Many of us remember the movie Rain Main man where Dustin Hoffman’s character memorized all the cards popping out of the shoe. This has given the inaccurate impression as to what card counting really is. Even the term card counting is misleading because whilst you count cards you might be merely maintaining a tally of the ratio of high to low cards left within the deck.
Why It WorksWhat makes blackjack different from some other casino game is that the home edge isn't fixed. The chances of having a natural blackjack are dependent upon the cards that experience already been dealt and the cards remaining within the deck. If an ace is dealt at the first around the odds of drawing another ace has gone down.
Within the game of blackjack your probability of winning a hand relies on the combo of the cards remaining within the deck. If the combo of cards remaining within the deck contains high value cards, this can be a positive and is favorable for the player. When the deck incorporates a large choice of tens and aces it increases the players probabilities of drawing a pat hand (17 or higher) or getting a natural blackjack. It also increases the probabilities that the dealer will bust. Even supposing the dealer is simply as more likely to draw an excellent hand when the deck is positive, the player is getting paid 3 to two for a natural blackjack. That is why card counters raise the scale in their bets when the deck is rich with high cards. They'll also deviate from basic strategy dependent on the count.
If the cards remaining within the deck are low value cards, it's negative and it favors the dealer. Card counters usually lower their bets when the count is negative. When the deck is rich in low cards it less likely that the dealer will make a pat hand and additionally it is makes it less likely that the dealer will busts when he has to draw.
Counting MethodsThe concept of counting cards is inconspicuous. Each rank of card is assigned some extent value and the cardboard counter adds or subtracts those points to get a “running count” to figure out if the deck is positive or negative. There are lots of different card counting systems utilized by the players. Some are more complex than others but all of them are designed to maintain track of the low and high cards left within the deck.
The values assigned to the cards determine whether a counting system is balanced or unbalanced. A balanced card counting method equivalent to the preferred Hi/Lo values an entire 52 card deck as zero. While you use a balanced counting system you retain a running count of the cards as they're played but then you definitely must divide running count by the collection of decks not yet played to get the true count.
With an unbalanced method equivalent to Speed Count or Knock Out (KO) the overall of the 52 card deck doesn't add as much as zero. You begin with a predetermined number to inform you when the deck is positive or negative rather than using zero as a place to begin. The advantage to using an unbalanced method is that it's simpler since you don’t need to estimate the remainder decks and convert to the true count.
Getting the EdgeThe purpose of any of the cardboard counting methods is to inform the player when the deck is positive with high value cards. The Blackjack player gains the brink over the home by betting more when the deck is positive and often even deviating from basic strategy. The variation between the dimensions of your bet when the deck is neutral or negative and the volume you increase because it becomes positive is named the spread. Because the positive count increase so does your advantage.
More Than CountingBeing a successful card counter takes greater than just with the ability to keep track of the cards. Many players find that they are able to successfully count a deck within the privacy of the quiet home but then have difficulty in a loud casino with all the distractions. Successful card counters should also have the ability to camouflage their play to allow them to go undetected by the casino pit bosses. The best way to get caught counting cards is to make big jumps for your bets from one hand to the following. It's a must to learn play a cat and mouse game with the casino and should you can do this you may get the advantage over the house.
Be RealisticThere are many players counting cards and creating wealth but you need to be realistic about your results. Card counting will only provide you with a one to 2 percent edge over the home and the advantage you gain by card counting relies at the longer term and your given results during any single session can vary greatly. When the deck is positive they dealer has just as likely an opportunity of having the high cards as you do. Still any edge you'll be able to gain over the casino is definitely worth the effort that it takes to be informed and winning is lots more fun.
Roulette wheels are amazing pieces of workmanship. Each wheel is made individually, and while every wheel is produced to be an excellent instrument, an instrument that isn't tuned regularly will develop flaws and ruin the games expected odds.
On a roulette wheel, those flaws may end up in a bias towards a single number or perhaps a group of numbers. Because roulette wheels are designed for constant play, they're manufactured to high standards, and will last for many years. However, there are only a few technicians who can clean and refurbish wheels. When a casino neglects a wheel it may develop two distinct problems.
The roulette wheel itself contains two basic parts: a heavy wooden bowl with an overturned lip or ball track, and a heavy, metal and wood wheelhead that rotates within the bowl. The wheelhead sits on an exceptional spindle and nearly perfect, effortless spinning is accomplished by bearings. The wheelhead employs a height adjuster and an upper turret to maintain all the wheel steady.
