beginner questions

[amateur]

Hi
I am in the learning stage of the hi/low system. Wanted to know what is the best way to keep up with the dealer. Do I count the cards one at a time as they are dealt? Do I count by two cards that are dealt to each player before any action? Or do I attempt to count the all the cards on the table by seeing how many minuses and pluses and than add that to my running count? I read Stanford Wong'"Professional Blackjack" but nowhere does it mention what is the best way to actually count. Any help would be greatly appreciate and if you have anymore advice for beginners, please post it.
Thanks,
amateur

 

[Schuey]

Match them up

Im a beginner aswell, I find it easier to match the card up on the table so if there is a 10-5 dealt it equals zero, if theres a 10-10 and a 5-6 they combine for a zero, match them off and then add or subtract extras, I reckon that is the easiest quickest way to count in my opinion and I was also told that it was the best way by a professional card counter a short while back.

 

[phantom007]

FACE DOWN, ASS-UP.........

Face Down, Ass-up, that's the way I like to Fu#$%^&*!

Andrew Dice Clay, circa. 2001.

But seriously, it kind of depends on if you get to touch your cards, i.e., FACE-DOWN, or NOT, i.e., FACE-UP.

In FACE-DOWN games, such as most remaining SD and DD, YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE CARDS as you see them. Certainly, "Cancellation methods" as suggested above are always operant. Once you get VERY GOOD at this task, you MUST add "CBI" to your arsenal, i.e., "Counting by Inference".

---CBI Example #1: Dealer shows Ace-up, checks H/C, and ain't got it! Since I use AOII, can immediately add "+1" to the RC, for Play decisions...certainly Dealer could have an Ace or 8 or 9 "down-below"....BUT is more likely to have a 2-7....WE now know he/she ain't got a 10!

---CBI Example #2: Player to your right DD's 6,5, peaks at the drawn card, which you have not seen, and starts "Hooping, Hollering, and Touching His/Her own Private Parts!"......THEREFORE, by Inference, THEY GOT A "10"!....minus 2 for you.

---CBI Example #3: Player to your right has been losing all night. Pulls $$$ from billfold, and announces "Cash Plays!"......draws a 7,4.......pulls out more cash to DD, then peeks at drawn DD card, and RUNS from the Table. Obviously, he/she drew an ACE! Plug it in to your side-count.

FACE-UP games, usually 6D, ARE MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, at least, from the right side of the Table. From the "LEFT", a player can basically look at Dealer's up-card, then +/-/cancel, then add in their own cards, +/- those to the Left if applicable. BUT 1ST BASE on FACE-UP S#UCKS...even though NOT a Beginner, I am often staring at "Cards-to-the-Left" while the Dealer is expecting an Automatic Play decision.

Hope this info. helps your endeavor into BJ.

phantom007.