Readers Q&A #35

Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by [name withheld]

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CAN YOU EXPLAIN ABOUT THE UNBALANCED COUNTING IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD SYSTEM SOME TIMES i CANT KEEP UP WITH THE COUNT. CAN'T KEEP UP. THANK YOU. JM
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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

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Dear Jim,

Regards,

Henry Tamburin

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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I was recently playing at a 2 deck game in Las Vegas and this situation came up and didn't know what to do:
I was playing at a table were there was one other player playing with me and we were both card counters but when the count was negitive he would sit out and let me get nailed. What would have happened if we both wanted to sit out? Would the casino reshuffle? or would this bring to much attension to us counters?
Thanks
ScottF
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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

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Dear Scott,

Rule #1. Never play on the same table as another counter. This definitely brings too much attention to the table (ie. two players going up and down with their bet sizes in the same direction on the same hands). If you both wanted to sit out, the dealer would probably call over the floor supervisor to request a reshuffle (usually the supervisor will OK this because he wants players betting not players sitting). But be careful, sitting out too many hands is also a red flag that you may know something. It’s best to leave the table for a short break (ir bath room, cell phone call, etc.) then return at start of the next shuffle and deal.

Regards,

Henry Tamburin

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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Hi, Ron Fitch from http://www.borisbj21.com/ told me that all know-how made by computer simulations are not correct because in the real casino there are not coming out random cards, there are coming non-random cards through the human shuffle and this have an effect to all what's written in blackjack books. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE BASIS STRATEGY IN REAL DOES NOT WORK because this was made by random computer simulation too. What do you think about this. Should i stop playing my basic strategy here in Germany now???

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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

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Dear Matthias,

If what Ron says is correct, then casinos would go to great lengths to create non-random shuffles if it benefits them. The fact is that 1) non-random shuffle can help or hurt the player equally and 2) most casinos nowadays go to great lengths to shuffle/mix the cards to create as close to a random shuffle as possible. In fact casinos have resorted to very elaborate manual shuffling routines that dealers must follow and they also use the continuous random shufflers which their manufactures claim complete random shuffling of the cards. I wouldn’t give up on basic strategy.

Regards,

Henry Tamburin

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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Henry, I have played Blackjack a few times in a couple different Casinos and I have started to play at home as well.
What is the proper procedure (step by step) for shuffling cards (6 decks)?

Thanks

David Smith


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Dear David,

There are a host of different shuffling procedures that casinos use. They involve riffling, picks, and garbs. Here’s one you can use with 4 decks of cards assuming one deck remains in the cutoffs. Place the one deck cutoff on top of the 3 deck discards. Break the one stack of 6 decks into two even stacks of 3 decks. Take a half deck garb from each stack, shuffle them together, and set on the table to begin building the final stack. Marry anther two-deck garb and place it on top of the final stack. Continue the half deck garbs and shuffle until you have one final stack. Present the shuffled deck for a player to cut. Most casinos nowadays break the 6 decks into more than 2 piles (often 4 piles) before they start their riffling.

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by [name withheld]

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Can you offer any advice on the Ace-Five Count counting system? Is it somewhat effective? If so, how would you use it in a double deck game? Thanks so much for all of your excellent advice.
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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

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Dear Blair,

The ace-five count is effective in single deck games and the player has the potential of enjoying a slight edge over the casino (ca. 0.25%). With 2 deck games, a player using the ace – five count will be playing about even with the casino. I’d recommend you consider using a simple unbalanced counting system like Renzey’s mini-count (see issue #21 of Blackjack Insider Newsletter at www.BJInsider.com/newsletter/blackjack/archive. The count is not all that more difficult then ace-five and it will give you the slight edge in 2 deck games.

Regards,

Henry Tamburin

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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When you take a bathroom break and plan to come right back to continue playing, should you leave your chips on the table? I would never leave large sums of money on a table in any other public place. I have never had a problem asking the dealer to save my place or watch my chips, but what is the correct etiquette.

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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

Dear Halee,

I personally do not leave any chips on the table when I take a ‘bathroom break". Just ask the dealer to hold your place (he will usually place a marker in your betting spot) and take your chips with you.

Regards,

Henry Tamburin

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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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I was in Atlantic City playing Blackjack recently and noticed some of the casinos have no mid shoe entry.
I sat down and played at a few of these tables and did well. I think this is because players are not able to go in and out of the game and you get to watch the flow of cards. I know this is to benefit the Casino&#8217;s, but I think it benefits the player also. What is the reason for this? Also, I will be going to Las Vegas in a few weeks. Do any of the casinos have no mid shoe entry?
Thanks
Mark

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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

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Dear Mark,

The real reason for no-mid shoe entry is to foil card counters (who are either back counting tables or using a confederate to jump in with big bets in favorable counts). You will find no-mid shoe in some but not all LV casinos mostly on their high limit tables (they also have no entry signs on high limit single deck games in LV). But for the most part you’ll find many low limit tables in LV casinos, which allow entry during the middle of a shoe (or deck).

Regards,

Henry Tamburin
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Dear BJInsider.com Expert Guide,

The following question was asked by

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Gamblers book club in vegas has blackjack software that keeps a running count and tells you when you make a mistake in either playing strategy or how much to wager depending on the count. Can you recommend any software that will teach me how to count well enough to have an edge on the casino ?Can it be effective in a six deck game?
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Best regards,
The "Ask the Pro" Staff

Dear Sam,

Regards,

Henry Tamburin