A local Indian casino just installed one of those blackjack machines with the life size video of a dealer on a screen and players sitting at a table playing blackjack with electronically dealt cards (I've seen them in Vegas and Reno, but its the first time I've seen one at an Indian casino). The instructions on the machine say that it is a six-deck machine and that 2/3 of the shoe is played before shuffling. It has other than the so-so penetration claimed, it plays stand on S17 and with a $2 minimum bet and no live dealers or pit bosses around to provide heat seams like a great game to play.
Here is the problem. I watched for about an hour the other day and could not figure out when the shoe was reshuffled. When I noticed that the "dealer" changed every so often, I thought it must be then. Then when I noticed the dealer was changing every 250 cards or so, it was even better--they were playing close to 5 decks before shuffling! Alas, the next time around I tracked aces and when the 7th ace of hearts appeared I knew I was back at square one.
Does anyone know these machines? How do we know when the shuffle occurs?
Here is the problem. I watched for about an hour the other day and could not figure out when the shoe was reshuffled. When I noticed that the "dealer" changed every so often, I thought it must be then. Then when I noticed the dealer was changing every 250 cards or so, it was even better--they were playing close to 5 decks before shuffling! Alas, the next time around I tracked aces and when the 7th ace of hearts appeared I knew I was back at square one.
Does anyone know these machines? How do we know when the shuffle occurs?