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Thread: Heads up / Burn card adjustments

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  1. #1


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    Heads up / Burn card adjustments

    I got to play some heads up yesterday. Problem was I had to start the game with a previous 20 cards or so played. I didn't want to just play the whole shoe with BS so decided to start my running count at -5.
    This had me thinking if maybe I should start running counts at -2 to adjust for burn card. Doesn't seem harmful, if anything you'll have a higher edge than you realize rather than a smaller one.

    Is this thinking flawed here, meaning do you think this would just cost me money in the long term? As far as the heads up scenario I mentioned above, how would you handle jumping in a heads up 6D game where
    you had to start with an unknown 20 cards in the discard?

    Thanks in advance for any insight!

  2. #2


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    Unseen, dealt cards should be treated as if they're behind the cut card. You certainly don't count that slug of cards as "minus"

  3. #3


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    Quote Originally Posted by ShipTheCookies View Post
    Unseen, dealt cards should be treated as if they're behind the cut card. You certainly don't count that slug of cards as "minus"
    That's how I remember some of the books I have saying you should handle the situation. It just seems like a bad situation either way. I sure wouldn't feel comfortable putting out max bets at a TC of +5 say three decks through. I would be thinking that fist slug I missed could of been really X heavy and what I think is a TC of +5 is really a TC of say -1. I have no doubt "Unseen, dealt cards should be treated as if they're behind the cut card" is the correct approach, only because that's what people more knowledgeable and experienced than me say. It's just one of those areas that I can't understand the logic behind myself. For instance, I know card counting works, not only because that's what experts say, but because I can see the math and logic behind it for myself. As far as the slug of unseen cards, I have a hard time understanding "why" it's safe to treat them as if they're behind the cut card.

    Maybe it's because if we walked into the identical situation 1000 times of starting a shoe with a slug in the discard tray, each time we started the shoe short tens would be balance out with the times we started the shoe rich in 10's. Probably as simple as this and I'm just over thinking.
    Last edited by UncleChoo; 08-25-2019 at 10:15 AM.

  4. #4


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    Quote Originally Posted by ShipTheCookies View Post
    Unseen, dealt cards should be treated as if they're behind the cut card. You certainly don't count that slug of cards as "minus"
    As above and reduce deck pen accordingly

  5. #5
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    You are probably overthinking this. If this slug is now considered behind the cut card. Is this new pen less than 75%? If so it might not be worth playing.

  6. #6


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    Quote Originally Posted by notFromTheMidWest View Post
    You are probably overthinking this. If this slug is now considered behind the cut card. Is this new pen less than 75%? If so it might not be worth playing.
    This makes a lot of sense now. I am over thinking this.

  7. #7


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    It is exactly as you write. You don't know the unseen cards, so don't take them into account. It makes no difference whether the unseen cards are in discard tray slug or behind cut card in shoe. The times where you over- or underestimate the richness in tens etc. will average out in the long run. The only thing which you should care about is the reduced pen, which will lower your SCORE.

  8. #8


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    Just mentally remove the missed cards from the discard tray when you calculate true count. Then all else will be the same. If TC is plus 5, you’ve got just as much edge as if you’d seen all the cards (you’ll just see fewer good counts).

  9. #9


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    You could ask for a new shoe. Casino that I know will do that. In fact I asked for new shoes when the shoe was - and didn't have a chance on turning +. No problem.

  10. #10


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    All you do is mentally put the cards that are in the discard tray when you start to play at the back of the shoe. Don't assume the count of unseen cards.

    Alternatively, every time you look at the discard tray, subtract 20 cards.

  11. #11


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    Quote Originally Posted by Eye of the Eagle View Post
    You could ask for a new shoe. Casino that I know will do that. In fact I asked for new shoes when the shoe was - and didn't have a chance on turning +. No problem.
    Thanks everyone for your comments! For the quote above, I actually did this and kind of regretted it after only because it created a bit of a commotion that was uncalled for at a place I'm a regular. Pit-boss came over and gave me a weird glare and said "I can't even entertain that idea for a $10 min. This shoe is only 8 or so hands in, what's the big deal?" I said "I just assumed it's an unlucky shoe because obviously someone started it and left". Looking back, it was a very greenhorn mistake because the pen is good enough I could of just mentally moved those 20 or so cards behind the cut and still had approx 78% pen.

    I'll definitely ask for a new shoe again if ever find myself in a heads up situation playing 50 min (not likely anytime soon) or something in that range.

    I've had a lot of a ha moments the past 80 or so hours of play. If could do everything over again I'd start raising my bets to a couple units occasionally when the count goes form say 0 to -2. This way if ever under a skills check I wouldn't always be raising my bets in positive shoes and it would allow me spread wider on the good counts. I would also occasionally make small bets on the side bet only because 99% of the people do this and it would help me blend in and give me the appearance of a gambler hopefully giving more longevity. I would just have to spread much wider to make up for these small leaks.
    Last edited by UncleChoo; 08-26-2019 at 06:02 AM.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by UncleChoo View Post
    Thanks everyone for your comments! For the quote above, I actually did this and kind of regretted it after only because it created a bit of a commotion that was uncalled for at a place I'm a regular. Pit-boss came over and gave me a weird glare and said "I can't even entertain that idea for a $10 min. This shoe is only 8 or so hands in, what's the big deal?" I said "I just assumed it's an unlucky shoe because obviously someone started it and left". Looking back, it was a very greenhorn mistake because the pen is good enough I could of just mentally moved those 20 or so cards behind the cut and still had approx 78% pen.

    I'll definitely ask for a new shoe again if ever find myself in a heads up situation playing 50 min (not likely anytime soon) or something in that range.

    I've had a lot of a ha moments the past 80 or so hours of play. If could do everything over again I'd start raising my bets to a couple units occasionally when the count goes form say 0 to -2. This way if ever under a skills check I wouldn't always be raising my bets in positive shoes and it would allow me spread wider on the good counts. I would also occasionally make small bets on the side bet only because 99% of the people do this and it would help me blend in and give me the appearance of a gambler hopefully giving more longevity. I would just have to spread much wider to make up for these small leaks.

    Didn't know that you were a $10 dollar table player. Only happens at the $50 min. Sometimes I have gotten new shoes at the $25 min after bitching that I lost 10 hands in a row. It works for me. But then the casinos knows me. I have been playing there for years and been bleeding them for years. Slow and steady not pig style. No crazy spreads. 1-15 on a $15 table without even getting "Checks In Play". $50 1/6 won't even get you noticed in the high limit room.

  13. #13


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    Unseen cards are unseen cards, whether they're before or after the cut card, have already been played or to be played. The only way this effects your game is penetration -- and be sure to remember that when dividing to get TC.


    Imagine this -- one table has 5/6 pen. The table next to it has 5.5/6 pen. But this (5.5/6) game, the dealer pulls out 26 cards, all face down, before dealing the first proper (face up) hand. Is there a difference between either table?
    "Everyone wants to be rich, but nobody wants to work for it." -Ryan Howard [The Office]

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