Counting technique

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Just practice by counting down a deck, counting the cards in pairs of 2. It will be even easier in the casino because you can cancel out pairs fairly often with a level 1 count.

i normally count as the dealer deals. i count the first card each player gets. then as the players second cards are dealt i count them and then the dealer's upcard. then as players draw cards i count those as they are dealt and finally the dealers down card and drawn cards.
as i count sometimes i cancel two hi/lo cards that are in close proximity. sometimes as the dealer is dealing to the players i just watch a series of cards as they are dealt and then cancel or add the card weighted values if they don't cancel. i sort of play it by ear, i might do it one way one time another the next, just however it seems easiest.

technique

dealer first, then in pairs. This helps with not staring over every card as they are dealt out as well.

I have found it easiest to be on or near 3rd base (I usually go next to 3rd base as I draw less heat and I don't have to worry about ploppies accusing me of messing up their hands against "bust" cards.)

But what I do is I count EACH hand as it is played out. If the player busts I count it before the next player acts and move on to the next one. That way I have the best idea of how to play my hand.

Of course, I'm not considering the dealer's card or 3rd base's... but I have found it much easier to keep track this way.