If you want zero consequence experience to help you learn: GTA San Andreas, the Red Dead Redemption games, and Fallout: New Vegas all offer fairly fleshed out side games of Blackjack
The Running count Vs. True count analogy using the fish--pond size analogy is very very good. A high Count in the early part of the deck isn't nearly as meaningful as a high count in the latter part of the deck. Very good way of describing it.
Great explanatory video. I learnt to count cards 10 years ago. When I got into a casino environment I'd just instantly forget everything. Well done Steven for sticking with it and thanks for the documentary style videos. Loving the journey so far!
Thanks Nathan! Hahah yeah I totally feel ya! One time I was in a particularly high pressure casino situation and I had to step outside because all blackjack knowledge had left my brain haha
I’m here from Mike’s video. Basically, you have your basic strategy, then diversions and finally, card counting. Which isn’t cheating, merely an advanced strategy that everyone has access to. Apart from the dealer. Because the dealer is forced to hit regardless, we can take an advantage back by using a strategy that is perfectly legal, only due to the rules of the game, unavailable to the house. I love it!
fun fact, in middle school i was into magic and slowly got into card counting , yes i was only 12-14 years old but the whole idea of card counting fascinated me to where i rented a card counting book from the library and would practice for hours and hours, everyone thought i was crazy since i was way below the gambling age limit, i was pretty good at the counts and would even backtrack to see if my count was correct, of course i stopped my venture as my parents continuesly reminded me that i was 7-8 years below the gambling age, i am now 26 and i use somewhat of the same probability system when i trade stocks and crypto in which i do full time and make a good living, starting to slowly get back into blackjack watching these kinds of videos :) another funny note my oldest brother is a casino security manager lol
A little late now haha, how did it go the past 2 years? I would love to learn it and i am doing my research now and I was just wondering how it goes now? Greeting,
I’m so glad you mentioned the new trend where some casinos are paying 6 to 5 for player blackjacks, and for you telling players to not play at these places. Such a clear money grab on the part of casinos to take from players, the vast majority of whom are playing a 'losing game' anyway. Loving the series, Steven! Keep up the great work!
Yeah I'm tempted to make a guide for casual players where I teach them about good pen and the importance of a hand shuffle as well. Would be lovely if non counters started demanding good pen 😂 Thank you!
@@marinko1862 McDonalds scrapped the idea of a 1/3 pound burger because people thought a 1/4 pounder was bigger, that is exactly why people don't notice how much of a scam that is.
That's way simpler than I thought. I expected people to keep count of how many cards of each value had been played and calculate the odds of each value to be drawn. The+1/0/-1 makes this really easy.
There are more complicated counting systems that do assign point values beyond -1/0/+1, but they're obviously harder to learn and execute. There are also simpler systems that don't require any deck estimation or true-count conversion. They all get the money, it's up to the player to decide if they want to eke out more value using a more difficult count or to stick to the same high-low count advantage players and teams have been winning with for decades
I’m just getting in BJ. I have always been intrigued by it. I have an insane gift of visual memory picked up basic strat in 12 hours. Now learning count. It’s a new concept
The way my brain works is in order to remember this I need to know how it works. I will google it in a few, but my beginning thoughts (which always change as talk thru it) is something like if there's a positive running count, that means there are more - cards in the playing deck. Meaning you're more likely to get a card higher than 9. If it's a negative count, then more >9 cards have been played, so you're more likely to get the lower cards in the rest of that playing deck. This is the clearest explanation I've ever heard for this, thank you for that. I think other times I've tried learning they simplify it too much, which then confuses me.
I liked how you explained stuff like why you can't beat a game like rolette with the black and red game example and true count conversion with the fish example. Probably one of the best vídeos explaing how card counting works I have seen on youtube. Loving these series!
EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to mention pen! 😂 For those wondering, the one other element is eyeballing where the dealer puts the cut card. This affects how many cards are dealt before the shuffle. As counters, we want that cut card to be VERY close to the end of the shoe, so as many cards are dealt as possible. The more cards dealt, the more reliable the information we have is when counting. Typically, most counters wouldn't wanna play a 6 deck game with more than 1.5 decks cut off. But it does vary based off a lot of factors. Video in itself tbh. - Hopefully you all found this video interesting! I thought it'd be handy to give an ACTUAL explanation to exactly what I'm doing! 😃 Btw more bonus fun content here: stevenbridges.ck.page/
I’d love to play with you brother. Been doing this for many years. Every now and then get a back off, wait a few months for a busy weekend and hit them again. 😂. Cheers mate from Las Vegas!
@@andreas300able I'm personally of the belief that simplicity has a lot of value. The more complex the system, the more work and therefore the more tiring. And being able to talk while doing hi-lo is relatively straight forward. Saying that, I've never looked into multi-level counts and do know people that use them.
I know nothing about black jack and I want to thank you for wonderful analogies that made this video really possible to follow along with …. Thank you so much I understand so much more about it now. 😊
Wow! That didn't feel like a 15min video, easy watch. I always thought you'd have to be a genius to count cards. I found this super fascinating. A cool video would be taking a new player and training them up.
Yeah, it is funny how the skill has gotten a "rocket science" reputation. Movies, I guess - that bit of counting in "Rain Man" only "worked" if it required some incredible feat of mental math, for example.
@@KipIngram Not exactly correct. Many things you need to learn like knowing specific rules of table and how to play perfectly (basic strategy) all while keeping count keeping track of bets and not projecting that any of this is going on
@New PS5 Games VR Bitcoin Racing Prank Team RapperBy counting youre essentially predicting what card will come next. That probability changes depending on how many of each card there is in the entire shoe because any of them could be played.
@New PS5 Games VR Bitcoin Racing Prank Team Rapper so if you have a running 12 witch was explained and their are 6 decks (4 remaining 2 in discard) you devide 12 by 4 and get 3 the decimals are cut off
@New PS5 Games VR AI Gold Racing Prank Team Rapper the decks have fixed cards so more decks means more of them same cards. If you think you chances are high the amount of decks greatly reduces you chances. Knowing how to put the count and deck into a ratio makes it extremely simple to know the chances.
You cannot think about odds into the action, they have to be automatic so that the toughts can be focused on the situation. I play poker for fun now, it's the same, it's a game of situations.
