Card Counting
It seems without any question one of the most popular issues on the minds of casino gamblers who are seeking a way to even their odds against the house is the legitimacy and feasibility of counting cards. I have to smile whenever I am asked a question about this subject matter, because it is one which never seems to lose its fascination for new generations of gaming enthusiast. I guess there's something absolutely irresistible about the idea of sticking it to the casino in a way which is perfectly legal if not entirely acceptable. Let me explain that last statement a bit further, in case it sounds somewhat contradictory.
What all seasoned gamblers know but the casinos do not want you to know is that there's nothing illegal about counting cards. That is to say, you will never end up behind bars for practicing this activity in a Vegas casino. However, it is highly possible - even likely - that you will be asked to leave and not patronize that casino again if you decide to count cards at the tables. Rest assured that the surveillance technology has gotten to a point of such sophistication that even the most subtle and unassuming of card counters will eventually get spotted.
Obviously, the risk of being blackballed from a casino is not nearly enough to dissuade committed card counters from going about their business. And you really do not have to wonder too hard about this when you consider the vast sums of smart money which can be garnered in this way. I would not offer any particular moral statements about card counting one way or another, because this is something that each individual gambler must determine on his or her own. All I would do is to caution you to think long and hard about the consequences of not being able to gamble in your favorite casino ever again simply because you could not resist the urge to engage in a little bit of card counting.
Beyond the ethical ramifications, many people wonder exactly what the feasibility of this practice is in terms of their own experience. It all comes down to the number of decks used in any given game. While there are card counters who claim to be able to make calculations when there are as many as six decks in a shoe, this seems to me like little more than idle boasting. Even a very experienced card counter will probably be hard-taxed to deal with more than two decks at a time. If you are just practicing at home and wish to accustom yourself with the world of card counting, by all means begin with a single deck. There are enough variables to bear in mind when only 52 cards are in play, believe me.
After practicing with a single deck amongst friends, you can bump up to two decks or more. But if you want to take a tip from me, you will restrict your card counting activities to friendly home games and not attempt this maneuver in the casinos.
Poker