If a wheel becomes unbalanced, the pinnacle itself will dip slightly along a bit of numbers. The numbers on a roulette wheel are formed above a pocket to carry the ivory ball. Because the ball slows down it's going to often travel around the numbers and drop right into a pocket. If the wheel is low in a definite area, the ball is probably going to hesitate slightly at the lip of the wheel, causing it to land within the low section more often.
Even a tiny irregularity comparable to this may make for a biased wheel. On this case, suppose the dip within the wheel is going on along a bit of 5 numbers: 31, 18, 6, 21 and 33. A player betting these numbers will hit them more often than the laws of chance would indicate.
A similar situation arises when the frets, or wooden partitions between the pockets become loose. The spinning ball will often land against a fret and dad back up at the wheel before settling down into another number. However, if a fret is loose, the ball is not going to get better as far. Rather than bouncing up and the wheel spinning past a dozen or more numbers, the ball is likely to stay within the pocket or drop just a few numbers past the loose fret.
A biased wheel that gives a headache for the casino and a gold mine for the player is person who has two or three consecutive pockets that experience loose frets. When this happens, the landing ball is probably going to stick within the pocket or drop right into a pocket just three or four numbers past, allowing a player to bet on a string of 4 or five numbers and record winners on a consistent basis.
A wheel with a loose fret between consecutive numbers similar to 31 and 18 and in addition 18 and six will offer an excessively high percentage of the numbers 18, 6, 21, 33 and 16 trapping the ball (assuming the wheel is spun counter-clockwise and the ball is spun clockwise).
Because the roulette wheel is spun in a single direction and the ball is spun the other direction, frets become loose from the natural punishment of the moving ball dropping against them. The force of the dealer's fingers against them too can damage the frets because the wheel is spun.
Roulette wheels need regular maintenance to bypass these problems. When wheels are neglected, players tend to discover a bias and exploit it. Some roulette systems akin to the Six-Pack Plus may also be extremely profitable with a biased wheel.
ONE Casinos use thousands of cameras. While older casinos just like the Cal-Neva in Reno didn't bother with camera coverage for all in their table games as low as TWENTY YEARS ago, modern casinos have such a lot of cameras that the surveillance staff, as large because it might be, can't even watch all of the views. In fact you never know which of them are being watched at anyone time and everything is digital these days, so video from every camera is accessible for later viewing. When you think nobody is watching, think again!
TWO Casinos lose money on 1 / 4 in their guests. Research shows that while most players finally end up losing money at their favorite casinos; the high cost of the property, staff, and complimentary items keep casinos from beating everyone. In fact those patrons who play little or no or are accompanying real players make up a big component to this group, but there are lots of players which might be actually capable of win over an extended time frame. This group includes blackjack card counters, however the largest percentage is constructed from players who gamble simply enough to quality for freebies and complimentary giveaways like free rooms and meals.
THREE You may get free stuff! Casinos are all about signing-up new guests to their player's clubs. While you sign-up you will get free cash, a room, a meal, or anybody of a dozen free things. So long as you play you'll earn additional complimentary gifts. Casinos usually attempt to hold the road on these comps to under 20 percent of a player's expected loss, but savvy blackjack players can earn back the majority in their estimated losses by playing excellent basic strategy.
FOUR You cannot act like an idiot. Well, that isn't true, you'll act like an idiot, however the casino can throw you out or have you ever arrested. Although a small percentage of players think they need to be capable of do anything and say anything at their local casino, most properties have strict rules about behavior, and that incorporates language. You can not drop the "F" bomb if you feel like it, and for those who do, the dealer, floor supervisor, or Pit boss may let you know to knock it off. You would not "F" bomb the waitress within the coffee shop, so why do you think that you are able to do it to the dealer? Stick with it and you'll be asked to depart. Resist, and you'll be arrested.
FIVE You may be barred from playing for winning an excessive amount of. A casino is a business, and prefer any good business, the managers watch the base line. In most gaming jurisdictions (Not in Atlantic City) a player who's suspected of being a bonus player (shuffle tracking, ace tracking, card counting) could also be barred from playing specific games. Some properties have even changed their rules of play for video poker players.
SIX You'll be able to always call Gaming Control or the local gaming regulatory agency in case you feel you've been cheated. Every casino has oversight, and guest complaints are reviewed. In case you have a sound issue they're there that will help you. When you've got a frivolous complaint or a guest-service related issue, overlook it. Take those complaints to the casino manager. And, don't expect any complaint to be handled on your favor in case you are rude, demanding, and wrong.
