Have You Tried "Counting Cards" in Blackjack?

[Kenji4861]

I just read the book about the MIT students succeeding in a team effort / counting cards.

It seems like Counting Card would work alone fine as long as you go to a full table.

So before I go and try it myself =P...

just wanted to hear what everyone "that has tried it"'s experience or their stories.

 

[Gibsons]

It's not that hard until your 3rd or tenth drink...

But it makes it harder to socialize with people around you, at least for me. Can't chat while you're reading and adding everyone else's cards.

You also have to remember you'll still lose hands when the odds seem to favor you, it's hard to get a really favorable set up when they're only dealing 2/3s through a 6 deck shoe.

 

[Aves]

One of my professors is a card counter. In his distributed programming course you right a client/server program that plays a few million hands of blackjack and reports whether or not card counting would have benefited you.

 

[Wapp]

I tried counting cards at an illegal casino and had my legs broken. Don't do it.

 

[Kenji4861]

Originally posted by: Aves
One of my professors is a card counter. In his distributed programming course you right a client/server program that plays a few million hands of blackjack and reports whether or not card counting would have benefited you.

What was the class's result? Must've motivated some people to go to vegas?

 

[Kelemvor]

No but I do it in Sheepshead.

 

[mitmot]

no but im going to foxwoods this weekend

 

[SVT Cobra]

get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

 

[thirdeye]

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

How do they catch you if you're doing it in your head?

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: thirdeye

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

How do they catch you if you're doing it in your head?

AFAIK they can throw you out for any reason, so they don't have to "catch" you.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: thirdeye

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

How do they catch you if you're doing it in your head?

AFAIK they can throw you out for any reason, so they don't have to "catch" you.

doing it in your head sure...but you do not think they have as much experience as you (the dealers) they can tell trust me....


you know what nvm...go do it at a big casino.....just go do it....nothing will hppen

 

[thirdeye]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: thirdeye

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

How do they catch you if you're doing it in your head?

AFAIK they can throw you out for any reason, so they don't have to "catch" you.

Wow, that's pretty awesome. Glad I don't frequent casinos.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: thirdeye

Originally posted by: Son of a N00b
get caught and get thrown out...its not pleasent

How do they catch you if you're doing it in your head?

AFAIK they can throw you out for any reason, so they don't have to "catch" you.

doing it in your head sure...but you do not think they have as much experience as you (the dealers) they can tell trust me....


you know what nvm...go do it at a big casino.....just go do it....nothing will hppen

Yeah, I've never been hassled and I'm sure they could tell if they paid any attention. I just don't think they really care too much, unless you're playing for serious stakes. Especially if you're drinking - a person who counts poorly will probably lose as much or more as someone not counting at all. I speak from experience there.

 

[Kenji4861]

Agreed, I think the MIT students really bet big when the deck was hot.

I'll be betting at the most $100~ =P

 

[Titan]

Originally posted by: mitmot
no but im going to foxwoods this weekend

Foxwoods has some pretty serious blackjack players and tables, counting (in your head) is basically allowed there. Some tables you can't jump in mid-shoe. In any case, the 25 dollar minimum bet on weekends means you better have a decent bankroll.

I prefer roulette or chuck-a-luck, but they took the latter away.

 

[RagingBITCH]

I did it in Vegas a few weeks ago. I lost track after a bit but honestly, sometimes you just have the worst of luck. I ran into a string of the dealer hitting 21 for 7 hands in a row.

 

[CtK]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I did it in Vegas a few weeks ago. I lost track after a bit but honestly, sometimes you just have the worst of luck. I ran into a string of the dealer hitting 21 for 7 hands in a row.

damn 7 hands in a row?!?!?!
has to be some cheatin goin on there

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Card counting in a Vegas casino is not a form of cheating. If they suspect you of card counting, most likely they will not do anything if you are losing or not winning much. But once you start winning expect to be asked to leave the casino (and by asked to leave, I do mean kicked out). But they do it fairly politely. They'll usually say something like "We're sorry sir, but you're too good for us" and show you the door.

 

[Toasthead]

its not that hard. You just have to be able to do it without looking like your doing it. Otherwise they will send ya packing. A lot of casinos do many things to combat it now ( many many decks, frequent shuffles)

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It doesn't matter anymore. Major casinos are already using constant reshuffling machines, so there's no way that knowing the count can help you.

 

[dolph]

i recently read that book, too. great story, mediocre writer. too bad.

 

[jdub1107]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
Agreed, I think the MIT students really bet big when the deck was hot.

I'll be betting at the most $100~ =P

If your betting amounts have a large swing, it's going to be pretty obvious that you're counting cards.

 

[V00DOO]

I saw the MIT card counting storying on Discover Channel or something and a new crop of students attempted to do the same thing. Eventually they were all Blacklisted from every casinos in the world for known as card counter therefore they were ask to leave once they face matched the casino's blacklisted database. Yes, the casino will ask you to leave once they figured out you're card counting. You could either walk out or they'll throw you out.

 

[spidey07]

yes. but only so much as if it is face rich or not.

There are a bunch of different counting stratagies out there and I'd like to seriously learn one someday.

-edit-
the casino I frequent is 6 deck, standard black jack. I frequently leave with 1000-2000 of their money on a 500 bankroll.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: jdub1107

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
Agreed, I think the MIT students really bet big when the deck was hot.

I'll be betting at the most $100~ =P

If your betting amounts have a large swing, it's going to be pretty obvious that you're counting cards.

That's the point and the reason they formed teams. You can't use this method by yourself and not expect to be discovered. Varying the size of your bet is necessary to win and is a red flag. You need to work in teams in order for you to be somewhat anonymous.