Shuffle Tracking
January 23rd, 2017 at 2:51:18 AM
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BJ, 6 decks. So i basically dont know all the details of the procedure to outline but if i get replies with questions hopefully i can just answer those. There is a shuffle at a casino which they take the cards in the discard rack out and cut in half into pile A and pile B. They grab under a deck( grab size varies i guess) and shuffle those together. No strip. Single riffle. Place those cards in NEW pile C. Next, dealer grabs from C and B and shuffles together, places back on C. Next, C and A. I believe this procedure is called a step-ladder, not sure on that. After breaking all that down. They split pile C in half and repeat that process (double pass) i believe. Is this procedure highly vulnerable? It's at a property that is a sweat shop. Is there a preferred section to target. I have no experience whatsoever in attacking this, so any input is appreciated. I know most people count or hole card, this a more obscure method for AP's, but someone on this forum has to have messed with this a little.
January 23rd, 2017 at 4:32:05 AM
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I've started to get into ST.....but it's fairly tricky, to put it lightly. I don't think it's something you can just come up with a formula and go use it.....lots of practice at home....and then when you go out to actually play, lots of adjustments may be made on the fly.
Yes, that's a double pass step ladder with a single riffle.
ST is much harder than one would think. Map out the shuffle by hand to see how vulnerable or not-vulnerable it is. Basically just draw pictures. With 3/4 deck grabs, there'll be eight 3/4 sections in a 6 deck stack. Draw a picture of a standing 6 deck stack with 8 sections (labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H).
The first riffle is a marriage of A + E.
Second riffle is a marriage of (1/2)(A+E) + B
Third riffle is (1/2)[(1/2)(A+E) + B] + F
Etc.
Then you do the same thing a second time (for the second pass).
The letters represent the running count in each section.
Then do the same thing but instead of 3/4 deck grabs, do it with 1 deck grabs (total of 6 letters instead of 8). Then do it again for 1/2 deck grabs (12 letters). Chances are, you're going to get very different maps from starting stack to final stack. What you most likely want is a very consistent dealer who always makes the same grab sizes every time. That'll take more of the eye-balling technique required out of the equation (although still necessary to follow the cards through the shuffle). If you get a sloppy dealer who makes 3/4 deck grabs with his right hand but 1/2 grabs with his left, it's really gonna screw up your map....especially when he gets near the end of the shuffle procedure and realizes he has more cards in his left stack than right stack, where he'll compensate and start making larger grabs with his left hand than his right.
Just reading through the shuffle procedure, it appears the cards that are at the very top of the first completely unshuffled stack will also be at the very top of the ending stack.
Unfortunately, if grabs aren't consistently the same size, going to be pretty tough. Although that could be better for you overall, for a specific dealer who may consistently end up with 10 cards in one stack and 40 in another.....that 40 card stack is practically uncontaminated (with the stack of 10 cards).
Yes, that's a double pass step ladder with a single riffle.
ST is much harder than one would think. Map out the shuffle by hand to see how vulnerable or not-vulnerable it is. Basically just draw pictures. With 3/4 deck grabs, there'll be eight 3/4 sections in a 6 deck stack. Draw a picture of a standing 6 deck stack with 8 sections (labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H).
The first riffle is a marriage of A + E.
Second riffle is a marriage of (1/2)(A+E) + B
Third riffle is (1/2)[(1/2)(A+E) + B] + F
Etc.
Then you do the same thing a second time (for the second pass).
The letters represent the running count in each section.
Then do the same thing but instead of 3/4 deck grabs, do it with 1 deck grabs (total of 6 letters instead of 8). Then do it again for 1/2 deck grabs (12 letters). Chances are, you're going to get very different maps from starting stack to final stack. What you most likely want is a very consistent dealer who always makes the same grab sizes every time. That'll take more of the eye-balling technique required out of the equation (although still necessary to follow the cards through the shuffle). If you get a sloppy dealer who makes 3/4 deck grabs with his right hand but 1/2 grabs with his left, it's really gonna screw up your map....especially when he gets near the end of the shuffle procedure and realizes he has more cards in his left stack than right stack, where he'll compensate and start making larger grabs with his left hand than his right.
Just reading through the shuffle procedure, it appears the cards that are at the very top of the first completely unshuffled stack will also be at the very top of the ending stack.
Unfortunately, if grabs aren't consistently the same size, going to be pretty tough. Although that could be better for you overall, for a specific dealer who may consistently end up with 10 cards in one stack and 40 in another.....that 40 card stack is practically uncontaminated (with the stack of 10 cards).