You should look up the "Abacus Finger Theory" - it's a way to do math with 1-2 digit numbers _extremely_ fast on your fingers without having to do any math. It'd be a way to keep the count without ever having to do any actual math, which would be an interesting way to manage it. Also, because you use your fingers, you don't have to repeat anything in your head, letting you focus on being natural at the table.
When you bet big depends on your bankroll, table rules, and also, the situation you are in. If you have more to spend, you can begin to bet at a lower true count with larger amounts of money, if you don't have as much, you have to play conservatively as card counting is about getting a ton of hands in to eventually turn it in your favor rather than any individual hand. The casino you're playing at also matters, if its a local casino you'd like to come back to, you don't want to attract much heat (if you are continuing to win big they begin to notice you more and eventually may ask you to leave or even tell you you're no longer allowed back - trespassing you) as you'll likely want to be able to come back, but if you're on vacation and you doubt you'll return to that casino, as long as it's not affiliated with another casino you frequent or they actively share names and pictures of possible card counters with other casinos (this requires some research of your own) then if they catch you oh well, they have to let you cash out your chips. A player seemingly randomly betting big is one of the biggest tells that you're card counting, especially if you're winning on those big bets, so when you bet big depends on the situation you find yourself in.
Steven, you have a very charismatic personalty! Ever thinking of teaching black jack and cardcounting? Me myself would have love being at your classes!
Wow. I am actually jarred by how easy it is to count cards. Obviously it takes a lot of practice to be able to apply all that in a real situation while acting normal, but it's not like you have to be a math genius like Hollywood or similar makes you believe.
I started practicing at home a couple years ago just for a fun side hobby. A few friends wanted to go to a little casino near my house, and I decided to try my hand at blackjack. Never really expected to go to a casino with it, though the thought had crossed my mind. Won a couple hundred and got backed-off; I was honestly impressed with myself, and my friends were really confused. I definitely made plenty of mistakes however, it can be a lot of fun.
I stumbled across your content and I’m hooked!!! This series of card counting you’re doing is amazing and entertaining! Keep up the good work! Can’t wait for the next episode lol
You had me at deviations. Let do this! Been training basic strategy for 2 months. Next is two months of counting it home simulation. Should be ready with 6 months total training. That’s just me some of you may learn quicker or slower, safe to say results may very.
A tutorial video without a fish and pond analogy is not a good tutorial video. Seconding all those who say this provides useful context to the series, Steven! Thank you. :)
This is the best fucking guide for blackjack and overall explaining how casions take your money I have ever seen. I just can't believe how good you explained this.
I was watching this at 4:00 a.m. this morning. I literally did not know how easy it was after I knew about the numbers. Now I can't even stop saying D1 or up one or anything. I've been playing with three deck of cards and I've been literally predicting these numbers and you're telling me this is what it took for me to win. I could have used this two nights ago LOL thank God my birthday is coming up. Wish me luck
I’ve noticed in some casinos, they allow people to visually consult a personal printed basic strategy table in plain sight. I’ve always wondered how they can justify that, but not justify someone card counting. It’s just an extension of basic strategy. A routine is to not get greedy as walking out with a few hundred or a thousand routinely doesn’t attract as much attention as a huge take. Also, use the idea of slipping won chips into your pocket so that it doesn’t show to the pit boss or cameras from the table (unless they’re watching you and only you). Also, pass your chips to someone else with you for them to cash out instead.
One way to think of the 50/50 odds and the "your event happens completely independently to what had happened before" is to imagine all the previous shuffles and selections *actually* were going to happen in the future: Suppose you have a shuffled deck and you take out the top card to reveal it to be red. Then suppose you give the deck to 10 other people after your shuffle, and they each do the same and shuffle it every time. When viewed in the future, obviously those events happened independently and don't affect your first card draw... so simply apply all that to the past as well. If the 10 other people in reality selected theirs before you did and shuffled the deck to give you your own selection, yours would be the exact same odds as if you'd have picked your card first. Or you can alternatively imagine 9 other people in 9 different countries doing the shuffle and picking top card simultaneously. Simultaneously, it really does demonstrate clearly how each individual event has no relation whatsoever to the first scenario.
Super interesting, thanks! Does anyone know why the casinos don’t just reshuffle the deck each time? Seems like it would eliminate the possibility for counting but for a non-counter the game is the same.. is it the time taken to shuffle?
Reshuffling single deck takes too much time and ups potential for dealers to cheat. Continuous shuffling machines exist and are common in Europe but many people don’t like them hence the lack of popularity in the US
It's not worth it for the casino. They want the non-counters to keep playing as fast as possible and the time during a shuffle is too much wasted time.
I think it is so cool that you’re documenting all this and your experiences at the casino. I hope u win huge! But I also really hope, you having this channel doesn’t eventually get you busted from all casinos
Came here from Mike’s channel. You’re awesome! Did a great job teaching and demonstrating the technique in his video. I’m checking out your videos now.
@@stevenbridges thanks for replying, Steven! I just sent you an email. I was going to write a comment but it got indecently long, so I decided to email you directly. But in short, I’m SOO glad I found your channel today. Your journey is very inspiring and intriguing.
Love this video! I hope Colin doesn't get mad at you, lol. I've experienced that after game count getting stuck in your head bit. I've also had to deal with super distracting players and a couple times they threw my count off. Still working at it. I've got basic strategy at around 90-95% and my counting is up around the same 90-95% accuracy. Eeeking out that last 5-10% of perfection is super hard but I'm going to keep at it. Been to the casino a couple times to get a feel for the atmosphere and to test myself out. Been able to do it a few times. I hope to head to Reno and Vegas in 2022 with a decent bank roll. Thanks for posting this video!
Small tip for if/when you're in Reno: make sure you know what the house rules are before you start playing at a particular casino. "Reno rules" are a real thing, and not every place has a beatable game
haha Colin's video on how to count is great! It's many of the others that are over simplified. Mate, nice work! Keep it up 😃 You on BJA? Feel free to DM me anytime.
