determining cards seen
When the discards are hidden, determining how many cards have been seen in order to calculate true count may be more difficult than it is when the discards are in plain view. But paradoxically it may be easier. It could be easier because a distraction may be eliminated--unseen discards. And it could be easier because estimation of how high a stack of cards is is not necessary
As you suggest you could count rounds. You could also count hands. And you could count cards. And some hidden discard games are played so slowly that both side counts of cards seen and of cards used can be maintained. But even in slow games maintaining two, and even one, such side count can be too tiring to be worthwhile.
Timing the progress of shoes works. And you might just have a feel for how long a shoe has gone along.
In a pinch, asking the dealer how far through the shoe he has gone has worked for me.
Most often I figure rounds per deck and then count rounds; but if you try different approaches, you may find something else that works better for you in a given situation.
Relax. True count is of import only as running count gets far away from zero. Remember that unless the pack is near the end, being off a little in your estimate will not be of great consequence. If it is of any particular consequence, the consequence will not be so great as would be reversing the sign of the count. In many cases it will not be so great as would be the consequence of missing a few cards.
I guess that running count strategies work well with deeply penetrated packs. My choice, but not necessarily everyones', is to use high low for all games.
If heat were of absolutely no import, you could track pen with pencil and paper. If heat is of only trivial import, track with chips/checks. Fingers, rings, beverage containers, and so on are also available.
Best wishes,
Slot
