AI Summary
This video explores whether a card counter's seat at the blackjack table affects their expected value. Simulations show minimal to no difference in shoe games, but a slight edge for playing last in double deck. Practical advice is given for beginners and considerations like table crowding and dealer interactions.
Chapters
The video addresses whether seat position at the blackjack table matters for card counters, and what factors to consider.
In six or eight deck shoe games, simulations show no measurable difference in win rate between sitting first, middle, or last.
In double deck games, playing last gives a very small edge (0.5% to less than 2%) due to seeing more cards before acting.
Playing at a less crowded table increases EV by 100-200%, far more than seat position. Playing one or two extra hands per hour also adds 1-2% EV.
New counters should sit first base to have unlimited time to update the running count without pressure from the dealer or other players.
Players at third base often receive blame from other gamblers for decisions affecting the table, though simulations show no impact on others' odds.
Sitting first base may allow a glimpse of the dealer's bottom card, which can be used as an advantage if trained to do so.
Success in card counting depends on perfect basic strategy, accurate counting, proper betting, and true count conversion, not seat position.
Seat position has negligible impact on a card counter's edge. Focus on mastering fundamentals and playing at less crowded tables for far greater gains.
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Mentioned in this Video
Study Flashcards (7)
In a six or eight deck shoe game, does seat position affect expected value?
easy
Click to reveal answer
In a six or eight deck shoe game, does seat position affect expected value?
No, there is no measurable difference in win rate between sitting first, middle, or last.
00:34
In a double deck game, how much EV advantage does playing last give over playing first?
medium
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In a double deck game, how much EV advantage does playing last give over playing first?
A very small advantage of 0.5% to less than 2%.
00:49
What is a better way to increase EV than worrying about seat position?
easy
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What is a better way to increase EV than worrying about seat position?
Play at a less crowded table, which can increase EV by 100-200%.
01:43
Why should beginner card counters sit at first base?
medium
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Why should beginner card counters sit at first base?
They have unlimited time to update the running count without pressure from the dealer or other players.
02:10
Do a player's decisions at third base affect the odds for other players?
hard
Click to reveal answer
Do a player's decisions at third base affect the odds for other players?
No, computer simulations show no measurable impact on other players' odds.
03:10
What potential advantage does sitting at first base offer?
medium
Click to reveal answer
What potential advantage does sitting at first base offer?
It may allow a glimpse of the dealer's bottom card, which can be used as an advantage if trained.
03:53
What are the key factors for a card counter's success?
hard
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What are the key factors for a card counter's success?
Perfect basic strategy, accurate counting, proper betting, true count conversion, and knowing playing deviations.
04:33
💡 Key Takeaways
No Seat Advantage in Shoe Games
Debunks a common myth that seat position matters in multi-deck games.
00:34Table Crowding Matters More Than Seat
Highlights a practical, high-impact strategy for increasing EV.
01:43First Base for Beginners
Provides actionable advice for new counters to reduce errors.
02:10Gambler's Fallacy About Third Base
Explains why players wrongly blame third base for outcomes.
03:10Fundamentals Over Seat Position
Reinforces that core skills are what truly matter for success.
04:33Full Transcript
[00:01] when counting cards what's the most valuable spot at the table to sit I'm question as well as a few considerations for the next time you hit the blackjack for the next time you hit the blackjack tables an inevitable question when
[00:19] someone gets into card counting is where at the table should I sit or does it even matter so first let's look at the expected value I ran a whole bunch of simulations to see the difference in win rate or expected value of sitting first
[00:34] or sitting in the middle of the table or sitting last to act at the blackjack table and the bottom line is for a shoe game meaning a six or eight deck game there's absolutely no measurable difference to sitting first in the
[00:49] middle or sitting last in a double deck game however there's a very small I'm game however there's a very small I'm talking 1/2 - less than 2% difference if you are playing last compared to if you're playing first this is what I was
[01:03] expecting because I remember hearing very early on as a card counter that when you play last you get a little bit more information by seeing other players cards from when they hit or split or double down or whatever that you can
[01:16] make your playing decisions a little bit more accurate but it's a very small increase in Evi so the academic answer is that it's slightly more valuable to
[01:29] play last in double deck and it really doesn't matter in a shoe game but don't overthink this we're likely talking about pennies per hour and there are a than 1 to 2 percent more evie if you want to generate another 1 or 2 percent
[01:43] evie play one or two more hands at the end of the hour or the end of the night better yet rather than playing last at a table with multiple other players you're way better off playing a less crowded table because you're gonna get in way
[01:56] crowded table than a more crowded table and I'm talking about twice as may like a hundred percent increase in TV or even a 200 percent increase in TV other things you might want to consider the first of which is if you're new to
[02:10] to sit first and the reason why is because when you're first to act you have as much time as you need to update the running count the dealer cannot deal until you make a plain decision and you might feel
[02:25] base and they're saying do you want to stand or hit and you're saying hold on but the reality is you have as much time as you need and what can happen is if you're playing last and you don't have the count in time and this guy at first
[02:40] busts and they're taking cards off the table you're getting behind on the count you're actually missing out on cards and so my advice is early on sit at first base take your time and control the speed of the game so that you can
[02:56] actually count accurately so another consideration is that if you're gonna act it's kind of stupid but you have to be prepared to get a little bit more flack from the other players there's this false gambler logic that you're
[03:10] playing decisions impact the whole table and that's not true you can run computer simulations and there's no measurable impact you're playing decisions don't affect the other players odds yeah sometimes your decision makes everyone
[03:24] lose sometimes your decision makes everybody win but it doesn't affect the odds of the game but don't tell a gambler that because they believe that responsible for the whole table winning or losing it's it's stupid it's not
[03:38] logical but that's what they think so if you're gonna play third base be screwed up the dealer's hand and you know my advice is to ignore them but if you just want to avoid that flack altogether just sit somewhere else one
[03:53] first base keep your eyes out because there are times when you can catch a glimpse of the dealer's bottom card and if you know how to use that information it can be a piece of information to use as a card
[04:07] counter I'm not talking about shuffle tracking here but if you've been to one of our blackjack boot camps you likely know what I'm talking about because something always covered during a boot camp it's a small bit of information but
[04:20] be used for your advantage so here's the deal sitting at first base or at the middle or at third base the last spot that's not the difference between being a successful card counter in an
[04:33] very little measurable difference if any where you sit counter is perfect basic strategy perfect accounting perfect bedding and true count conversion and knowing the playing deviation so that you can have a
[04:48] strong edge against the casino if you wanna learn more about beating casinos YouTube channel and you can also check out blackjack apprenticeship com where for 10 years now we've been training people how to beat casinos legally with
[05:01] people how to beat casinos legally with card counting for real money