Props to you Steven for clearly and eloquently explaining the card counting process. I've never quite understood it and always thought it was more complicated than it was (just watch Rainman a few times), your video broke it down about as well as humanly possible. Brilliant job...I'd love to put card counting to practice, but my next fear to overcome is how quickly will the Casino react and black-ball me on any 21/Blackjack games. The Casino's can't watch everyone, but if they do pay attention they can definitely catch card counters based on how they're betting each round.
My friend Mike said it best “I thought card counting was going to be a very complex system, that once I understood, would be relatively easy to do. In reality it’s a very simple system that is very difficult to implement”
was the best video on the count ive ever seen . but no one can beat BJ anymore cas casino wont let you play .. i moved to baccarat and they dont care how much you win , no shit but gl. if you try BJ
not played much of BJ, heard about card counting, i figured it works like this, count small mid and big card, which is basically same, even tho if my count is like 2-30-12 i know most of mid cars are burned, and its fairly safe to take a card at 15 most mid range has been burned some bigs but deck still has most small ones, i figured this way i can count the odds when to take card and when not to, not like this system which is trying to find streaks.
There are counting systems that do incorporate those cards into the system, particularly 7s. While removal of these cards does impact the edge of the game, the effect of removal is extremely small. Of the three, 7s impact the edge the most, and removal of 7s is good for the player. There are many systems, including KO, Red Sevens and Zen, that include 7s in the count. There are few counts that count 9s, the 9 has an even smaller effect of removal, and removal of 9s hurts the player, though not by much. The only two counts that come to mind that include 9s are Wong Halves and Silver Fox. As far as I know, there aren't any widely used counting systems for blackjack that include the 8s, the reason for this is that the removal of 8s has virtually zero impact on the edge in the game, so there's no real reason to keep a count that includes 8s.
@@stevenbridges I'm inspired by your content, I've been practicing counting for 2 years now. I think that deviation of play based around true count is the key to success. Ive been wondering how one goes about securing a "gambling" loan or generally how that situation plays out between an investor and oneself. Blessings. P.S. can I play advantage blackjack "fulltime". I surely wouldn't quit my job to play cards, I don't know if it could be a realistic thing to try, but I'd like to know what that might be like.
@@twonickels3693 I appreciate your input, would it be more accurate to simply add 7 to + and 8 to - leaving 9 as the only neutral? I understand why they do not change the odds into anyone's favor by a significant amount but I imagine having knowledge of how many of them are still in deck would be good.
@@davhen5874 A count like silver fox would increase your betting correlation, it would reduce your insurance correlation though, and I'm not sure how it would impact playing efficiency. To the last part of your statement, it wouldn't really tell you how many of those cards remain, your categories of minus cards and plus cards would just be a bigger category. I believe you're asking about this on BJA presently right now too, we can just keep the conversation there for ease of communications if you'd like.
I imagine Casinos actually end up making some amount of money because people have heard that you CAN play a winning game, and they "saw a youtube video once, so they sort of know how its done". Nice with a better overview of the topic for those interested to get into it!
You are absolutely correct. Backing off card counters is an incredibly low priority for casinos simply because most of them aren't actually very good at it and their overconfidence brings in more revenue
@@stevenbridges Actually no, I'm completely self-taught. I've been an AP for about 7 years and was a dealer for 3, so I try to discreetly spread my knowledge when and where I can. Huge amount of respect for Colin and the crew at BJA though. They do great work, and I'm happy that they helped you find enjoyment in the game (both blackjack and the meta cat-and-mouse of card counting!)
Card counting is very easy to learn but very difficult to execute at a high level. Luckily I'm very good at memorizing numbers. Would love to join the team man. Can be a real asset
I know I'm a cool 2 yrs late to this video, but recently I tried to teach a friend the BA basic chart and because the math happened to not be working in his favor, he said that what I was showing him was useless and he'd stick to his "normal strats" at the table. That dude has lost several grand of the course of a few months. I haven't hit a table yet because I don't plan to until I'm ready. I'm perfecting basic before I set foot in that hell hole with pretty lights
I’ve been working on my game since I got out of high school and I’m decent but I never freaking looked at how many deck in whenever I got too a table. I’ve never been blinded by a light bulb coming before lol 😂❤
Hi, Steven. Enjoyed your appearance on Mikes channel. I've been a professional trader for quite some time now and there are clearly a lot of similarities between successful trading and black jack. Obtain an edge/advantage, manage your risk and develop a probabilistic mindset. The outcome of any one instance doesn't mean much, but it does over the course of a hundred plays it does. Cheers.
Reminds me of how playing black in chess gives you a slight disadvantage just because you move second. At the highest levels this often effects who wins while beginners will blunder pieces so it doesn't much matter. I don't think ai like all these variables in blackjack or cards in general.
I have a question. Does it make sense if I play online blackjack and then I have a paper next to me and then I have all the time to count everything with enough time?
Counting really helps more to know when a shoe is BAD and when to def NOT bet. Raising unit size in itself is dangerous unless you have a bankroll. So maany great shoe/counts will still just help the dealer 😅
I prefer the TKO count. Much simpler and just as powerful. It’s simpler to remember the deviations and you still look at the discard tray but only need to know what deck you are on and no division. There are key numbers to remember per deck to know what to bet and where you are but no division
I don't think casino should be able to kick someone out for counting cards. if suspected or caught, my advice would be just to shuffle more. perhaps after 3 shoes you could shuffle all 5 shoes and start over at that point.
Hey mate! Just wanted to say, I love these videos, the commitment to videoing the journey and having the patience to not post for years, so entertaining! Quick question - I am thinking about picking this up on BJA in the coming months, but I just wanted to ask, how much time would you need to spend in order to learn the base theory and deviations? It will be a side hustle so wanted to try and make a plan, thanks in advance!
Thanks so much! If you join BJA, please use my link 😃 Great question, and honestly it's difficult for me to answer because I wasn't tracking my time very well when learning. I'd say though, if you're a smart person, you'll get it quicker than me. Total guess - spend 2 hours a day and you'd get it down in 6 months. More dedication you'd get it done quicker. BJA muchhhhhh quicker than using books. That's a total guess. I took ages because I wasn't consistent with my training.
