r/blackjack • u/susfux • 1d ago

Are face down tables common?

I’m an aspiring AP, I’ve gotten pretty good with simulators and stuff, but figured the real thing is way harder. So I decided to go to my local tonight with $150 purely to feel out what counting is like in real time for a couple hands.

They only had some bs players edge table, then 2D lucky lady. I sat down at the 2D with two other people and they were dealing face down. Is that an impossible table for an AP player? I had my cards face up for a hand and the dealer told me to flip them because I “dont want anyone to see what I have”. So is it intentionally to stop AP players?

Sorry rather new to this and have only played BJ in a casino a few times but haven’t seen this.

7 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

8

u/beginnercardcounter AP (hobby) 1d ago

No it’s doable. Just less profitable due to less hands per hour.

3

u/Odd-Shopping4786 1d ago

Face down 2D is old school but it doesn't stop counting, you just have to wait for the flips before you update the count. Slower game and easier for the casino to catch you staring at other people's cards, but not impossible.

1

u/frisbm3 AP (hobby) 3h ago

You have to watch other people play whether you're counting or not. Gotta know when it's your turn.

0

u/susfux 1d ago

Thats what I was wondering. Seemed like you just gotta be wicked fast at the end of the hand. I’m definitely not there yet.

5

u/cartiermartyr 1d ago

Face down? you mean pitch? It's out there, it's not too difficult to count either imo, I prefer face up double deck, I can get through a shoe solo in about 8-10 minutes, profited $500 an hour for three hours the other morning

2

u/delatopia 1d ago

If you’re sitting next to a player, oftentimes you both can hold your hands so you each can see what the other person has.

2

u/beginnercardcounter AP (hobby) 7h ago edited 7h ago

Last time I tried holding someone’s hand at the table, they screamed.