SEVEN You can not cash a check, money order, or cashier's check at many casinos. Those days are over. In case you have established credit or done the paperwork for check cashing privileges, that's one thing, but you will not be capable to cash a money order or a cashier's check on the cashier's cage. Casinos are within the entertainment business, and so they aren't amused by bad checks. Cashier's checks and money orders cannot be verified and are sometimes forged. Forget it!
EIGHT You will get a check. Although you'll have won a considerable jackpot, either on a slot machine or at a table game, and been paid in cash or chips, you can be capable of get a check to take home as opposed to carrying cash. If you would like a check, ask the supervisor right away, before you might be paid. It's also possible to get a part of the payout in cash and part via check at most casinos. Table games are a little different, but they are able to accommodate your request. You will not know until you ask.
NINE You must produce ID when asked. A current photo ID may be essential to prove your age for gambling or drinking, and plenty of casinos demand that any patron at the casino floor has a valid, current photo ID. In the event you do not have one, you can be asked to depart. In addition, any jackpot you were hoping to assemble on is also held on the cage until you produce ID, possibly including a social security card.
TEN Casinos really don't mind for those who win. Although card counters and advantage players is also asked to forestall playing, gaming management and dealers really don't mind in the event you win. It's good for business, because a contented customer tells others about their experience, and most players are only holding their winnings for some time until they arrive back and take a look at again. As for the dealers, they're usually more than happy if you're winning, especially in case you be sure to tip them occasionally. Honest, casinos want you to win!
El jugador ucraniano protagonizó una gran remontada, que le acabó llevando hasta la victoria tras pacto a tres bandas. Nuestro Pablo Gordillo cayó en cuarta posición.
El español Pablo Gordillo, tercero en fichas al principio de la final, nos citó a las 13:00 frente al monitor para ver como al final era el ucraniano quien se acababa llevando la gloria.
Ucrania: 1 - España (todavía): 0 / PokerStars BlogLa privilegiada situación de Pablo Gordillo al comienzo de la mesa final del European Poker Tour Viena, con más de 100 ciegas y segundo de la clasificación, era una oportunidad de oro de romper la maldición del poker español en el circuito más importante de nuestro continente.
La retransmisión en vivo con cartas a la vista obligó a situar el comienzo virtual de la mesa final a las 13:00, y la primera información que nos recordaron desde el Palacio Hofburg fue la situación inicial de la partida.
| Oleksii Khoroshenin (UCR) | 2.150.000 |
| Anthony Ghamrawi (AUT) | 5.150.000 |
| Marko Neumann (ALE) | 1.685.000 |
| Simeon Naydenov (BUL) | 3.550.000 |
| Frei Dilling (DIN) | 4.230.000 |
| Rumen Nanev (BUL) | 2.675.000 |
| Pablo Gordillo (ESP) | 4.075.000 |
| Timo Pfutzenreuter (ALE) | 3.740.000 |
Los primeros compases del juego dejaron bien claros dos de los componentes esenciales que iban a marcar esta partida: la alegría en los rangos de apertura y resubida y la enorme igualdad que iba a dominar durante toda la jornada.
Pablo colaboró a igualar los stacks perdiendo su primera mano con AJ y unas comunitarias traicioneras que le dieron segunda pareja y luego no le quedó más remedio que hacer la estatua durante dos niveles en los permaneció muy quieto porque el danés Frei Dilling y los búlgaros Nanev y Naydenov no perdonaban una sola mano.
Los dos shortstacks ganaron una buena cantidad de puntos antes del primer descanso. Marko Neumann pilló un full house y dejó que Pfutzenreuter metiera tres barrels con un mega proyecto frustrado en el river. Neumann se puso segundo y su compatriota se unió a un grupo de seis jugadores que tenían entre 63 y 76 ciegas, escoltados por arriba por el chipleader Anthony Ghamrawi, que tenía 97 y el shortstack Nanev, con 45.
El juego era insufriblemente lento, debido sobre todo al excesivo postureo del devoralibros Pfutzenreuter y del ucraniano Koroshenin.
Pablo necesitaba un golpe de confianza y llegó en dos manos consecutivas contra Dilling. Obviamente informado del amplísimo rango del danés, Pablo defendió la ciega con 64o y ligó su 6 en el flop para ganar un pequeño bote que sirvió de aperitivo para un 5bet allin con A9o al que Dilling no pudo responder con su K3s.