I got BJA a few years back. Was working at target at the time and had a half hour after close to walk the isles and clean up. In that first half hour I recited the first third of the basic strategy chart (it goes splits, soft hands, hard hands and I recon it goes in order from hardest to learn to easiest to learn) by reciting it out loud and checking my phone when I got confused and had it memorized in that half an hour. After basic strategy you learn counting, then deck estimation and true count conversion you kind of learn together and then learn deviations. Get the first one to the point where it seems like natural instinct (which happens way faster than it sounds) before moving onto the next but you never stop practicing each thing you learn. Sorry to dump that all on you I love talking about blackjack ahahah
The problem is Casinos put the stop card (cutting) the stack of decks almost in the middle or at least 1/3 nowadays. Meaning they deal not more than 1/2 or 2/3 of the cards. As soon as they suspect a card counter. Some even put rotative continuous shuffling machines...
I'm not sure I understand the analogy with the colors. Most casinos will reshuffle the cards after all cards have been dealt, so does this only apply to the first 6 decks, and then you re-count and place bigger bets at the end of the last 1-2 decks each time?
6:31 So in your opinion this is the absolute BEST strategy chart? Out off all slightly different ones I found online, this one is the best? You should only surrender when you have 15 or 16 and the dealer has 9, 10 or ace? I think D stands for double, S for stand and H for hit? Y for yes and N for n? What about Ds and Y/N? I'm just asking, I don't know much about BlackJack and I would like to know.
6:50 I wonder if card counting strategy derivation truly required trial and error or if you could calculate the optimal plays by hand, or at least computer, mathematically
We have ONE casino in my state due to local laws (in Australia) and they use continuous shuffling machines so basic strategy is as good as I can do. Which it seems, is not enough.
Thanks, great video (and the others). Just wondeirng about how practical it is to card count in casinos? I mean, surely it's easy to spot a card counter by how they play? After 1 month you basically had nowhere left to play in Washington State. And I'm sure it would be the same story in Vegas/Nevada. So how can a card counter keep playing when they have been banned from everywhere?
It would be interesting to hear his opinion on how they manage the betting spread so as not to attract attention. Since the way to exploit the count is to bet heavy when the count is in your favor that is normally what attracts attention (someone betting $25 for most hands who then starts betting $1000 later in the hand)
will casinos let you keep a basic strategy card like yours with you when you play? Also can you write anything down while you play so you could keep the running count from slipping out of you head?
Its 4am
I’ve never played Black Jack, and i dont reaally understand it
but this was worth my time
What do you even mean lol. You obviously wrote this at 4:00 am.
@@logicmass621 SILENCE!!!!!!
Same
@@niclasnielsen4376damn same. 3:14 here. My college exam is in 8 hours, but this was well spent time for sure
If you want zero consequence experience to help you learn: GTA San Andreas, the Red Dead Redemption games, and Fallout: New Vegas all offer fairly fleshed out side games of Blackjack
The Running count Vs. True count analogy using the fish--pond size analogy is very very good. A high Count in the early part of the deck isn't nearly as meaningful as a high count in the latter part of the deck. Very good way of describing it.
Yeah it's a "Yoda level" analogy. Lol nicely done Magician
It is a good analogy. It's also common sense
It's easily the best analogy I have ever heard. This man is a true genius. And the way he delivers it. Unprecedented.
In science we would call this “normalization”.
Great explanatory video. I learnt to count cards 10 years ago. When I got into a casino environment I'd just instantly forget everything. Well done Steven for sticking with it and thanks for the documentary style videos. Loving the journey so far!
Thanks Nathan! Hahah yeah I totally feel ya! One time I was in a particularly high pressure casino situation and I had to step outside because all blackjack knowledge had left my brain haha
@@stevenbridges how’d you get it back
this is a lot better...
ua-cam.com/video/nO6aPOkCt84/v-deo.html
Can card counting actually works for games like governor of poker 3?
@@stevenbridges
@@baccaratplaza3473neuralink
I’m here from Mike’s video. Basically, you have your basic strategy, then diversions and finally, card counting. Which isn’t cheating, merely an advanced strategy that everyone has access to. Apart from the dealer. Because the dealer is forced to hit regardless, we can take an advantage back by using a strategy that is perfectly legal, only due to the rules of the game, unavailable to the house. I love it!
Not diversions, DEVIATIONS.
fun fact, in middle school i was into magic and slowly got into card counting , yes i was only 12-14 years old but the whole idea of card counting fascinated me to where i rented a card counting book from the library and would practice for hours and hours, everyone thought i was crazy since i was way below the gambling age limit, i was pretty good at the counts and would even backtrack to see if my count was correct, of course i stopped my venture as my parents continuesly reminded me that i was 7-8 years below the gambling age, i am now 26 and i use somewhat of the same probability system when i trade stocks and crypto in which i do full time and make a good living, starting to slowly get back into blackjack watching these kinds of videos :) another funny note my oldest brother is a casino security manager lol
How did you apply/relate your card counting method to stock trading? I’ve been getting destroyed for yours in the stock market
A little late now haha, how did it go the past 2 years? I would love to learn it and i am doing my research now and I was just wondering how it goes now?
Greeting,
I’m so glad you mentioned the new trend where some casinos are paying 6 to 5 for player blackjacks, and for you telling players to not play at these places. Such a clear money grab on the part of casinos to take from players, the vast majority of whom are playing a 'losing game' anyway.
Loving the series, Steven! Keep up the great work!
Yeah I'm tempted to make a guide for casual players where I teach them about good pen and the importance of a hand shuffle as well. Would be lovely if non counters started demanding good pen 😂
Thank you!
From 0.5% house edge to 2%. Such a steal lol. How do average people not notice this
@@marinko1862 McDonalds scrapped the idea of a 1/3 pound burger because people thought a 1/4 pounder was bigger, that is exactly why people don't notice how much of a scam that is.
@@marinko1862 average people are ignorant!don't care and don't research anything!
What does 6 to 5 game mean?
That's way simpler than I thought. I expected people to keep count of how many cards of each value had been played and calculate the odds of each value to be drawn. The+1/0/-1 makes this really easy.
You could do that but it would be impossible for a human to do fluently in a game and the extra payout is minimal.
@Apocalypse Its different for poker because you wouldn’t need as many basic strategy deviations that come with a higher count system in blackjack.
