Hard not to count?

[jbuck]

So, I'm a new counter, just started practicing this year. I've always been a good BS player and typically double my money when going to a store. I've started doing the training; carrying a deck or two with me at all times, etc. My accuracy was fairly poor to start (even with a single deck) but I've been running 100% lately at less than a dealer pace.

I picked up CVBJ and it's helping tremendously - thanks Norm!

I have a lot of practice yet before I'm ready to do it in a casino, I know this as I tried to do it the last time I was out and was completely floored at the speed of the deal.

The thing I've been noticing lately is that the more I practice, the harder it is to not count. Is this typical?

[hitthat16]

Yes, sometimes when I play a "marginal" game with my fiancé just for fun, it's hard not to count. I have to make a conscious effort to look away and not worry about it lol.

[Intermediate]

When I see cards on a BJ table in a movie or on a video, I can't help but automatically scan them like I was backcounting. I find it hard not to count those few times I'm just playing Basic Strategy, like when I'm at home helping a friend learn Basic Strategy.

[Norm]

The problem comes when you are playing Poker. Even then you count. For that matter, driving down the highway you will start counting license plates. It can be very annoying.

[RS]

I used to count the speed limit signs. Also used to have a digital speedometer on my car.....that thing drove me crazy.

[RustyNCrusty]

On leaving a table the RC and TC are persistent in memory like persistence in vision. Annoyingly the counts tend to last until replaced by counts from a new game, even hours later…like a buffer memory that’s destructively written over. Is it due the focus of not losing the count?…interesting how the brain gets “wired” up.

[biggg]

I find the opposite have been playing a lot of online bj for bonuses...I played some casino bj the other day and realized "oh ****, gotta count these".

Another one that came up was having A8 against the dealers queen up and thinking I won when she turned over a king! Too much carnival games.

[jbuck]

The problem comes when you are playing Poker. Even then you count. For that matter, driving down the highway you will start counting license plates. It can be very annoying.

LMAO! Too funny!

[jbuck]

I have OC too, I count everything so perhaps this is coming quicker than normal!

[jbuck]

On leaving a table the RC and TC are persistent in memory like persistence in vision. Annoyingly the counts tend to last until replaced by counts from a new game, even hours later…like a buffer memory that’s destructively written over. Is it due the focus of not losing the count?…interesting how the brain gets “wired” up.

I played a three hand BJ game on the iPhone today and the RC was +11 when I had to turn it off. Ended up obsessing on the +11 and never forgot it the entire day - made a killing on that shoe!

[Norm]

It can really be a pain. You count in your dreams. My experience is that this is a relatively short term problem. At some point, your mind adjusts and it's just another function.

[steveistheman84]

i would think anyone that knows how to count somewhat decently, would do it for the same reasons that a ploppy would count up player and dealer totals if they were watching.

[Dtb239]

After playing a few hours, when I'm laying in bed its like the damn numbers keep running through my head. When playing a hole card game it's hard to switch my brain off from counting.