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Thread: Cards to practise deck estimation

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    Cards to practise deck estimation

    I'm looking to get some decks to practise deck estimation. Right now I just have lots of the normal bicycle playing cards but I am thinking these may be better. I am also getting a 6D shoe and discard tray so I can simulate real games. I already have felt and chips.

    https://www.amazon.com/Brybelly-Deck...LiL&ref=plSrch

    Think these cards would be good for thickness, or do you have any better suggestion?

  2. #2
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    Casino security usually handles the retired cards when they change cards every day. You can usually pick up a bunch for free from them. They have to drill a hole in them or round a corner different than regular cards so they can't be mixed into play as an extra card by anyone.

    I don't know the card lingo for thickness and finish so I can't say about the ones you are asking about. I would just get the real deal for free or dirt cheap.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Casino security usually handles the retired cards when they change cards every day. You can usually pick up a bunch for free from them. They have to drill a hole in them or round a corner different than regular cards so they can't be mixed into play as an extra card by anyone.

    I don't know the card lingo for thickness and finish so I can't say about the ones you are asking about. I would just get the real deal for free or dirt cheap.
    Will do. I knew I could get some, but didnt think they would be willing to give away 6. Thanks for the info

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    Go to Walmart and buy a bunch of decks manufactured by Streamline out of Cincinnati ($1 each). I bought some recently and compared them to the many casino cards I've taken/bought. They are exactly the same size and thickness.

    Actual casino cards can sometimes be useless for this purpose if the hole they punch in the middle is not a clean cut.

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    Quote Originally Posted by umbrellaman View Post

    Actual casino cards can sometimes be useless for this purpose if the hole they punch in the middle is not a clean cut.
    Interesting point. I hadn't thought about this before.

    I suppose it's possible that even a very small imperfection from the drilling process (especially in 6 or 8 deck games) could represent a greater than normal thickness overall.

    I have calipers that measure down to .001 inch.... it would be an interesting experiment.

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    casino supply sells uncancelled cards from rundown casinos. cost about 1.75 dollar per deck

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    I used bicycle playing cards to practice, aren't they fine?

    My worry is different casinos use cards with different thickness, then it's much more mind boggling.

    ???? PACM00 ?? Tapatalk??

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    Quote Originally Posted by San Jose Bella View Post
    I used bicycle playing cards to practice, aren't they fine?

    My worry is different casinos use cards with different thickness, then it's much more mind boggling.
    Where I play casinos each use their own cards that vary greatly in thickness. The skinny ones will look 2 decks different than the fat ones for a complete shoe. To make matters more confusing some casinos change from the thickest to the thinest cards periodically. They also change the discard trays. Some even have different sized discard trays in the same pit. You have to pay attention to know how things eyeball. The good thing is when you play enough you will not need to lookout the discard tray to know hoe many decks are left. When it gets down to 3 decks left you glance and confirm you are spot on to what you expected would be in the discards. Then do it again at 1.5 decks left to confirm you are spot on with what you expected it to be. You just get used to having checked so often that you know without checking. Of course on bad days you have to check more often to establish the decks remaining but when you are in the grove you just know how many cards have been played without looking.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Where I play casinos each use their own cards that vary greatly in thickness. The skinny ones will look 2 decks different than the fat ones for a complete shoe. To make matters more confusing some casinos change from the thickest to the thinest cards periodically. They also change the discard trays. Some even have different sized discard trays in the same pit. You have to pay attention to know how things eyeball. The good thing is when you play enough you will not need to lookout the discard tray to know hoe many decks are left. When it gets down to 3 decks left you glance and confirm you are spot on to what you expected would be in the discards. Then do it again at 1.5 decks left to confirm you are spot on with what you expected it to be. You just get used to having checked so often that you know without checking. Of course on bad days you have to check more often to establish the decks remaining but when you are in the grove you just know how many cards have been played without looking.
    Good to know. It's always in the deeper pen range determining between 4/4.5/5 decks in the tray that's most difficult

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    Thanks for confirming different casino cards have different thickness. I'll stick with my bicycles.
    When I go to a new casino, I always pay extra attention at the end of my first shoe when dealer puts all the cards in the discard tray for a short moment. I would memorize that 6 deck thickness of this casino. After 6 deck thickness is known, it's not hard to accurately estimate smaller deck thickness.

    ???? PACM00 ?? Tapatalk??

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    Go to Gambler Book Store web site and buy cards from the many different casinos they have. Or visit their retail store in old Las Vegas. Amazing products.

    Different thickness is a real issue that you should prepare for.
    Luck is nothing more than probability taken personally!

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Where I play casinos each use their own cards that vary greatly in thickness. The skinny ones will look 2 decks different than the fat ones for a complete shoe. To make matters more confusing some casinos change from the thickest to the thinest cards periodically. They also change the discard trays. Some even have different sized discard trays in the same pit. You have to pay attention to know how things eyeball. The good thing is when you play enough you will not need to lookout the discard tray to know hoe many decks are left. When it gets down to 3 decks left you glance and confirm you are spot on to what you expected would be in the discards. Then do it again at 1.5 decks left to confirm you are spot on with what you expected it to be. You just get used to having checked so often that you know without checking. Of course on bad days you have to check more often to establish the decks remaining but when you are in the grove you just know how many cards have been played without looking.
    You also have to allow for 48 card decks in SP21 which will alter by half a deck for any given card thickness in a six deck shoe.
    Casino Enemy No.1

  13. #13


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    Have you thought about getting software for drilling?

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