There are more complicated counting systems that do assign point values beyond -1/0/+1, but they're obviously harder to learn and execute. There are also simpler systems that don't require any deck estimation or true-count conversion. They all get the money, it's up to the player to decide if they want to eke out more value using a more difficult count or to stick to the same high-low count advantage players and teams have been winning with for decades
I’m just getting in BJ. I have always been intrigued by it. I have an insane gift of visual memory picked up basic strat in 12 hours. Now learning count. It’s a new concept
The way my brain works is in order to remember this I need to know how it works. I will google it in a few, but my beginning thoughts (which always change as talk thru it) is something like if there's a positive running count, that means there are more - cards in the playing deck. Meaning you're more likely to get a card higher than 9. If it's a negative count, then more >9 cards have been played, so you're more likely to get the lower cards in the rest of that playing deck.
This is the clearest explanation I've ever heard for this, thank you for that. I think other times I've tried learning they simplify it too much, which then confuses me.
I liked how you explained stuff like why you can't beat a game like rolette with the black and red game example and true count conversion with the fish example. Probably one of the best vídeos explaing how card counting works I have seen on youtube. Loving these series!
Maybe you should have someone explain how to spell Roulette to you.
I believe he now has had someone explain to him how to spell Roulette.@@blake_lively_matters6553
You can count roulette as long as they don’t switch the spinner/dealer frequently. Impossible to count on the strip but easier within other states.
@@MrSmoove1224False.
Can card counting actually works for games like governor of poker 3?
I've been enjoying the vlogs, but this overview makes it easier to follow. Thanks.
Pleased to hear it! 😃
EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to mention pen! 😂
For those wondering, the one other element is eyeballing where the dealer puts the cut card. This affects how many cards are dealt before the shuffle. As counters, we want that cut card to be VERY close to the end of the shoe, so as many cards are dealt as possible. The more cards dealt, the more reliable the information we have is when counting.
Typically, most counters wouldn't wanna play a 6 deck game with more than 1.5 decks cut off. But it does vary based off a lot of factors. Video in itself tbh.
-
Hopefully you all found this video interesting! I thought it'd be handy to give an ACTUAL explanation to exactly what I'm doing! 😃
Btw more bonus fun content here: stevenbridges.ck.page/
I’d love to play with you brother. Been doing this for many years. Every now and then get a back off, wait a few months for a busy weekend and hit them again. 😂. Cheers mate from Las Vegas!
Do you just use the Hi-Lo i real life, or do you use something like zen or omega?
@@andreas300able I'm personally of the belief that simplicity has a lot of value. The more complex the system, the more work and therefore the more tiring. And being able to talk while doing hi-lo is relatively straight forward.
Saying that, I've never looked into multi-level counts and do know people that use them.
@@stevenbridges copy that. Thank you for the crazy fast response. 💪👍
I know nothing about black jack and I want to thank you for wonderful analogies that made this video really possible to follow along with …. Thank you so much I understand so much more about it now. 😊
Wow! That didn't feel like a 15min video, easy watch.
I always thought you'd have to be a genius to count cards. I found this super fascinating. A cool video would be taking a new player and training them up.
Thanks mate! 😃
Haha yeah I'm dispelling the myth that you have to be super smart to count!
That's a great idea for a video! Later down the road 😃
Yeah, it is funny how the skill has gotten a "rocket science" reputation. Movies, I guess - that bit of counting in "Rain Man" only "worked" if it required some incredible feat of mental math, for example.
@@KipIngram Not exactly correct. Many things you need to learn like knowing specific rules of table and how to play perfectly (basic strategy) all while keeping count keeping track of bets and not projecting that any of this is going on
@@stevenbridges ooo pick me 😜
@Ken Tran just about to say that
Don’t think we didn’t notice that you waited until twenty TWENTY ONE to release this series
😂
@New PS5 Games VR Bitcoin Racing Prank Team RapperBy counting youre essentially predicting what card will come next.
That probability changes depending on how many of each card there is in the entire shoe because any of them could be played.
@New PS5 Games VR Bitcoin Racing Prank Team Rapper so if you have a running 12 witch was explained and their are 6 decks (4 remaining 2 in discard) you devide 12 by 4 and get 3 the decimals are cut off
@@stevenbridges I got told if u have a low card and an ace u double down is tht true?
@New PS5 Games VR AI Gold Racing Prank Team Rapper the decks have fixed cards so more decks means more of them same cards. If you think you chances are high the amount of decks greatly reduces you chances. Knowing how to put the count and deck into a ratio makes it extremely simple to know the chances.
"fish to pond radio is important" the seriousness with which you said it was hilarious lol
😂 😂 😂 I’m very proud of my fish analogy! And I hope you liked my crappy fish animation. It took me hours
Nobody has earned a sub like this man. Excellent work.
You're really tapping into my love of cards with this series! Highly enjoyed this video and am eagerly looking forward to the next installment. X)
hahah thank you 😃
"Don't let others tell you what to do!"
Immediately after,
"Step 1, memorize basic strategy..."
Made me giggle
Brilliant video as always Steven
Except me! I can tell you what to do 😂
You cannot think about odds into the action, they have to be automatic so that the toughts can be focused on the situation. I play poker for fun now, it's the same, it's a game of situations.
You should look up the "Abacus Finger Theory" - it's a way to do math with 1-2 digit numbers _extremely_ fast on your fingers without having to do any math. It'd be a way to keep the count without ever having to do any actual math, which would be an interesting way to manage it. Also, because you use your fingers, you don't have to repeat anything in your head, letting you focus on being natural at the table.
I love that you had your boy watch it first, you did a good job! Thanks for the info!!!
Awesome video, great explanation! The only thing I didn’t catch or you didn’t mention is how high the true count should in order to bet big
As far as i understood at a true count of 1
When you bet big depends on your bankroll, table rules, and also, the situation you are in.
