ST-ing

Hey!

In the ever futile attempt to thwart that which can be thwarted...shuffle tracking seems like a great way to go down in flames.

So...

I`m having some problems, largely related to pick sizes.

Reading Arnold`s BIB, I`m left with the impression that the common practice for segment tracking is to remember the individual running counts for each 1/2 segment.

This is trying.

However, Mr.Hall`s essay suggests making use of larger tracking units (1 deck or larger), then making copies for smaller pick sizes.

This is much simpler, but is it accurate?

How do our resident trackers record their tracking units and what sizes do you use?

Cheers!
Syph

(p.s. I know, I know, I must get the BJF series, but a few suggestions would sure help.)

(p.p.s. Also...am I the only one confused by the NRS formula?)

In a straightforward shuffle, I track slugs which correspond to the dealer's expected picks. But I do not remember the running count for each segment in the shoe; rather, I note only segments of particular interest. This means strong positives, strong negatives, and any segment likely to be married to another intact segment (having near-100% information on the married slug is highly valuable & lets you play much weaker stuff with confidence). I "throw out" other slugs, to avoid mnemonic overload. One consequence of this is that, unless playing with a partner, I often don't know the ordinary running count of the shoe in question or the count of the cutoffs. (Hence I often play with a partner.)

In the more complicated shuffles -- and I'd rather not point out on the free pages the things that complicate a shuffle (suffice it to say that no multi-deck shuffle is particularly random) -- where, say, the expected picks seldom turn out to be the actual picks, I simply eyeball rich areas. Though this works well, it took me a boatload of live practice to trust my eyes enough to do it...

Haven't read the Hall essay, so I can't respond to that.

When you're just starting out, I recommend only remembering the running counts of two or three segments per shoe, and then, with practice, adding more segments & relying more on your eyes.

Hope this helps.