keeping vount while distracted

[creatureman]

I was wondering if any of you vets have any tips for keeping the count while some one is talking like other players, bored pit boss, or a cute cocktail waitress my personal weakness, hehehe. I also sometimes have to count my hand in my head especially if its a multiple card soft hand.In practice i sometimes lose the count. Im sure pratice is the key here, but i was just looking for some ideas. thanx

 

[Hinoon]

It's all about how you practice.

If you approach learning to count like you approach academics, then you're going to have a hard time applying your newly learned skills in a real-world setting.

Once you've got the basics of your count under control (meaning, you understand them enough to practice without a book or chart), then it's pretty important to start practicing under non-ideal conditions. In a quiet, secluded living room you might be able to count down a deck in 11 seconds....but that really doesn't reflect your abilities because you'll never come across a game that has those serene conditions.

Start with the radio. Practice with the radio playing...try different channels...not just music you like. Can you keep accuracy with MegaDeth playing a little too loud? What about Celine Dion? Try it with talk radio...after you count down a deck, can you discuss the subject matter of the talk-show? Try arguing with the talk-radio host out loud while you count. Try counting with the radio on "search mode"...where the radio only sits on one channel for 3 or 4 seconds before flipping channels...it's really annoying, and it's hard to concentrate.

Do the same with TV. Then with TV and the radio. Build up your tolerance for external sensory overload.

I'm not a particularly "math" minded person...I think of counting like I think of reading...one card is like one letter. A combo reads like a word. Instead of "t" + "h" + "e", you get "the"... With practice you can "read" a series of hands like a sentence. By doing that, you use less time and energy, and can then seem a lot more "normal" at the table.

Try practicing counting in unorthodox places...like on the bus or metro...keep a solid count, but don't miss your stop!

Basically, shake it up a little, and understand that practicing under ideal conditions will not give you an accurate idea of your in-casino abilities.

 

[phantom007]

Agree with HiNoon, and Suggest....

1. Try practicing while your spouse, girl/boy-friend, or in my case, "soon to be ex-spouse" rambles on and on. With practice, you will find that you can keep both accurate counts and side-counts, while all-the-while, making the person talking to you think that you are listening and responding to each and every word. Some examples, as based on my typical "system":

"YES DEAR, YOU ARE RIGHT"...spoken only when TC is +6 or higher. Guarantees a several minute sermon educating you on why SHE is right! During which time, you keep counting and shuffling.

"YES DEAR, YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT"...TC +3-+5. Again, several minute sermon that SHE IS RIGHT! Count, count, count, shuffle, count.

"TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS"...best reserved for Neutral Cts, -3 to +3, wherein you BOTH will spend most of your time.

"IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU ARE F#CK'N CRAZY"...say this automatically in neg. cts. Gets one lots of Practice Time, providing the recipient is Non-Violent.

2. PRACTICE AT WORK! +EV from the start. Co-workers will interrupt you and ask questions...answer same, JUST KEEP THE COUNT! Can even work to your advantage...recently I received a complaint about a Psychiatrist. Patient alleged that HE WENT TO SLEEP DURING HER SESSION! Just would NOT have happened if he was CC'ing! Hell, he could have told the patient that he was trying to adjust her treatment "BY THE CARDS". She would have loved it, and he could have billed her insurance for it...more +EV!

3. HOW BIG IS YOUR D.I.C.K.? "Deck Incremented Count Kronometer". Everybody brags about how LITTLE their D.I.C.K. is in BJ...."I can Count a Deck in 11 seconds" is a common post. Just NOT OPERANT in the Real World. Yes, strive to count WITHOUT INTERRUPTION in 11 or whatever seconds...even if you have a ONE-Minute D.I.C.K., you will do just fine in the real world, at least as for the game of BJ. All else being equal, I would BACK-BET a slow but accurate D.I.C.K. every time, if my other choice was a quick but SLOPPY D.I.C.K.!

4. COUNTING BY INFERENCE, as related to being Interrupted, is a skill to work on. For example, if PC starts showing you pictures of kids, grandkids, Cleveland vacation, etc., you MUST pay at least cursory attention. If a player shows a 2-up, and draws a Face, and busts, you can safely INFER that there was a 10 "down-below" even if you did not see it.

5. WHEN TOTALLY INTERRUPTED, as often happens when Waitresses' breast(s) slip up AND out of those "Tight Little Holders", just revert to B.S., and if unsure, just make the Minimum Bet, until either you have regained the Ct., the Shuffle, or when She has "RECOVERED", i.e., Stuffed Those Nice Big Breasts back into those Little Cups.

6. AND IF YOU ARE STILL DISTRACTED BY CLEAVAGE, try the Rio in LV! I have read posts to the effect that they are an EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer). One no longer has to worry about breasts as a distraction...but if you drop a "barney" on the floor......

GRIN!

phantom007.

 

[creatureman]

lol thanks phantom

I practice with my kids bothering me all the time. Ill think will not take your advice on the spouse practice however.lol

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I nominate this for 'The Best Posts'!

 

[Virgin Counter]

Distractions

It takes practice thats all I can say. I just had my first successful countdown of 6 deck shoes using KO at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. The first three shoes I got distracted, lost the count and had to play out each shoe with basic strategy. I got in the swing of it for the next three shoes. I ended up winning on two of the shoes and losing on one for net gain of $200. I got used to the surroundings, relaxed, and was able to concentrate. I practice counting down 6 decks on the computer all the time, but nothing beats actual combat conditions. Good luck. VC.