If you have more to spend, you can begin to bet at a lower true count with larger amounts of money, if you don't have as much, you have to play conservatively as card counting is about getting a ton of hands in to eventually turn it in your favor rather than any individual hand. The casino you're playing at also matters, if its a local casino you'd like to come back to, you don't want to attract much heat (if you are continuing to win big they begin to notice you more and eventually may ask you to leave or even tell you you're no longer allowed back - trespassing you) as you'll likely want to be able to come back, but if you're on vacation and you doubt you'll return to that casino, as long as it's not affiliated with another casino you frequent or they actively share names and pictures of possible card counters with other casinos (this requires some research of your own) then if they catch you oh well, they have to let you cash out your chips.
A player seemingly randomly betting big is one of the biggest tells that you're card counting, especially if you're winning on those big bets, so when you bet big depends on the situation you find yourself in.
Nice, that definitely gives some useful context to the series.
Glad it helps! 😃
Steven, you have a very charismatic personalty! Ever thinking of teaching black jack and cardcounting? Me myself would have love being at your classes!
I gained a new respect for your art. I love the idea of card counting. I dont love how much genuine effort it takes
Truly fascinating! Randomly came across this and didn’t expect the method to be what it was at all
Me neither, I expected you had to memorize every card that had been played! This is much easier but far too difficult for my tiny brain.
Wow. I am actually jarred by how easy it is to count cards. Obviously it takes a lot of practice to be able to apply all that in a real situation while acting normal, but it's not like you have to be a math genius like Hollywood or similar makes you believe.
The psychology behind black jack is fascinating!
I started practicing at home a couple years ago just for a fun side hobby. A few friends wanted to go to a little casino near my house, and I decided to try my hand at blackjack. Never really expected to go to a casino with it, though the thought had crossed my mind. Won a couple hundred and got backed-off; I was honestly impressed with myself, and my friends were really confused. I definitely made plenty of mistakes however, it can be a lot of fun.
Hello, and did you do it a lot of times? How did all the things goes? Just wondering I know its a year later 😂
I've never understood it fully until this - love it.
Thanks Guy! :D
Best video that I have ever seen on card counting!
Thank you! Really happy to hear it 😃
I've always been interested in this from mathematical standpoint. Thanks for sharing.
I stumbled across your content and I’m hooked!!! This series of card counting you’re doing is amazing and entertaining! Keep up the good work! Can’t wait for the next episode lol
You had me at deviations. Let do this! Been training basic strategy for 2 months. Next is two months of counting it home simulation. Should be ready with 6 months total training. That’s just me some of you may learn quicker or slower, safe to say results may very.
A tutorial video without a fish and pond analogy is not a good tutorial video.
Seconding all those who say this provides useful context to the series, Steven! Thank you. :)
😂
Thanks Liam!
this is the video we needed but not the one we deserved
This is the best fucking guide for blackjack and overall explaining how casions take your money I have ever seen. I just can't believe how good you explained this.
Good. Card counting 101 and 102. Worth watching and studying.
I was watching this at 4:00 a.m. this morning. I literally did not know how easy it was after I knew about the numbers. Now I can't even stop saying D1 or up one or anything. I've been playing with three deck of cards and I've been literally predicting these numbers and you're telling me this is what it took for me to win. I could have used this two nights ago LOL thank God my birthday is coming up. Wish me luck
How did you do
@@isaacsmithvideo went with $40 left with $300 in 30min
Hello Riskay, how is the journey now going? Just wondering because I also wanna begin?
@@Thijs576 it helped me a lot on my birthday. I went with $20 and left with 1000. I'm happy I learned for my birthday
I’ve noticed in some casinos, they allow people to visually consult a personal printed basic strategy table in plain sight. I’ve always wondered how they can justify that, but not justify someone card counting. It’s just an extension of basic strategy. A routine is to not get greedy as walking out with a few hundred or a thousand routinely doesn’t attract as much attention as a huge take. Also, use the idea of slipping won chips into your pocket so that it doesn’t show to the pit boss or cameras from the table (unless they’re watching you and only you). Also, pass your chips to someone else with you for them to cash out instead.
they love it if you consult a card. it tell them you don't know what you are doing and will lose for sure
Good to know what you're on about in the rest of the series!!!
Glad it's helpful! 😃
One way to think of the 50/50 odds and the "your event happens completely independently to what had happened before" is to imagine all the previous shuffles and selections *actually* were going to happen in the future:
Suppose you have a shuffled deck and you take out the top card to reveal it to be red. Then suppose you give the deck to 10 other people after your shuffle, and they each do the same and shuffle it every time. When viewed in the future, obviously those events happened independently and don't affect your first card draw... so simply apply all that to the past as well.
If the 10 other people in reality selected theirs before you did and shuffled the deck to give you your own selection, yours would be the exact same odds as if you'd have picked your card first.
Or you can alternatively imagine 9 other people in 9 different countries doing the shuffle and picking top card simultaneously. Simultaneously, it really does demonstrate clearly how each individual event has no relation whatsoever to the first scenario.
Super interesting, thanks! Does anyone know why the casinos don’t just reshuffle the deck each time? Seems like it would eliminate the possibility for counting but for a non-counter the game is the same.. is it the time taken to shuffle?
They do, most of the casinos now have continuous shuffle machines
Reshuffling single deck takes too much time and ups potential for dealers to cheat.
Continuous shuffling machines exist and are common in Europe but many people don’t like them hence the lack of popularity in the US
It's not worth it for the casino. They want the non-counters to keep playing as fast as possible and the time during a shuffle is too much wasted time.
@@stevenbridges I always see them reshuffling in the UK - doesn’t that ruin the true count??
@@pianostyles6550 yes
the fish in pond look like a painting! could see that being new merch 😄
bahahah
Awesome video thank you for touching on every single topic so I know what to learn!!
I think it is so cool that you’re documenting all this and your experiences at the casino. I hope u win huge!
But I also really hope, you having this channel doesn’t eventually get you busted from all casinos
Came here from Mike’s channel. You’re awesome! Did a great job teaching and demonstrating the technique in his video. I’m checking out your videos now.
Thanks Vic! I recommend checking out the playlist on my channel, better in order 😃
@@stevenbridges thanks for replying, Steven!
I just sent you an email. I was going to write a comment but it got indecently long, so I decided to email you directly.
But in short, I’m SOO glad I found your channel today. Your journey is very inspiring and intriguing.
