Counting technique

[Jeff25]

What technique do you guys use when counting the first 2 cards dealt to the players and the dealers upcard? As of now I count each hand separately, not trying to cancel adjacent hands. I am running into some trouble using this method especially against a fast dealer when the count is into multi-syllable numbers. I find im not able to say so many multi-syllable numbers in my head quick enough. For example, say the counts at 23. Player 1 shows K,Q Player 2 shows 3,5 Player 3 shows 9,3 Player 4 shows 8,10 and the Dealer shows 6. I would count the round like this....23,21,23,24,23,24. Would you guys recommend me to practice more and keep up what im doing, try and cancel adjacent hands, or any other methods that might be helpful?

[Cass]

Originally Posted by Jeff25

What technique do you guys use when counting the first 2 cards dealt to the players and the dealers upcard? As of now I count each had separately, not trying to cancel adjacent hands. I am running into some trouble using this method especially against a fast dealer when the counts in multi-syllable numbers. I find im saying to many large numbers in my head. For example, say the counts at 23. Player 1 shows K,Q Player 2 shows 3,5 Player 3 shows 9,3 Player 4 shows 8,10 and the Dealer shows 6. I would count the round like this....23,21,23,24,23,24. Would you guys recommend me to practice more and keep up what im doing, try and cancel adjacent hands, or any other methods that might be helpful?

I count each card as it comes out. I have no problem keeping up with the fastest of dealers. However, i would not recommend this technique. It can be cumbersome in pitch games.

[EasyRhino]

I'm not a very fast counter (and I only use KO!), what's slow for me is the actual incrementing or decrementing of the count. Therefore, I find counting each card to be prohibitively slow. I'll count each hand and take advantage of canceling. Actually, once I get you to it I start canceling all kinds of stuff. Adjacent hands, 3 hands at the dealer's hands, hands out of order, throw in a couple of drawn cards, etc.

It generally speed things up, until I get too crazy, then I run a risk of losing the count.

[LeonShuffle]

Originally Posted by Jeff25

I am running into some trouble using this method especially against a fast dealer when the count is into multi-syllable numbers. I find im not able to say so many multi-syllable numbers in my head quick enough.

It's best to be able to "see" the count in your mind instead of "saying" it to yourself. When I practice counting, using real cards or CVBJ, I like to sing aloud at the same time. That forces you to envision the count. It's tricky at first but it just takes some practice.

[ScottH]

Originally Posted by Cass

I count each card as it comes out. I have no problem keeping up with the fastest of dealers. However, i would not recommend this technique. It can be cumbersome in pitch games.

It's time to break the habit man. It is so much easier and more natural to count them in pairs!

[Cass]

Originally Posted by ScottH

It's time to break the habit man. It is so much easier and more natural to count them in pairs!

I know! As long as things are dealt face up it is great, but im thinking of making a trip to laughlin, and possibly tunica. I'm assuming most those games are going to be dealt face down. Ive just been too lazy to relearn.

[shadroch]

I practice half face up,half face down.This way I don't get too used to any one method.

[EasyRhino]

Incidentally, one thing I've found slightly useful when just practicing with a deck of cards is to count down the deck one card at a time, then two cards at a time, then three cards at a time, just to mix it up.

Dealing out random numbers of cards would also work, but by then my manual dexterity slows everything down too much.

[Canceler]

Originally Posted by Cass

Ive just been too lazy to relearn.

I recently changed the order in which I count the cards. If I can do it, you can do it!

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by EasyRhino

Incidentally, one thing I've found slightly useful when just practicing with a deck of cards is to count down the deck one card at a time, then two cards at a time, then three cards at a time, just to mix it up.

Dealing out random numbers of cards would also work, but by then my manual dexterity slows everything down too much.

Recently I've started counting down decks (just because everybody else does it, I didn't start by practicing that way) and my method is to grab approximately a quarter of a deck, spread it out, count, pick it up and put down the next quarter deck. This simulates the number of cards that get dealt out to a full table in a shoe game, and also dilutes the effect of poor dexterity because you aren't handling the cards as much.