How fast can you count cards?

#1
Hi guys,

Just wondering how long it takes all of you to count a pack of cards. I just managed a PB of 30 secs. I still make a few mistakes, but theyre becoming fewer and fewer :D.

Ill hopefully halve this before I go near a casino.
 

cyclinggimpe

Well-Known Member
#3
So far I can make 30 to 31 sec quite regularly. But, that is at home without distractions. I try to count while playing online and don't do very well.
 

Mackhack

Well-Known Member
#5
To be honest,

why do you think about that? Do you watch to many Breaking Vegas on History Channel? You do not have to count a hole deck of cards as quick as possible at the table.

Have you ever counted at a table? Yes? I can count 100 % correct a head up single deck or 6 deck without any problems and I just tried a couple times to count a deck of cards or more at home as quick as possible. I think that is waste your time... Just practicing ok. Just start a couple times with card by card then increase it and count pairs. If you do not make mistakes... Stop it and practice to learn the BS... That is more difficult and takes more time for a lot of guys...

Just my 2 ct's.
 

Canceler

Well-Known Member
#6
20 seconds??? Hardly!

I'm with Mackhack in wondering why you seem so obsessed about how fast people can count a deck.

My personal best is 24.8 seconds, I'm usually in the 26-30 second range, and I can count cards perfectly well at the casino.

What you are shooting for is to be able to count without really thinking about it. Being able to count a deck in 25 or 30 seconds means you're getting to that point.

It's similar to needing to know BS cold. You should be able to look at your hand and instantly know how to play it without thinking about it.

Players who are practiced, and experienced, at both of these will be able to interact with other players and the dealer and generally appear to be human. Those who are bad at BS and counting will sit there like zombies to the point where other players may ask if they're okay.
 

lagavulin62

Well-Known Member
#8
everything I have read says that if you can count down a deck within 30 seconds you are ok for the casinos. I usually average 25-26 seconds. sometimes I'm around 22-23. but really I don't practice it much. I do regularly backcount on casino verite for my practice and the speed I have advanced to is much faster than any human could deal. the one time I played for real I had two dealers that in my opinion were slow as he _ _. my gf walked up just before I left the table and she commented that those dealers were slower than her. but I've walked into the high rollers area and backcounted the so called "speedy dealers" and did not have a problem keeping up with them. this is not to imply that I am a fast counter because I surely don't believe I am. I am just saying that if you can count down a deck in 15 seconds that is great, but really not necessary. on the other hand the faster you are, the easier it is for you to act like a human. just frees your mind for other things, like admiring fake breasts and small talk with the hot dealer. all these things are important to a card counter so we must strive to increase our count speed. and with that it's time for "breaking vegas" and I'll have another round of talisker.
 
#9
The only reason I asked is that most of the reading material has suggested that you needed to be pretty quick. I intend on visiting a casino soon just to stand around and watch. If I think I can do well, then I may lay a bet down.

Thanks for the input everyone.
 

lagavulin62

Well-Known Member
#10
morry,

I think thats the smart way to go about it. just see how you do without the added pressure of real money and everyone staring at you. if you are fast enough you will find out real quick. one thing that helps me is pay attention to the cards and don't get caught up watching all the body movements of the dealers. I mean, some dealers have a lot of movement in their method of dealing and if you get distracted by that it looks like they are faster than they really are. let us know how it goes.

mike
 
#11
Ill hopefully hit up the casino Friday night, so Ill let everyone know how I go. I havent been counting too much lately, Ive been too busy with uni. But fingers crossed.
 
#12
I cant deal the cards fast enough to count them in under 30 seconds. Are you guys like sniffing speed, or do you just throw all the cards down and scan the area?
 
#13
30 Seconds?

Ive been learning this art for a little while now Ive got BS down pat, and I can count a deck down 15-20 seconds with no errors consistently. But when I go to a casino there is a lot more going on then running cards through your hands. I remember only being able to count a deck in 25-30 seconds and if I would have tried to play in a casino then I would have had a nervous breakdown. My opinion is that you should keep practicing counting down not just 1 but 2, 4, and 6 decks at a time. Dont quit just because someone says 30 seconds is good enough. Everything you learn keep practicing, even when you are good enough to do everything in a casino smoothly, keep practicing at home. It will never hurt you to get faster at anything as long as you are accurate. The faster you are the more time you can concentrate on playing with cover.

B
 

KenSmith

Administrator
Staff member
#14
The quickest way to count down the deck is to fan the cards rather than dealing them. Just hold the deck up and fan the cards looking at each. You'll also be quicker if you pair up cards and make use of the fact that many pairs of cards cancel each other out.
 
#15
KenSmith said:
The quickest way to count down the deck is to fan the cards rather than dealing them. Just hold the deck up and fan the cards looking at each. You'll also be quicker if you pair up cards and make use of the fact that many pairs of cards cancel each other out.
This is how I do it when Im at the casino. Makes things a lot easier IMO. At home if Im practicing, I usually draw one at a time.
 

neemo6

Well-Known Member
#16
Im at 20-23 seconds right now for a deck. Casino Verite has a very excellent drill section that has helped me out immensly. A few months ago i was like at 45+ but i keep practicing and use the quick count drill.
 

TonyDee

Well-Known Member
#17
neemo6 said:
Im at 20-23 seconds right now for a deck. Casino Verite has a very excellent drill section that has helped me out immensly. A few months ago i was like at 45+ but i keep practicing and use the quick count drill.
I just bought the same program for the same purpose of improving my counting speed. This program has helped me a lot!! well worth the money I paid for it money ($52usd).

I just started counting a month ago and I was typically at the 40sec range, which is ok for a first timer but not that great. After buying the program, and using it just for 2 days I'm down to 34 sec with a perfect count. I'm more than confident that I will be well under 30sec very soon considering the 34sec time limit given is more time than I need :D

I highly recommend this software for people wanting to learn how to count
 

SystemsTrader

Well-Known Member
#19
Chris I have the same problem as you. I thought I was a just a slow counter because I couldn't count faster than the low 30 second range. I thought I would never become a counter because I couldn't get in the 20 second range, than I just tried to see how fast I could flip the cards without counting and I still couldn't break the 30 second range. Now I felt better because I just didn't have the moter skills to flip the cards fast enough. I count in the low thirties and I can still count no problem in the casino.
 

LeonShuffle

Well-Known Member
#20
I usually fan through the cards when I practice for speed. I consistently hit 14 through 17 seconds without mistakes using Red 7.

But it's also important to deal out 6 or 7 hands without looking and then scan the table.
 
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