Love this video! I hope Colin doesn't get mad at you, lol. I've experienced that after game count getting stuck in your head bit. I've also had to deal with super distracting players and a couple times they threw my count off. Still working at it. I've got basic strategy at around 90-95% and my counting is up around the same 90-95% accuracy. Eeeking out that last 5-10% of perfection is super hard but I'm going to keep at it. Been to the casino a couple times to get a feel for the atmosphere and to test myself out. Been able to do it a few times. I hope to head to Reno and Vegas in 2022 with a decent bank roll. Thanks for posting this video!
Small tip for if/when you're in Reno: make sure you know what the house rules are before you start playing at a particular casino. "Reno rules" are a real thing, and not every place has a beatable game
@@tmtmtlsml Got any examples of this?
@@jdave16 Best example is the Sands. Single deck is D10 with 6:5 when I scoped it out a few months ago. Too many places in Reno have similar stories
haha Colin's video on how to count is great! It's many of the others that are over simplified.
Mate, nice work! Keep it up 😃 You on BJA? Feel free to DM me anytime.
Thanks for sharing the tip @S-train
Props to you Steven for clearly and eloquently explaining the card counting process. I've never quite understood it and always thought it was more complicated than it was (just watch Rainman a few times), your video broke it down about as well as humanly possible. Brilliant job...I'd love to put card counting to practice, but my next fear to overcome is how quickly will the Casino react and black-ball me on any 21/Blackjack games. The Casino's can't watch everyone, but if they do pay attention they can definitely catch card counters based on how they're betting each round.
My friend Mike said it best “I thought card counting was going to be a very complex system, that once I understood, would be relatively easy to do. In reality it’s a very simple system that is very difficult to implement”
That's a great way to put it!
This was a verey intresting video. Thanks for sharing the stradegy/method. I have been wondring how its done since you started posting your new series
Thanks Emilie! Glad you found it interesting. Really wasn't sure if people would find it interesting or very dull 😂
love the series man! better than netflix
This video gave me the confidence I needed to never try this. Thank you! Subscribed
Ahhhhh! Fish to pond ratio..
Fascinating 😮
was the best video on the count ive ever seen . but no one can beat BJ anymore cas casino wont let you play .. i moved to baccarat and they dont care how much you win , no shit but gl. if you try BJ
not played much of BJ, heard about card counting, i figured it works like this, count small mid and big card, which is basically same, even tho if my count is like 2-30-12 i know most of mid cars are burned, and its fairly safe to take a card at 15 most mid range has been burned some bigs but deck still has most small ones, i figured this way i can count the odds when to take card and when not to, not like this system which is trying to find streaks.
I love this video. Well done coming from a fellow card counter. I'll see you at the tables splitting tens. Cheers!
Awesome! Happy counting!
Nice one, impressive, only heard of it in movies. Intrigued.
I like his explanation 😊🎉🎉
The count deviations are the most important things. Also would be nice to keep track of 7's 8's 9's as well.
Gotta love deviations
There are counting systems that do incorporate those cards into the system, particularly 7s. While removal of these cards does impact the edge of the game, the effect of removal is extremely small. Of the three, 7s impact the edge the most, and removal of 7s is good for the player. There are many systems, including KO, Red Sevens and Zen, that include 7s in the count. There are few counts that count 9s, the 9 has an even smaller effect of removal, and removal of 9s hurts the player, though not by much. The only two counts that come to mind that include 9s are Wong Halves and Silver Fox. As far as I know, there aren't any widely used counting systems for blackjack that include the 8s, the reason for this is that the removal of 8s has virtually zero impact on the edge in the game, so there's no real reason to keep a count that includes 8s.
@@stevenbridges I'm inspired by your content, I've been practicing counting for 2 years now. I think that deviation of play based around true count is the key to success. Ive been wondering how one goes about securing a "gambling" loan or generally how that situation plays out between an investor and oneself. Blessings. P.S. can I play advantage blackjack "fulltime". I surely wouldn't quit my job to play cards, I don't know if it could be a realistic thing to try, but I'd like to know what that might be like.
@@twonickels3693 I appreciate your input, would it be more accurate to simply add 7 to + and 8 to - leaving 9 as the only neutral? I understand why they do not change the odds into anyone's favor by a significant amount but I imagine having knowledge of how many of them are still in deck would be good.
@@davhen5874 A count like silver fox would increase your betting correlation, it would reduce your insurance correlation though, and I'm not sure how it would impact playing efficiency. To the last part of your statement, it wouldn't really tell you how many of those cards remain, your categories of minus cards and plus cards would just be a bigger category. I believe you're asking about this on BJA presently right now too, we can just keep the conversation there for ease of communications if you'd like.
I imagine Casinos actually end up making some amount of money because people have heard that you CAN play a winning game, and they "saw a youtube video once, so they sort of know how its done". Nice with a better overview of the topic for those interested to get into it!
You are absolutely correct. Backing off card counters is an incredibly low priority for casinos simply because most of them aren't actually very good at it and their overconfidence brings in more revenue
Got it in one.
And S-Train you clearly know what you're talking about - every comment is totally on point! You're in BJA right?
@@stevenbridges Actually no, I'm completely self-taught. I've been an AP for about 7 years and was a dealer for 3, so I try to discreetly spread my knowledge when and where I can. Huge amount of respect for Colin and the crew at BJA though. They do great work, and I'm happy that they helped you find enjoyment in the game (both blackjack and the meta cat-and-mouse of card counting!)
Card counting is very easy to learn but very difficult to execute at a high level.
Luckily I'm very good at memorizing numbers. Would love to join the team man. Can be a real asset
no way you commented this
Made 5k last week in Atlantic City
Really useful information. Thanks, I’m going to check out the training program!
Glad it was helpful!
Hooked on these series, never played in my life But I like chess & logic
I know I'm a cool 2 yrs late to this video, but recently I tried to teach a friend the BA basic chart and because the math happened to not be working in his favor, he said that what I was showing him was useless and he'd stick to his "normal strats" at the table. That dude has lost several grand of the course of a few months. I haven't hit a table yet because I don't plan to until I'm ready. I'm perfecting basic before I set foot in that hell hole with pretty lights
What a brilliant mind
I'll watch again later
Steve Bridges😁
This video is amazing, so when they shuffle the cards you reset the count right?