El ánimo de Pablo se reforzó muchísimo con esta secuencia, como demostró su discutible gesto de tirarle el nueve a su rival e ir a celebrar la mano con el raíl sin colocar sus fichas, pero llevábamos cuatro horas de juego y era la primera vez que le salía algo bien. Y no quedó aquí la cosa, porque la eliminación de Nanev en un flip contra Khoroshenin aseguraba el primer salto de premios antes del segundo descanso.
La partida se rompió en una estupenda mano entre Marko Neumann y el danés Frei Dilling. Marko abrió A4 y Dilling hizo una de sus típicas 3bets con K7. El flop AKx podía fácilmente resolverse con un check-check, pero Dilling decidió convertir su segunda pareja en un farol de tres calles. El 4d del turn ayudó a Neumann a reunir el valor de ver el river y hacer call al all-in de Dilling para ponerse líder con más de 8.000.000 de puntos.
Por fin se destacaba un jugador, Neumann, que más tarde superaría la barrera de los 10.000.000 de puntos, y por abajo Pfutzenreuter y Nanev se quedaban por debajo de las 30 ciegas.
Un bote multiway entre Ghamrawi, Khoroshenin y Pablo Gordillo pudo acabar en tragedia para alguno de los participantes. El español se limitó a pagar conJJ en un bote que le llegó abierto con AcQc de Ghamrawi, animando al ucraniano a unirse con 6s7c desde la ciega grande.
El flop le dio el jackpot a Khoroshenin, 4h5c8c, que optó por pegar de cara. Sus dos rivales, con manos casi imposibles de foldear salvaron el primer match-ball limitándose a pagar. El Ah significaba problemas para Ghamrawi, pero permitió que Pablo foldeará al segundo barrel. Otro As permitió a Ghamrawi hacer el fold del torneo, salvando una buena cantidad de puntos.
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El búlgaro Naydenov se enfadó bastante cuando esta mano acabó ocupando 15 minutos del descanso. Avisó a la mesa que si hubiera corrido el tiempo ya habría pedido tiempo, pues en el nuevo nivel se habían jugado un número ridículo de manos. Juguetón que es el destino, en la siguiente mano acabaron all-in Naydenov con AJ y Ghamrawi con TT, y el austriaco ganó el flip.
El juego se ralentizó pese a que Neumann intentó usar su stack para atizar por la presencia de un shortstack, Timo Pfuzenreuter. Llevó varias órbitas eliminar al alemán, y Khoroshenin invirtió posiciones con Neumann.
El verdugo de Timo fue Ghamrawi, al que las ciegas amenazaban con meter en problemas. Tras esta mano, era Pablo el que pasaba a ser el shortstack, pero el stack efectivo era de más de 40 ciegas y éstas solo irian al centro de la mesa “con las buenas”.
Y así fue. Minutos más tarde, el sueño de traer el EPT a casa se truncaba con la eliminación del jugador leonés en una mano que le midió al alemán Neumann, en la que tras la que éste decidía lanzar una 4bet por todo el stack del jugador español. Viendo la alegría de rangos que se estaban manejando en la mesa, resultaba impensable foldear su AsKc. Era momento de flipear por la continuidad, pues el jugar alemán mostraba TdTs, pero las comunitarias no nos ayudaron, dejando a Pablo Gordillo eliminado en cuarta posición, mientras Marko Neuman se colocaba líder a falta de tres aspirantes.
Tras la eliminación de nuestro compatriota Ghamrawi, Khoroshenin y Neumann siguieron jugando unas cuantas manos de tanteo que sirvieron para que el alemán pusiera aún más tierra de por medio, anterior que llegara el descanso de la cena. Terminado éste, los jugadores solicitaban a la dirección una revisión de los números para discutir un pacto que quedó de la siguiente manera, dejando por fuera 50.000€ para el ganador del torneo.
| Marko Neumann | 13.920.000 | 638.127€ | 1º - 816.000€ |
| Oleksii Khoroshenin | 8.635.000 | 528.392€ | 2º - 497.900€ |
| Anthony Ghamrawi | 4.690.000 | 446.481€ | 3º - 349.100€ |
A partir de aquí, con el ambiente algo más distendido, los tres protagonistas siguieron jugando y hasta que finalizó el nivel en curso los marcadores de fichas apenas cambiaron, hasta que llegó una mano que acabaría siendo definitiva para el devenir del torneo.
