From SD 2 a Shoe!

A

Anthony

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

Since studying the game of BJ as an advantage player, I've played only single and double deck games.

I decided to go an play a $3 six deck shoe game for practice and to see what it's really like. If your like me and play only single and double deck games, here's what I experienced.

1. It's not a hard as you would think
2. The math is a little more complicated
3. It can take a long time for a plus/negative count
4. Expect to have a big bankroll
5. Shuffels take forever
6. Full exposure of the cards is nice
7. Learning to judge how many decks are left by thikness will take practice
8. I could see why you would get less heat

If you're use to playing SD DD games, then go and put some time in on a shoe game. I felt more confident playing DD the next day, it was kinda like swimming in the ocean, then swimming in a indoor pool. How did I do on the shoe? Doesn't really matter becuase I only played about 4 hours, but it was deffinitly a learning experience. With the right people I can see how a team can do very well. Remember the song "I like Pina Colada?"

Take it Easy
Anthony
 
Automatic Monkey

Automatic Monkey

Banned
Input

Hi Anthony, as a habitual shoe player who only plays pitch occasionally, let me give you the reverse perspective.

"1. It's not a hard as you would think"

It's easier in many ways. The one thing that tripped me up for a few minutes the first time I played pitch was keeping the cards you've seen from separate from the players' hidden cards when the dealer turns over the hands, and at the same time separate from your neighbors' hands that you peeked at. It adds a whole new level of accounting.

"2. The math is a little more complicated"

Most people seem to see it the other way. Although shoe has higher numbers, pitch TC conversion usually involves dividing by fractions which most people find troubling.

"3. It can take a long time for a plus/negative count"

You can wait all night for a big count. Beware steaming. When you have a bad run in SD or DD you know another good count is a few minutes away at max, in shoe it could be hours before you can get your revenge so there's more of a temptation to imagine an advantage that isn't really there.

"4. Expect to have a big bankroll"

Yes, but you need a big BR with pitch too. One unpleasant fact about shoe is that with the multiple splits and DAS rule you can lose 8 big bets per hand and easily lose a few hundred units per shoe. In pitch you don't lose as many units but your units will be higher if playing the same bankroll with the same ROR, with a spread realistic for a pitch game (e.g., a 1:20 spread is routine in shoe, just try that in a SD game.)

"5. Shuffels take forever"

Yes, this can be a good thing. To make an 8D shoe as random as a single deck when shuffled would take an unacceptably long time, so deductive logic tells you...

"6. Full exposure of the cards is nice"

Helps a bit, but the added PE you get from being able to see all the cards on the table isn't as useful as it is in SD.

"7. Learning to judge how many decks are left by thikness will take practice"

Right, but it's probably easier than true counting SD.

"8. I could see why you would get less heat"

Absolutely. It's not as good a game. It's also not as susceptible to cheating techniques like card marking and switching so surveillance has less of a reason to be watching the table.

"Remember the song "I like Pina Colada?""

The name of the song was "Escape". Publicly singing the lyrics can have a deleterious effect on your chances of getting laid. Learn some Aerosmith or Led Zep instead.
 
A

Anthony

Well-Known Member
Re: You should only....

ZG,

If your playing a shoe game and want to "wong" out, and you don't have another player to keep count, what do you do? My original post was my experience in playing the shoe game, as compared to a pitch SD DD game. How far into, and how far negative does the count have to be on a six deck shoe before you "wong" out?

Thanks
Anthony
 
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