I’ve been working on my game since I got out of high school and I’m decent but I never freaking looked at how many deck in whenever I got too a table. I’ve never been blinded by a light bulb coming before lol 😂❤
been waiting for the next video in the series!
Still editing it 😃
Fish To Pond Ratio is my new favorite indie band.
When do we count the true count ? After every round ? Or while the cards are draw by the dealer ?
Hi, Steven. Enjoyed your appearance on Mikes channel. I've been a professional trader for quite some time now and there are clearly a lot of similarities between successful trading and black jack. Obtain an edge/advantage, manage your risk and develop a probabilistic mindset. The outcome of any one instance doesn't mean much, but it does over the course of a hundred plays it does. Cheers.
Great video, just 1 question: How do I know when to increase my bet, and by how much? How much I assume is a percentage increase of your current bet?
ohhhh that’s way easier than I thought it might be.
Reminds me of how playing black in chess gives you a slight disadvantage just because you move second. At the highest levels this often effects who wins while beginners will blunder pieces so it doesn't much matter. I don't think ai like all these variables in blackjack or cards in general.
Actually in chess it’s the opposite funny enough. Going first is an advantage in high level chess
I have a question. Does it make sense if I play online blackjack and then I have a paper next to me and then I have all the time to count everything with enough time?
We need another Vegas heist movie with some serious team counting and the attack on another table game as well. Even if it needs faked out. I'm ready!
Actually the history of a roulette wheel was used by a team in Spain to exploit the wheel’s bias and they won a lot of money
Counting really helps more to know when a shoe is BAD and when to def NOT bet. Raising unit size in itself is dangerous unless you have a bankroll. So maany great shoe/counts will still just help the dealer 😅
I prefer the TKO count. Much simpler and just as powerful. It’s simpler to remember the deviations and you still look at the discard tray but only need to know what deck you are on and no division. There are key numbers to remember per deck to know what to bet and where you are but no division
Yeah I didn't really get any of that but awesome video!
I don't think casino should be able to kick someone out for counting cards. if suspected or caught, my advice would be just to shuffle more. perhaps after 3 shoes you could shuffle all 5 shoes and start over at that point.
This is odd way to make money in gta5,
😂😂😂
I think gta doesn't simulate a shuffled shoe. Cards are randomly generated
Great video!
Hey mate! Just wanted to say, I love these videos, the commitment to videoing the journey and having the patience to not post for years, so entertaining!
Quick question - I am thinking about picking this up on BJA in the coming months, but I just wanted to ask, how much time would you need to spend in order to learn the base theory and deviations?
It will be a side hustle so wanted to try and make a plan, thanks in advance!
Thanks so much! If you join BJA, please use my link 😃
Great question, and honestly it's difficult for me to answer because I wasn't tracking my time very well when learning.
I'd say though, if you're a smart person, you'll get it quicker than me.
Total guess - spend 2 hours a day and you'd get it down in 6 months. More dedication you'd get it done quicker. BJA muchhhhhh quicker than using books.
That's a total guess.
I took ages because I wasn't consistent with my training.
@@stevenbridges Of course I will use your link :)
Thanks for the advice!!
I got BJA a few years back. Was working at target at the time and had a half hour after close to walk the isles and clean up. In that first half hour I recited the first third of the basic strategy chart (it goes splits, soft hands, hard hands and I recon it goes in order from hardest to learn to easiest to learn) by reciting it out loud and checking my phone when I got confused and had it memorized in that half an hour. After basic strategy you learn counting, then deck estimation and true count conversion you kind of learn together and then learn deviations. Get the first one to the point where it seems like natural instinct (which happens way faster than it sounds) before moving onto the next but you never stop practicing each thing you learn. Sorry to dump that all on you I love talking about blackjack ahahah
The problem is Casinos put the stop card (cutting) the stack of decks almost in the middle or at least 1/3 nowadays.
Meaning they deal not more than 1/2 or 2/3 of the cards.
As soon as they suspect a card counter.
Some even put rotative continuous shuffling machines...
I'm not sure I understand the analogy with the colors. Most casinos will reshuffle the cards after all cards have been dealt, so does this only apply to the first 6 decks, and then you re-count and place bigger bets at the end of the last 1-2 decks each time?
Hey you make super god and informativ videos before I watch this video I didn't understand anything about counting cards but now I do keep making good
Came here from Mike Boyd’s channel.
The only thing that I can say about roulette is the dealer will throw in patterns. So you can follow trends easier with a live dealer.
14:32 "A lot of the time, you can tell who's been BGA trained" Ah yes, Black Gack. Classic game.
There will be so many card counters because of your series :D
haha honestly I think most people will try and decide it's not for them. I
6:31 So in your opinion this is the absolute BEST strategy chart? Out off all slightly different ones I found online, this one is the best? You should only surrender when you have 15 or 16 and the dealer has 9, 10 or ace? I think D stands for double, S for stand and H for hit? Y for yes and N for n? What about Ds and Y/N? I'm just asking, I don't know much about BlackJack and I would like to know.
Spectacular job. Articulate and so simple.
6:50 I wonder if card counting strategy derivation truly required trial and error or if you could calculate the optimal plays by hand, or at least computer, mathematically
For those of us who are APs are are familiar with what you’re doing, can you explain more about your bet spread, your ramping, etc…
We have ONE casino in my state due to local laws (in Australia) and they use continuous shuffling machines so basic strategy is as good as I can do. Which it seems, is not enough.
personally I add for high cards and subtract for low
Thanks, great video (and the others). Just wondeirng about how practical it is to card count in casinos? I mean, surely it's easy to spot a card counter by how they play? After 1 month you basically had nowhere left to play in Washington State. And I'm sure it would be the same story in Vegas/Nevada. So how can a card counter keep playing when they have been banned from everywhere?
It would be interesting to hear his opinion on how they manage the betting spread so as not to attract attention. Since the way to exploit the count is to bet heavy when the count is in your favor that is normally what attracts attention (someone betting $25 for most hands who then starts betting $1000 later in the hand)
will casinos let you keep a basic strategy card like yours with you when you play? Also can you write anything down while you play so you could keep the running count from slipping out of you head?