Counting Like Dealers

[nitecap]

Silly question. I've never been very fast at adding cards like dealers are. I am going to be a blackjack dealer at a local high school next month for an After Prom party. I'm pretty well educated - BBA Finance, and MBA - - but never thought much about counting the card values at lightening speed, until now.

Are there any "tricks of the trade" that you can bestow upon me so that I don't have to drop the deck of cards and use my poor fingers to count the card values for each hand I deal?? :laugh:

Thanks!!

 

[Sonny]

There is only one trick of the trade that I know of: practice. Once you do it enough times it will become second nature. It will almost be an instinct that you can’t stop doing even if you try. Most of the time you won’t even have to add up the cards because you have every two-card and three-card combination memorized.

On the other hand, you’re probably already a lot faster than those HS kids. Wait, is this a public school or private? :grin:

-Sonny-

 

[nitecap]

Point well taken!! You are right - a no-brainer because these are HS kids!!

I thought I would make up a simplified basic strategy sheet and have some available at the table. I know the rules and have played BJ enough that I'm comfortable with dealing doubles, splits, late surrenders, insurance... Just the fast counting part that I'll need to do homework on! God, I hate homework!!

 

[SPX]

Point well taken!! You are right - a no-brainer because these are HS kids!!

Don't underestimate High School kids. I was still in HS less than a decade ago and my experience is still pretty fresh in my mind. They may lack experience, but their minds are sharp and the brightest among them would put most people to shame in just about any academic arena.

 

[bj bob]

Silly question. I've never been very fast at adding cards like dealers are. I am going to be a blackjack dealer at a local high school next month for an After Prom party. I'm pretty well educated - BBA Finance, and MBA - - but never thought much about counting the card values at lightening speed, until now.

Are there any "tricks of the trade" that you can bestow upon me so that I don't have to drop the deck of cards and use my poor fingers to count the card values for each hand I deal?? :laugh:

Thanks!!

Here's a few tips: 1) Remember the 3 card "21" combinations like 7-7-7 (obvious) 6-7-8, and 5-7-9. 2) With a large # of small cards hand, try to split (either mentally or physically) the combination of 10, i.e. set aside any 8-2 , 7-3 combo and the remaining cards will be easy add. And more basically, simply set you own comfotable pace. Remember that your are dealing to high school kids who have no idea what the typical pace of a BJ game is anyway.

 

[shadroch]

Here's a few tips: 1) Remember the 3 card "21" combinations like 7-7-7 (obvious) 6-7-8, and 5-7-9. 2) With a large # of small cards hand, try to split (either mentally or physically) the combination of 10, i.e. set aside any 8-2 , 7-3 combo and the remaining cards will be easy add. And more basically, simply set you own comfotable pace. Remember that your are dealing to high school kids who have no idea what the typical pace of a BJ game is anyway.

Sure,its not like they ever saw a television show or movie about BJ.

 

[jack.jackson]

Silly question. I've never been very fast at adding cards like dealers are. I am going to be a blackjack dealer at a local high school next month for an After Prom party. I'm pretty well educated - BBA Finance, and MBA - - but never thought much about counting the card values at lightening speed, until now.

Are there any "tricks of the trade" that you can bestow upon me so that I don't have to drop the deck of cards and use my poor fingers to count the card values for each hand I deal?? :laugh:

Thanks!!

Are you gonna have 3:2 payouts on BJ as well. If so, you might want to brush up on this a little.

I could probably tell you, if your not used to dealing, your probably gonna have your hands full with a bunch of HS kids screaming at you. Make sure you clarify S17, DAS, at the beginning of the game. Good luck.

 

[moo321]

Ugh. Go practice playing blackjack, and you'll recognize the values faster.

 

[Kasi]

Silly question. I've never been very fast at adding cards like dealers are. I am going to be a blackjack dealer at a local high school next month for an After Prom party. !!

What stakes are these high-schoolers playing with? Real Money? Tickets they are given and whoever ends up with most tickets gets first pick at some prizes? This will take place in a highschool?

Forget the BS card, chances are dealer wins ties, etc so it would be wrong anyway.

I usually make some dealer mistakes in paying hands to the prettiest girl. Well, I used to lol.