First, let us think about the following matter – what can be done in order to save time while thinking over a running count? As many people find it easier to think in words, one way to save time is to cut short the syllables of the words used to keep track of the running count. For negative counts you may simply use the word ”bad”, for example, instead of ”minus”. For positive counts you may simply drop the word ”plus”. Let us explain this. If you have a count of ”minus one”, which includes three syllables, you may simply use ”bad one”, which includes only two syllables. If you have a count of ”plus one”, which includes two syllables, you may simply use ”one”, which is one syllable. This way you will shorten the time needed to pronounce a few syllables in your mind! Of course, you have the freedom to devise a syllable-saving system of your own.
Second, it is an unconscious gesture to move lips while learning to count. While being at the casino table, it is something you should strive to avoid, because moving your lips is a certain way to uncover yourself in front of the dealer or the pit boss. Such a habit may be quite difficult to break up with, so it is a decent idea to ask a friend or a relative to supervise you, as you count.
Third, while playing at the casino, the order which you count the cards in will usually depend on whether the game is dealt face up or face down. In a face-up game, you should wait until all the original hands are dealt. Next, you may scan the table by counting the cards there with the inclusion of the dealer’s upcard. To wait until all hands are dealt will certainly spare you the confusion you may find yourself in, while trying to count the hands one at a time. This way you will also have a time window to converse with other players or the dealer. But what is more, you will certainly not seem to be constantly examining the cards, thus, you will avoid undesired attention. In case you have improved your skills at counting the cards in pairs, it will not be a problem for you to wait until all the hands are placed on the table. All you need to do is to count consecutive cards the way they have been dealt.
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In a face-down game, you should count the cards in your hand first. Next, you should count the dealer’s upcard and every one of the hit cards while they are dealt to you and the others. If someone among the players happens to have a blackjack or reveals his/her cards for a split or a double, you should count them as they are revealed. After that you should count the dealer’s remaining cards when his/her hand is exposed. If he/she has hit cards, make sure you count them as well. When the hand is complete, the dealer will turn the hands of all the players face up before he/she collects the cards. While the dealer turns these hands over, he/she will place the original face-down hand at his/her convenience and above it he/she will place the hit cards. You should grasp this opportunity and count these cards while they are turned over.
Running Count Keeping Hints
Learning to Keep a True Count
True Count Drills
Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation
The Illustrious 18
Fourth, while being at the casino, you will not be able to avoid all the distractions, which are present there. Take, for example, the whole variety of voices and sounds, which are pouring out from slot machines. If you have weaker nerves, all that noise could, at least, irritate you or, to some extent, even drive you mad. But that is not all – you could be distracted by gorgeous cocktail waitresses in proper clothing, by players and dealers constantly talking, by the gusts of tobacco smoke constantly assaulting you, even by some drunk-to-the-moon fellows who seem to have lost their way! Therefore, when practicing how to count cards from the comfort of your home, you should introduce some form of distraction. You may try pumping up the volume of your Surround Sound System while playing some obnoxious music! In case you have small children, you may urge them to play close to you, as you practice card counting. There are casinos, which run the air conditioning full blast, thus, you may try that option at home, as long as it does not hurt your monthly budget, of course! Remember, all that is purposed to recreate the land-based casino environment, which is extremely rich in distractions.
