Sole knowledge of basic strategy, of card counting, of proper variations to the strategy and of making bets is hardly enough for a player to enter a particular casino and expose the money he/she worked for at risk. Knowing all this may, at times, be useless, if the player does not make an appropriate selection of a game.
What a player needs to consider when selecting a game
Every card counter needs to choose his/her game with care. Upon entering a casino, he/she should already know how to act. He/she should know where to find the proper games and how to plan his/her ”scouting routine” in every casino he/she pays a visit to. When a counter is in a casino he/she is not familiar with, he/she should check out the pit areas available and watch the dealers in order to spot the one offering the best penetration. In case the counter is not aware of the rules, which are in play, he/she should ask a dealer or a pit boss. What the counter needs to be on the watch for are blackjack tables, which suit his/her preferences for rules, penetration and number of players. In case he/she does not encounter what he/she seeks at a particular gambling location, then the scouting should continue at another one. Let us not forget that time one spends scouting a particular gambling location is always time well spent.
Every counter needs to be on the alert for certain conditions, such as those we shall discuss next.
Casino tolerance
Casinos tend to mount pressure on card counters, while that pressure is also known as ”heat”. The counter needs to take into account the amount of heat, when he/she makes a choice of a game. High-roller counters often pass on single-deck games, as the latter involve a considerable increase in bets when the count surges. However, for players, using a top bet of $100 or even lower, heat should not be a major concern at the majority of casinos. Quite a few establishments will not pay undue attention to players, who place bets lower than $200.
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Speed of the game
A card counter is usually on the lookout for a game, where he/she is able to participate in as many hands per hour as possible. In doing so, he/she is not likely to position himself/herself at crowded tables, but will instead choose empty tables with a fast heads up game (one player versus the dealer).
Low minimum bet
Single-deck games with a minimum bet of $25 could offer good playing conditions, good complimentary services and a chance to encounter empty tables. In case a player uses a top bet of no more than $100, then he/she may concentrate on single-deck games entirely. If so, he/she will need to take into consideration the number of players at the table and the level of penetration.
Penetration
When a player evaluates a game, this is one of the key factors he/she should consider. We should note that a game with good rules and poor penetration is usually no match for a game with mediocre rules and good penetration. Single-deck games with H17 and D10 may involve poor or mediocre penetration. In case a player comes across a game with H17 and D10 and it appears to be not well penetrated (35 or more cards are not dealt), then he/she should not select it. The best choices are usually empty or almost empty single-deck games, which deal to the rule of six.
When it comes to double-deck games, a player should search for ones having a level of penetration of 67%, or 70 cards. In terms of rules, the minimum he/she should search for at that penetration level is H17 and DAS. Some experts in the field, however, do not consider such a game as a good enough choice.
If there is a penetration level of 75%, almost any double-deck game can be considered as a good choice. With a bet spread of 1-8, a double-deck game with such a penetration level should be selected over any single-deck game that deals to the rule of six. Rare single-deck games with S17, DAS and LS make an exception.
When it comes to four-deck games, a player may consider one having a level of penetration of 75% and offering at least S17 and DAS as a decent choice. In case he/she comes across such a game, he/she should select it over the majority of six-deck games, unless some of them offer a penetration level of 83% or even higher.
When it comes to six-deck games, a player may consider one having a level of penetration of 83% (five out of six decks) as a good choice. However, even then the only six-deck game, which can match the better single-deck and double-deck games, is one offering DAS, LS and S17. A six-deck game with a level of penetration of 92% (five and a half decks out of six), which offers S17 and DAS, can also be considered as an appropriate choice. If taking into account the 92% penetration level, a six-deck game with S17 and LS is considered as a good one; a six-deck game with H17, DAS and LS is also a good choice; a six-deck game with H17 and LS fits that category as well. If taking into account that same level of penetration, a six-deck game offering S17, DAS and LS can be a really good one.
The ”Rule of Six”
Applied in single-deck games, the rule postulates that five rounds are dealt to one player, four rounds are dealt to two players, three rounds are dealt to three players and two rounds are dealt to four players. At some casinos, the rule may be applied to up to four players and after that at least two rounds are dealt to five participants or more. At the majority of casinos the rule is applied in a strict manner and one round is dealt to five players or more. One should keep in mind, however, that a game with one round followed by a shuffle is not worth the play effort.
Rule-of-six games are considered to offer a level of penetration of 50%. In one-player-versus-dealer games an average penetration of 27 cards will be present before the shuffle, while in a game with two players an average penetration of 33 cards (62%) will be present. According to experts, the latter is quite good in single-deck games.
Risk of Ruin and Standard Deviation
Building up and Securing the Bankroll
Approaches Utilized by a Card Counter
Making a Proper Selection of a Game
Appropriate Games
The number of players in a rule-of-six game may change the expected value of that game. If there are over three players in a single-deck game, this means it is not worth the play effort. An exception is the case, when the game features five or more players and two rounds are dealt prior to the shuffle. Such playing conditions may enable a player to achieve a reasonable per-hand profit, but, however, the speed of the game will be reduced.
A single-deck game with the rule of six applied should feature two players. In case one participates in a player-versus-dealer, single-deck game, he/she may play two hands by using a bet spread of 1-3 units. According to experts in the field, the extra expected value from participating in a game with a higher penetration level will compensate for the smaller bet. In addition, a change in the bet size from $25 to $75 will probably not draw undesired attention by casino surveillance (unlike a change from $25 to $100, for example).
The rules in general
Every card counter should make a selection of a game, based also on whether it offers DAS. There is no point to play a multi-deck game, which does not include DAS, unless of course, the level of penetration is quite good (above 75%).
For games with four decks, one needs to select those offering at least S17 and DAS, unless of course, a game that lacks one of the rules is very well penetrated (above 83%).
The shuffle card
If taking into account hand-held games, one needs to avoid those using a shuffle card (cut card). In case a fixed shuffle point is employed in a single-deck or a double-deck game, players will get fewer rounds if plenty of low cards come up, and more rounds if plenty of high cards come up. Such a situation is known as the cut-card effect.
There are card counters who feel comfortable with the fact a shuffle card is used, because it makes it harder for a dealer to shuffle the deck prematurely. However, in the common case, a card counter will avoid a game, where a shuffle card is featured.
