busted. The dealer also busted so in his mind I could have stayed, he could have hit and we would have both won. However I wasn't comfortable staying with just 17.

Yeah, people often get upset... if the dealer was showing a bust card and you had a 17 you'd definitely garner a few dirty looks.

kdogg · 03-28-2008, 10:41 AM

That is the thing about blackjack.... people get mad when you don't play the way THEY want you to.
________
Medical Cannabis Seeds

Bring_Back_Shantz · 03-28-2008, 11:06 AM

I love it when folks get mad becasue someone made the "wrong" play and "took the dealer's 10".

When ever something like that happens, I have two responses:

1) "Hey buddy, if I knew what the next card was gonna be, I wouldn't be playing the $5 table"

or

2) "Hey, I'm not sure if I should hit or not, could you be a sport and tell me what the next card is?"

Rathji · 03-28-2008, 11:07 AM

The easy way to count cards is to count 10's. While betting the basic amount just add and subtract 1 to your number based on the card flipped up is a 10 or not. Once you hit a certain number, the deck is 'hot' since the ratio of 10's to non 10's is favorable to the player who plays a perfect strategy. At this point you raise the amount you bet considerably and win more hands and make your money.

The standard way this is used is to have one player who plays min bet the whole time and another who comes along once the deck is hot after getting some type of signal from the player on the table. The new player sits down, bets big and wins then leaves.

troutman · 03-28-2008, 11:08 AM

Author of Bringing Down the House is on Jim Rome show between 11:00 and noon.

Sample00 · 03-28-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdogg

That is the thing about blackjack.... people get mad when you don't play the way THEY want you to.

If I dont like the way someone is playing at the table that I am at. I take my chips and leave. Its not that person;s responsibility to change the way they play to make me happy. Its my responsibility to be comfortable playing at a certain table.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 03-28-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sample00

If I dont like the way someone is playing at the table that I am at. I take my chips and leave. Its not that person;s responsibility to change the way they play to make me happy. Its my responsibility to be comfortable playing at a certain table.

See, I never understood the whole idea of not liking the way someone is playing.
The way other players play has no bearing on wheter or not you win, it's random.

Them making a stupid play could just as easily help you as hurt you.

I've never given a second thought to how anyone else at the table is playing.