Casino Shuffling Method
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Automatic Monkey
Banned
Automatic Monkey
Banned
Right, MGM and Mohegan Sun do almost exactly the same thing, differing only in how they insert the plugs. Foxwoods does the same shuffle but without a plug.
Could you describe that in a little more detail? Or at least go into what you think is necessary in order to get a good "random" shuffle.
My method thus far has been to split everything into six decks, shuffle the first two decks together, then the next two, then the final two, stack them up and repeat the process three times.
Yes, I think Arnolds' Cookbook is the definitive source for public information on shuffle tracking. It has some information that you really wouldn't be able to come up with on your own. I haven't read George C.s' Shuffle tracking for beginners but I've read a lot of good things on forums about it. But, I think The Cookbook probably has everything Beginners has and more. Two other resources are Mason Malmuths' "Blackjack Essays," and Rick Blaines' "Blackjack Blue Print," which basically have what Blackbelt has in it. Just remember this is a very opportunistic method nowadays, and you have to train extensively to get the basics, then have to train more than extensively to prepare for a specific shuffle you think is trackable.
Step Ladder Shuffle
With the step ladder/R & R shuffle, first you divide the 6 decks into two 3 deck stacks. Then take roughly 39 cards from each stack and shuffle them together into a new center stack. Then take about 39 cards from that new center stack and shuffle them together with 39 cards from the first base stack. Then take 39 cards from the center stack and shuffle them with 39 cards from the third base stack. Do this four times on each side and you have the whole six decks standing in the center stack. That's the first pass of this two pass shuffle.
Now divide the 6 decks into two 3 deck stacks again. Then take roughly 39 cards from each stack and shuffle them together into a center stack as before. This time however, just take two more 39 card grabs from each end stack and shuffle them together, then place them on top of the first 78 card stack in the center pile. Continue in this fashion until all 6 decks are standing in the center stack.
The first "step ladder" pass is what does the most to dilute and spread out any high or low clumps that may have formed during the last deal. The second "riffle & re-stack" pass is more of a "just-for-good-measure" exercise.
With the step ladder/R & R shuffle, first you divide the 6 decks into two 3 deck stacks. Then take roughly 39 cards from each stack and shuffle them together into a new center stack. Then take about 39 cards from that new center stack and shuffle them together with 39 cards from the first base stack. Then take 39 cards from the center stack and shuffle them with 39 cards from the third base stack. Do this four times on each side and you have the whole six decks standing in the center stack. That's the first pass of this two pass shuffle.
Now divide the 6 decks into two 3 deck stacks again. Then take roughly 39 cards from each stack and shuffle them together into a center stack as before. This time however, just take two more 39 card grabs from each end stack and shuffle them together, then place them on top of the first 78 card stack in the center pile. Continue in this fashion until all 6 decks are standing in the center stack.
The first "step ladder" pass is what does the most to dilute and spread out any high or low clumps that may have formed during the last deal. The second "riffle & re-stack" pass is more of a "just-for-good-measure" exercise.
In Australia the shuffle is typically:
6 decks pile:
remove top 3 decks to make two piles of 3 decks.
Take approx 1/2 deck at a time from both decks and flick together to form a new 3rd pile. Do this until the 3rd pile is the full 6 decks.
Repeat the whole process again another 2 times.
If I remember correctly if you follow it through you will find that each 1/12th of the original pile cannot possible end up in a certain 1/3 of the final pile.
So when a hand is played that is very rich in aces, say its 4 players and the dealer and like 6 or 7 aces come out from all the hits, you can track it and be sure of the 2 decks out of 6 which those aces are not in. But you wont get more accurate than knowing they are somewhere in 4 decks. Then you either cut it so the 2 decks without the aces are not in the game. Or more safely, cut it so they are at the start of the deck, so you can count and know for sure, because it will surely go good count.
6 decks pile:
remove top 3 decks to make two piles of 3 decks.
Take approx 1/2 deck at a time from both decks and flick together to form a new 3rd pile. Do this until the 3rd pile is the full 6 decks.
Repeat the whole process again another 2 times.
If I remember correctly if you follow it through you will find that each 1/12th of the original pile cannot possible end up in a certain 1/3 of the final pile.
So when a hand is played that is very rich in aces, say its 4 players and the dealer and like 6 or 7 aces come out from all the hits, you can track it and be sure of the 2 decks out of 6 which those aces are not in. But you wont get more accurate than knowing they are somewhere in 4 decks. Then you either cut it so the 2 decks without the aces are not in the game. Or more safely, cut it so they are at the start of the deck, so you can count and know for sure, because it will surely go good count.
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The cookbook is by far the best public resource on shuffle tracking.
George C's book is a waste of time. It costs almost as much as the cookbook, offers no insight that is not covered in the cookbook, only details the very basics and is more about George telling stories about playing. The only good point is that it states its far inferior to the cookbook.
Essays and Blueprint are slightly more worthwhile in their coverage of the topic but again don't go into nearly the detail of the cookbook.
All this said, the cookbook leaves out a lot of information (as i've been told by a very reliable source), not so much on how to beat specific houses - that changes with the weather - but in the details of how to bet and such like. I've yet to find a good resource on this topic and doubt that one exists within the public domain.
RJT.
George C's book is a waste of time. It costs almost as much as the cookbook, offers no insight that is not covered in the cookbook, only details the very basics and is more about George telling stories about playing. The only good point is that it states its far inferior to the cookbook.
Essays and Blueprint are slightly more worthwhile in their coverage of the topic but again don't go into nearly the detail of the cookbook.
All this said, the cookbook leaves out a lot of information (as i've been told by a very reliable source), not so much on how to beat specific houses - that changes with the weather - but in the details of how to bet and such like. I've yet to find a good resource on this topic and doubt that one exists within the public domain.
RJT.