When do I actually 'count'?

[bringitonhome]

Hi-
I'm just teaching myself to count. I haven't gone out to the tables yet, but i was wondering, when do you actually 'count' the cards? As they are dealt?
I'm finding it VERY difficult to pay attention to what's going on in each hand and count at the same time. Would it be better to just count each hand as it's removed from the table?

[Xur]

As they come out is best, as you want to know what the count is for any decisions that need to be made on your hand. Might not matter as much in big shoe games...the TC will not change too much unless down towards the end of the shoe...but the sooner the better.

[SleightOfHand]

The way that it is usually done is to count the cards by pairs, starting at first base and rotating around the table clockwise, ending with the dealer. This means that you have to learn to count by pairs, which is not significantly harder, as there will be many times when the cards "cancel out." You will spend half as much time staring at the cards, allowing you more time to do other things. Also, if you can't pay attention to other things while counting, you are not ready for the casino. Try watching tv while counting for practice. For an even more difficult challenge, try singing while counting. If you can do this, you will be ready to break the bank

[callipygian]

Originally Posted by SleightOfHand

The way that it is usually done is to count the cards by pairs, starting at first base and rotating around the table clockwise, ending with the dealer.

Watch out for people splitting pairs, as you've now counted one half of two pairs and it's easy to lose the count. I still think this is the best system but it has its pitfalls.

[Canceler]

Originally Posted by bringitonhome

Would it be better to just count each hand as it's removed from the table?

No, and I speak from experience on this.

As Xur mentioned, you want the most information you can get in case you have to make a playing decision based on the count. Another problem is that after a player bust, some dealers like to immediately shove all the cards together so you can't see them. The worst problem is when the dealer gets a BJ; you then may have a lot of cards to count in a very short amount of time.

[bringitonhome]

Originally Posted by Canceler

No, and I speak from experience on this.

As Xur mentioned, you want the most information you can get in case you have to make a playing decision based on the count. Another problem is that after a player bust, some dealers like to immediately shove all the cards together so you can't see them. The worst problem is when the dealer gets a BJ; you then may have a lot of cards to count in a very short amount of time.

hm ok, so i've been practicing by playing an entire deck with my own hand vs dealer - counting each hand after it's done, then counting down the entire deck in pairs. repeat. With the TV on

So you guys are counting as each card is dealt, while adding up the totals of your hand? I need some work there...

[Blue Efficacy]

Originally Posted by bringitonhome

hm ok, so i've been practicing by playing an entire deck with my own hand vs dealer - counting each hand after it's done, then counting down the entire deck in pairs. repeat. With the TV on

So you guys are counting as each card is dealt, while adding up the totals of your hand? I need some work there...

A little bit of playing and you'll instantly know the point total for any 2 or 3 card hand. Adding up the totals is the easiest part.

[darco77]

Originally Posted by bringitonhome

So you guys are counting as each card is dealt, while adding up the totals of your hand? I need some work there...

I had the same problem when I started out - who didn't - and the only way to get this down is to practice. However, I was able to accelerate my learning by practicing with a simple blackjack video game on my cell phone. I played that thing any time I had some down time, regardless of where I was: waiting for my order at a restaurant, riding public transportation, sitting on the toilet... seriously, I played it everywhere! And it worked. Before I knew it, the +1/-1 became second nature and I could focus on playing the game.

[Xur]

I find for dealer BJs its bets to just remember what the count was before the round started...then count the table as fast as possible just get what is there (usually faster to start at 0 then add the two together after)

[newb99]

A profound question . . . . whether to count cards as they come out one-by-one or in pairs starting with the second pass. I've tried both, but have stuck with the first.

For me it's all about rythym. Counting the cards individually as they are dealt is nearer to the practice of counting down cards in a deck - and roughly the same speed for a proficient dealer. I've now got to the stage where I can count the 15 cards on a full table faster than the fastest speed dealer from hell can serve them up (so far!). If you do the first you must ensure you don't end up looking like a spectator at a tennis match though. Grabbing third base, or first, helps.

Whichever way you find suits you, it requires lots of practice (if I'd been paid for all of the practice hours I've put in over the last year, I'd have a tidy sum tucked away).

Good luck.