This is a huge factor in obtaining an edge for the card counter. The term "deck penetration" defines how far the deck is dealt out before the shuffle occurs. As we progress into the 21st century, deck penetration seems to be growing worse and worse. With a six deck shoe, it's become pretty typical to cut off the last 13/4 decks -- plus or minus 1/4 deck. Eight deck shoes usually cut off the last two decks.

Now, a 11/2 deck cutoff in a six deck game is quite a bit better than a 2 deck chop. It's pretty important to go where they deal out more cards -- all else being equal.

Even within the same casino, you can often find dealers who give a more favorable cutoff than others. On rare occasion in a few choice places, they might even cut off only the last deck! That would be a dream situation. Conversely, anything worse than a 2 deck chop in a six deck game is a "gouge", and not worthy of your action. With eight decks you might be able to tolerate a 21/a deck chop -- max.

if you can't find single- or double-deck configurations in your area, find the most favorable configuration that you can. Do try to stay away from eight-deck shoe configurations if at all possible. Don't ask me why, but I've never been very suc¬cessful at playing against this configuration. There are too many chances that the high or low cards get clumped and literally bury you at the game.

It always seems as though the dealer gets a ten card up and you're forever trying to heat the dealer's pos¬sible twenty. It's the absolute worst. Single- or double-deck configurations are Much preferred. Although shuffling Occurs more often, you'll have a more even distribution of wins and losses. making our CLB strategy extremely, useful, especially if you're going head-to-head against the dealer.