Newbie here just started counting and keeping track of wins vs loses. In my area only game in town is 8 decks, however for $50 minimum you can get a 6 deck with 1.5 decks cut (too steep for my bankroll). I play basic KO and most indices plays are at the pivot which for me is 32 since I set my IRC at 0. 32 is a hot deck representing a true count of +4 for those that play hi-low. In my experience, 32 comes at the end of shoe, but I started to notice as my numbers would climb and go in the right direction, the cut card would come out and ruin everything prior to me putting out my max bet.
Solution - I walked around and looked at the cut card placement at all the tables and was astonished at how the casinos were ripping players off by cutting 2.5-3 decks. I asked a few dealers, and they told me that's how they were trained. I then asked a few dealers if they could keep it the way I cut the card 1 deck so that I could "play longer at the table and they wouldn't have to constantly shuffle up as that's more work for them") They agreed , and what a feeling it is to see all them 10s and aces come out of the shoe when you counted right. As a matter of fact most of the time, I fake like I'm taking a little break by sitting out all the while counting knowing that because the cut card is much deeper, I'll be able to reach my count thus having an advantage even if it's for a few big hands. I'll never sit at a table that doesn't offer deep penetration again.
Lastly, now that I'm counting, wow all the voodoo talk at the table. It amazes me with so much info out there that people still hold these ridiculous beliefs (I was one of those people). I now surrender my 15s and 16s, and people think I'm ruining the flow of the table, I'll get dirty looks and yelled at. Meanwhile these suckers are raising their bets right into a cold deck only because they won 2 or 3 hands in a row, and now they bitchin when they lose it all as the dealer is not busting on those stiffs.
Long post but just wanted to try and give something back to this group for being so helpful. I now can go to my local casino and identify 3-4 dealers who don't mind placing that cut card where it needs to be. I even have there shift schedule just by yapping it up with them. I'm sure you can do this as well but keep it quiet.
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