Counting Methodology

Kaiser

Kaiser

Well-Known Member
I was just wondering about how most of you handle a specific part of counting.

I use the KISS III count, and the actual counting of the cards is getting super easy for me. I can count down a deck of cards in 15 seconds. Dealing myself 6 hands and playing BS on all hands while keeping the count is no problem.

Where I do have a problem for some reason, is with the running count over the course of several hands. I'll run through and get a count of say +4 for the current table of cards, add that to my starting count of 9 for a 13, then try to keep that 13 in my mind while I go through another table of cards.

Now my question is, should I file this 13 away in the back of my mind and go back to counting the current hands as a fresh, new number (zero, +1, +2, +1, etc) or should I be going "13, 14, 15, 14" as the hands play out?

I tried the latter, thinking it would keep me from forgetting the running number, but found myself sometimes getting messed up when say the count is 18, and my hand total is 17, and then maybe I'm recalling an index play where the number is 16 or 18... and I'm messing the thing up.

Locally I just use a stack of chips to keep the count with no heat at all, but I don't expect to be able to do that too much in Vegas next month. :grin:

I'm getting better, and it's not really *that* big of a deal, but it did get me thinking about how it should be done. Do I file that running count away in my head and adjust it after I get a new table count, or do I always add and subtract from that number constantly? What do you guys do?

Thanks!
 
R

rogue1

Well-Known Member
Hi Kaiser

I also use the Kiss III count. I just start with +9 and keep a running count all the while. How are you doing with the Kiss III count? I really like it.
Good luck in Vegas,where are you staying?
 
T

TENNBEAR

Well-Known Member
I'm getting better, and it's not really *that* big of a deal, but it did get me thinking about how it should be done. Do I file that running count away in my head and adjust it after I get a new table count, or do I always add and subtract from that number constantly? What do you guys do?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

I count mine and the dealers card total in reverse, simply said if my first two card total is 13, I automaticly think 8 to get me there ( 13+8= 21 ). When the dealer hits my hand and I get a 6, I think good enough, and really do not think 19, until I see the dealers cards and determine if I win or lose. This silly little method helps to prevent me from losing count. Even in a 5 or 6 card hand counting the card total in reverse, while keeping the running count straight up seems works for me.
 
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Kaiser

Kaiser

Well-Known Member
TENNBEAR, that sounds a little too strange to me. I don't want to confuse myself any more than necessary. :) That is one cool thing about math and numbers in general though, people come up with all kinds of different ways of doing the same thing, and what seems perfectly normal for one person is weird to lots of other people.

With the running count thing, I spent the weekend just adjusting the running count as I'm going, and I can't believe how much easier it is. I have no idea why I was doing it the other way. I don't know if I read about someone doing that or what, but I feel like an idiot for adding another unnecessary step to the whole thing.

I really like the KISS III count too, rogue1. I find it easier to count the cards than Hi/Lo even though there are more cards to track - tracking the 7 as well as only the black 2s. It's much easier than the first two KISS counts to me; tracking fewer cards was actually harder for me because there are fewer hands that cancel each other out. It's actually surprising how quickly you can get really good at it with some practice.

I'll be in Vegas on May 11 and staying for a few days at the Imperial Palace. I know, I know, the sweetest hotel on the strip. :rolleyes: There are going to be about 13 of us though and we wanted something with a good location and pretty cheap. It's not like we'll be spending too much time in the crummy rooms anyway, so what the hell. :grin:

The only downer is going to be that with my finances right now, I will be lucky to have a $500 roll in my pocket for the 3 days. I'm keeping that separate from my other funds for drinks, etc. But still, with $500 I don't know how much real counting I'm going to be able to do. I don't want to get into a couple of really hot shoes on my first night there, bet accordingly, and lose the whole wad right away. I'm thinking it might be wiser to flat bet the cheapest table I can get on, get all the free drinks I can, and have some fun. Maybe I'll count the shoes I see before I'm totally drunk just to do a few index plays and insurance bets. Being underfinanced sucks. :mad:
 
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