Like I had mentioned in other threads, not only can the ASM model in question clump cards, but it can group certain cards together that statistically create poor 2 card totals and subsequent hitting percentage wise. A,2,3,4 & 9s is one that I've seen plenty of times at Barona. Now knowing that the ASM is a shelve shuffling type of device, the cards tend to linger around. Sure enough, I received 2 Aces... but didn't split and hit getting another Ace and 2 fours. Everyone at the table grumbled at me, but I was the only one standing after the dealers 9 with Ace under. Now if these particular cards are slugged, you can bet the 6,7 & 8s are grouped as well. Even in single deck, with a very poor wash, the cards will be severely clumped. Now even if the ASM is just shuffling, it's the manner in which how it's shuffling that will prolong this clumping which is detrimental to the player strategy... I can mimic the same shuffling by hand by thirds in my shuffling. This would keep some insanely long groups of low cards or high cards which will destroy the player. Now seeing this happen in single deck in which 14 low cards come out ... then all the 10s with a 9 here and there over and over is not considered within the statistical mean of natural clumping... We've done this for many many years, and it's only now that it's coming to light even though some elite players knew of it happening manually decades ago. It subverts counting strategy by getting the AP to make large pets in a false situation... it's a legal defense (since all the cards are there) that the powers to be use against card counting... spread all you want... you'll get no heat and you'll be losing much more than normal variance dictates
It's so simple... it's KISS. The best way to overcome it is knowing what to look for, and depart from that table/casino quickly unless you know how to exploit it, which isn't an easy task... if 7,8 & 9s are clumped with some 10s.. it's going to create more poor hands than good because the player will play one way and the house another... not to mention the player makes the first move and there's usually more player hands than dealers ... better chance of poor combinations and busting since the dealer will have a 7,8,9 or possible 10 up... 7,7 vs 7,8,9 or 10 ... 8,8 7,8 vs. 7,9 vs 9,9 vs. even if the dealer has 8,8 .. some players will bust out before the dealer ... SG gaming has invested much into the science of grouping certain cards together that will benefit the house more over the long run, since the house plays one way and the player another... it's not just clumping 10s together anymore