Named after Stanford Wong, the Wonging style of play (back counting) requires that one should take part in a game at positive counts only. It is one way to cushion the disadvantage of having a number of decks in play. There is another method, enabling you to do so – an exit strategy, where you should leave the game at a pre-determined point in the count. Some experts in the field refer to this method of play as semi-Wonging. The latter cuts short the number of hands a card counter winds up playing in negative counts.
What does the ”Wonging” style represent?
Stanford Wong is not to be recognized as the inventor of back counting, but, however, he was an early practitioner of this playing approach. He popularized the backcounting method and eventually blackjack players came up with a name for it – Wonging. In addition, all card counters who practiced this method became known as Wongers. To employ such a play style, in fact, means to enter a game at positive counts only, given that midshoe entry is allowed.
A card counter will usually position himself/herself behind the blackjack table or at another spot where he/she will be able to count the cards in play. There are even counters with impeccable attention to details and sharp sight, who can back-count several tables at one and the same time, by simply using the mirrors at a casino!
Wonging practitioners usually abstain from action until the count is +2 or higher in multi-deck games. As soon as the count becomes favorable, they will make an entry in the game and will take part in it until the count becomes unfavorable, or until the shuffle. Once the house gains back the advantage, Wongers will usually stop playing and will look for a positive count at some other spot.
What should be noted is that Wonging practitioners are able to use a much tighter bet spread than they would, in case they employed the play-all style. In case they have the discipline to play in advantageous situations only, they will even be able to flat bet.
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A curious fact is that some card counters using the play-all approach tend to think they have the only right to take advantage of any decent counts at the table, because they have been through the unfavorable counts. It is possible for such players to loathe other counters who made their entry in the game exactly at those favorable counts without putting in the time.
In recent years it has been a practice among casinos to include ”no midshoe entry” rules on particular games. Such a rule postulates that a player is not allowed to enter a game in progress. Instead, he/she may enter at the next shuffle, before the upcoming round commences. The purpose of this rule is to obstruct card counters who attempt to join in at favorable counts only.
Evaluating Double-deck Games
Evaluating Four-deck Games
Evaluating Six-deck Games
Evaluating Eight-deck Games
Wonging and Semi-Wonging
According to experts in the field, Wongers are able to participate in 25-27 hands per hour. There is, practically, no doubt that this playing method could turn out to be the most profitable one, in case play conditions allow it. Remember the example from our previous article, which demonstrated the value of Wonging over the play-all style of play. With Wonging a player has the freedom to use various bet spreads and not expose himself/herself to unreasonably high risk of ruin. However, we should note that if a player employs a traditional bet spread of 1-12 units in a shoe game, placing bets as large as $500 or even higher may attract undesired attention from the casino surveillance.
What does the ”semi-Wonging” style represent?
The semi-Wonging approach suggests that a player should exit a game, when the count meets a pre-determined point, and look for another game. Some players may do ”mini-Wonging” – they will back-count the tables in proximity to their spot and join the game there, in case the count is favorable, when they leave their current table. The exit point is a matter of personal decision, but some experts consider that an appropriate moment to exit a game is at a count lesser than 0.
To exit at counts lesser than 0 in a six-deck game would mean that a player has not participated in 1/3 of negative expectation hands, which he/she would have been into, in case he/she used the play-all approach. In addition, he/she would avoid participating in hands, which have the worst expectation. In case the count is -1, the per hand expectation is estimated to be -0.5%, while at a count of -2, the per hand expectation may reach -1%. In case a player is consistent in exiting games at unfavorable counts, this way he/she may turn a marginal game into a good, playable one, boost his/her profit by at least 50% and diminish his/her risk of ruin to a considerable extent.