Neumann y Khoroshenin se vieron las caras en un flop 8cKh7s posterior que el ucraniano 3beteara sus 8s8d desde la ciega grande y Neumann pagara con Kd7h en la pequeña. Estaba claro que aquí habría lío, máxime cuando un 7c apareció en el river. Ambos jugadores acabaron “all-in”, lo que permitió a Khoroshenin coger un liderato muy cómodo, mientras Neumann pasaba a ser el short-stack de la mesa.
Esta situación no duró mucho más. Apenas unas manos después, otro “cooler” dejaba a Neumann sin opcioón de luchar por el título. Khoroshenin flopeaba escalera con JdTs por las dobles parejas del alemán con 9s8c. Llegados a este punto, a Neumann le resultó imposible foldear una mano tan fuerte, lo que significaba que el heads-up entre el ucraniano y Anthony Ghamrawi quedaba servido con amplia ventaja para el primero.
En este punto del torneo, el desenlace no se demoró mucho más. Tras unas cuantas manos de “tanteo” en las que Khoroshenin inclusó incrementó su ventaja, llegó la definitiva, la que acabó sentenciando esta prueba del EPT.
Khoroshenin abría un nuevo bote con Ks3s, que Ghamrawi pagaba con 7h6d. En un flop 5s7c4s la acción se precipitaría. Ghamrawi decidió jugar al check/raise, para más tarde pagar con su TP+OESD ante el push de su rival. El ucraniano, que estaba de buenas, encontraba la pica que le faltaba en el turn, en forma de Ts que daba por zanjado el torneo con la victoria de Olekssi Khoroshenin.
El jugador ucraniano se llevaba la gloria y el segundo mejor premio del torneo, mientras que la parte más importante del pastel iba a parar a Marko Neumann, tercer clasificado.
| Oleksii Khoroshenin (UCR) | 578.392€* |
| Anthony Ghamrawi (AUS) | 446.481€* |
| Marko Neumann (ALE) | 638.127€* |
| Pablo Gordillo (ESP) | 262.150€ |
| Timo Pfutzenreuter (ALE) | 203.900€ |
| Simeon Naydenev (BUL) | 151.000€ |
| Frei Dilling (DIN) | 108.100€ |
| Rumen Nanev (BUL) | 77.000€ |
Ahora el circuito hace un brevísimo respiro anterior encaminarse a San Remo, donde a partir de mediados de abril se celebrará la penúltima cita de la temporada, y donde seguro que algún otro español, nos vuelve a hacer ilusionarnos con una victoria que tarde o temprano llegará.
El leonés demostró muy buenas maneras, acertando en varios folds complicados, y acabó perdiendo un flip que lo metía en la pelea por el título.
España sigue sin ganar un European Poker Tour casi 10 años después del nacimiento del circuito. La nueva bala que se nos ha escapado es la del leonés Pablo Gordillo "g0rd0nk", cuarto esta misma tarde en la mesa final del EPT Viena.
Otra mesa final que nos deja un sabor agridulce. / PokerStars.Aún está por llegar la primera mesa final que empieza rodada para un jugador español en el EPT. Pablo no iba a ser la excepción y los dos primeros botes que jugó le salieron rana.
Después de casi cuatro horas de juego, en medio de una mesa ralentizada al máximo por la actitud del alemán Timo Pfuzenreuter y del ucraniano Oleh Khoroshinin, Pablo se sacudió el mal fario de encima con un 5bet allin conm A9o que acertó a obligar a foldear al danés Frei Dilling, que estaba abriendo la mitad de las manos.
A partir de entonces, Pablo solo se pudo lucir en varios folds complicados en botes multiway, además de ir subiendo puestos en la escala de premios.
La gran estructura del torneo permitió que Pablo mantuviera alrededor de 40 ciegas pese a llegar a el shortstack del torneo, pero eso no tuvo importancia cuando le repartieron una mano que no podía tirar, AsKc y Marko Neumann le puso all-in con TdTs. Un T en el flop prácticamente sellaba el destino del español, al que apenas le quedaban cuatro outs de una gutshot que no se completó.
El premio de Pablo es de 262.150€, que a buen seguro celebrará a lo grando con su raíl, en el que estaban Benjamín García "Janfryed" y Miguel Riera "Gandalf RM".
¡Enhorabuena, Evaristo!
