Given blackjack’s popularity, it should be no surprise that there are many different blackjack strategies to find success on the felt. Some focus on bankroll management, others dictate your every move during the game, and all of them can improve the player’s chances of winning. Remember, even with a strategy, the cards can still fall against you.
If you’re a fan of blackjack, you might want to employ one of these strategies when you play next. With the right approach, you can even layer some of these strategies on top of each other.
Today, we’re talking about shuffle tracking, a common approach for those with a sharp eye and an intimate knowledge of how blackjack decks are deployed. It’s less common than some of the others strategies around, but a certain type of player can slightly improve their odds by predicting where groups of cards will show up.
How Does Shuffle Tracking Work in Blackjack?
Many blackjack tables play with six to eight decks deployed through a dealer’s shoe. Shuffling all those cards thoroughly takes time, so many casinos favor simpler techniques that keep the game rolling while still randomizing the deck sufficiently. This works, but it can result in those groups where cards may stick together. That’s where shuffle trackers come in – they watch those groups, or zones, and try to anticipate if they consist of low or high cards.
It’s impossible to predict the cards with certainty, but shuffle trackers can gain some insight into where high or low cards have stuck together. When it works, a shuffle tracker will take it easy during low card zones, then play aggressively on high card zones where aces and 10s are more likely.
While this strategy will give you an edge during those high-card zones, it won’t guarantee substantial wins. Many shuffle trackers enjoy the process of tracking – it’s a logic puzzle for their brains to chew on while simultaneously playing the game as usual. If a strong memory and spatial awareness aren’t your strong suit, then you may want to sit this strategy out.
Ace Sequencing
The simplest shuffle-tracking method is called ace sequencing. This is done in four steps that may look simple, but it helps to have hands-on experience with the game and a nose for predicting where cards have landed after a shuffle.
- Find the aces as they show up during normal gameplay.
- Watch those aces and how they move into the deck.
- Make an informed guess on where that ace is in the shuffled deck.
- Watch for when the dealer reaches that part of the deck, then increase your plays to maximize winnings if/when an ace hits the felt.
This kind of reconnaissance calls for a laid-back playing style at first, as you get the lay of the land. Then, once you’ve tracked the deck enough, you can start varying your plays as you enter high-card zones.
It’s most reliable with physical cards, not digital ones that rely on random number generators. It is possible to track shuffles with a live blackjack table, as they play with real cards and keep the shoe on the table for the sake of transparency.
What About Edge Sorting?
Edge sorting is different from shuffle tracking, and it’s a technique that can only be used in brick-and-mortar casinos.
It isn’t illegal, but there’s definitely something naughty about using it to try and beat the casino.
To put it simply, with edge sorting you pay attention to small edge irregularities in the cards, as the long edges of each card can be told apart from one another.
What some players would do would be asking the dealer to rotate high-value cards, with some innocent reason. If everything went to plan, high cards would be oriented one way and low-value ones the other way.
As long as the cards wouldn’t be changed again 180 degrees for some reason, they would keep their orientation throughout the game.
You can see the advantage of this now: with enough cards been played, knowing what belongs where would give the players a statistical advantage.
Since you’re not manipulating the cards, it shouldn’t be considered illegal – but make what you want from this strategy.
Recapping How Blackjack Plays
If you’re doing homework for blackjack strategy, then we assume you know how a round of blackjack works. If you don’t, here’s a very brief recap from start to finish.
Each round starts with every player putting chips forward. Then the dealer will deal you two cards and, to win, they need to beat the dealer’s own hand without going over 21. This is where you have options to help you win. If your hand is weak, you can hit to take another card. If your hand is strong, you can stand in the hopes that the dealer can’t beat it. Then there are more context-specific plays like doubling down or splitting, which allows you to manage two hands at the same time.
Once you’re done, the dealer will reveal the second half of his hand and they’ll measure up against one another as the round ends. Rounds are fast-paced and rely on both luck and player agency – that’s why blackjack is one of the most popular games in the casino. The strategies here are all about appealing to the luck of the cards, while making the best decisions possible for your hand.
Conclusion
Although these are not the most popular blackjack strategies for online blackjack, you could still find the right time to employ them.
It’s always good to have a couple more tricks up your sleeve – well, not literally, we hope.
If you want to try other possibilities, such as basic blackjack strategies, head over to McLuck social casino and try your hand at exciting social casino games today!
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