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Blackjack Does counting cards still work?

Discussion in 'Blackjack Forum' started by miles (SteveH), Jul 6, 2016.

  1. miles (SteveH)

    miles (SteveH) New Member

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    Everyone knows about counting cards but is it still working in casinos?

    Its very easy to do with this chart
    VeuUhL.gif

    But then there are these shuffler machines.
    shuffle.jpg
    Is there anyone who knows the real effect of these machines?
    I found this here https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/continuous-shuffle-machines/
     
  2. miles (SteveH)

    miles (SteveH) New Member

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    One my images isnt showing I think the site doesnt allow it so it is are the website I submitted. That looks like the model they use at my casino.
     
  3. HowMany

    HowMany Active Member

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    Yes counting still works. But it's not as easy as many think.

    Don't bother counting at a table that uses a continuous shuffler.
     
  4. miles (SteveH)

    miles (SteveH) New Member

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    I thought as much. Does anyone know how common these machines are?
     
  5. Kunal khanna

    Kunal khanna New Member

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    anyone please say more about shuffler machines.....
     
  6. KewlJ

    KewlJ Well-Known Member

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    Ok, there are two types (not models) of shuffling machines. The one pictured above is a continuous shuffling machine (CSM). With this machine cards are placed back in the machine almost immediately, usually after anywhere from a half deck to a deck have been played. This makes counting very difficult. You just aren't getting to see enough cards before they are reinserted. Technically it is like playing a game with extremely shallow penetration, so technically you could beat this game with a massive spread, I am talking really big spread, one to several hundred, and then the variance or swings would be huge. So realistically, it's uncountable.

    Second type of machine (which is not shown) is an automatic shuffle machine (ASM). This type of machine usually 6 or 8 decks, although sometimes 2 decks, the dealer deals the cards, placing the used cards in card rack until the shuffle point is reached. At that point instead of the usual hand shuffle, the dealer places the cards into a machine which shuffles so the dealer avoids shuffling. With this type of machine, there are two different sets of cards that are used. One red backs and one blue backs. So one set of cards is being shuffled while the other is being played. This eliminates any down time. That is the big advantage of these types of machines.

    As to how common they are....that depends on locations. Some places use one, the other, or both a lot, while others, don't. Vegas strip for example uses a lot of shuffle machines (mostly CSM), but many of the off strip properties do not.

    There are drawbacks to the machines which is probably why they are not used even more often. One draw back is they jam very frequently. That's not really that big a deal, but it does slow the game down and that defeats the purpose. Worse than a simple jam, both types of machines break down constantly and need a lot of maintenance. That is additional costs which defeat the purpose.

    And last, unless things have changed recently, both types of machines must be leased, they cannot be purchased. This means an ongoing expense which defeats the purpose.
     
    Spider and bluechow like this.
  7. KewlJ

    KewlJ Well-Known Member

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    I guess I should add that the second type of machine, the ASM, is countable, just like a hand shuffled game. In fact even better because there is no down time.
     

  8. Junket King

    Junket King Well-Known Member Compulsive Liar

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    I have not seen a hand shuffled game in New Zealand, Australia, UK or Singapore in the last 10 years. All tables using CSM's. Game over if you're not in the US.
     
  9. Luke

    Luke New Member

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    Many places still hand-shuffle manual shoes to my surprise.
    Mohegan Sun in CT has probably 50 BJ tables across the place, and they hand-shuffle 8 deck manual shoes.

    I've heard from casino staff that a continuous shuffler machines costs about 30k. Not cheap.
     
  10. Belona

    Belona New Member

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    Hi everyone. I am new in casino world! please share your experience how did you learn to count card? Maybe you could give any advice to me how to learn it? Also, how long did you take to learn? Many thanks:)
     
  11. John Blerg

    John Blerg Well-Known Member 👹 Troll 👹

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    Of course counting still works watch the movie 21 they wouldn't lie, nobody lies, even the authors that write gambling books with guaranteed winning systems they're not lies. Of Course not!!!!
     
  12. Sharptracker

    Sharptracker Well-Known Member

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    It worths if you got a solid bankroll and if you can multiply the number of hands played... As the edge is low, the variance is big and a single player will need a very strong mental.
     
  13. John Blerg

    John Blerg Well-Known Member 👹 Troll 👹

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    It worked in the movie 21, it worked in the movie The Hangover, it worked in the movie Rain Man and I'm sure it worked another movies!!!! Why not????
     
  14. Sharptracker

    Sharptracker Well-Known Member

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    Well in the movie they use to skip the bad variance part, the movie would be too long...

    I have a friend played all year a card counting system and finished the year negative... you got to have very strong mental to accept it and keep going... A team is the key but it is very very hard to find serious people that'll suit.
     

  15. John Blerg

    John Blerg Well-Known Member 👹 Troll 👹

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    They had a crew in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction no? Looks like a crew could be a lot of fun but that's my idea of fun, not sitting on the couch eating Cheetos drinking beer and typing on the message board.... hey hey

    I actually did mean team instead of the word crew
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2018
  16. R19

    R19 Active Member 👹 Troll 👹

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    Watching 21 again. Worst movie ever just keeps getting worse. Didn't remember it being this bad, but it really is blowing away most every metric, even by Hollywood standards. It is even making Rounders look good with the world famous cookie tell.
     
  17. CashJoy

    CashJoy Member

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    Wow you are the worst film critic ever
     
  18. John Blerg

    John Blerg Well-Known Member 👹 Troll 👹

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    "Well in the movie they use to skip the bad variance part, the movie would be too long..."

    No Frigging Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    U mean the whole movie is not everything in and for the story????? Really so huh bro?????
     
  19. Fnatic

    Fnatic New Member

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    I like it as well
     
  20. Dr. Sir Anyone Anyone

    Dr. Sir Anyone Anyone Well-Known Member Lineage to Founders

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    Card counting is generally a foolish waste of time. It's a method reserved for the anal retentive minimalists. You won't make dirt doing it.
    What does work is hole carding, shuffle tracking, or edge sorting.

    There are much better games that can provide an edge.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2019
    Benas likes this.

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