Usually, preferential shuffling in single [and
sometimes double] deck is a response by the dealer
to an increase in bet size. Sometimes shuffle-up can
be induced on a negative count by an increase in bet.
However, some casinos have dealers who can count.
The most glaring example of this I have observed
was at Baldini's 'Sports' Casino in Sparks NV back
about a year ago. This casino is not used to anything
except nickel action. I came in and started betting
some rather mellow quarter action just to cheque the
place out. Within about 10 minutes, the regular
dealer on my table was replaced by a 5'2" or so
Filipina lady with short hair. She shuffled up
positives, even with no bet increases, as the floor
man watched closely. Needless to say, I left soon
thereafter.

On the other hand, I have noticed that there are
single deck places that will *never* shuffle up.
Contrary to many reports I see on the 'net, I have
neverexperienced an unstandard procedure
at either Binion's Horseshoe or the Horseshoe in
Tunica. In other words, they deal:

• 2 rounds to 4, 5, or 6 spots
  
• 3 rounds to 3 spots
  
• 4 rounds to 2 spots
  

all the time, and I believe that following
this procedure is one of the dealers' job requirements.
I have heard that counters have been flat-betted at
Binion's and this is plausible.

On the other hand, I have experienced preferential
shuffling at several other places. They include:



• Circus Circus LV
  
• Riviera LV when it had the 1 d S17 game
  
• Baldini's Sparks, as mentioned above
  
• Comstock Reno
  
• Crystal Bay Club North Shore Lake Tahoe
  
• Colorado Belle Laughlin [a CIR-owned property]
  
• Primadonna in [former] Stateline
  

All these reports are old but they correspond with a
recent post I have seen reference the Circus Circus
game on bj21. It's my feeling that Circus Circus sweats
quarter or greater action more than a lot of casinos
do. This company strikes me as a casino that wants
a house packed with nickel bettors, without having
to mess with larger action.

Another observation I have made is that preferential
shuffling seems to be less common on double deck
than on single deck games.

Would be curious if any flat-bettors have
experienced preferential shuffling at single-deck
tables. A typical dealer excuse is, "gee, if I deal
another round, I think I'm going to run out of cards."
I have experienced preferential shuffling on 6-spot
single deck tables with NO bet increase on the second
round. It is my impression the dealer usually
accomplishes this by the "feel" of the cards in her/his
hand rather than by actually counting them. At high +
counts, the number of cards remaining in the dealer's
hand before the second round is dealt
is fewer than the number of cards remaining for
the second round at 0 or - counts. This is because
the players have hit a lot in the first round owing
to the abundance of small cards that round.
However, the dealer can hardly run out of cards...
because the remaining cards are large and players
will need to take few hits!
A suggestion to players before they go to play
single-deck games is to experiment with a deck of
cards. Try dealing yourself 2 rounds to 6 spots and
a dealer. Try 3 rounds to 3 spots and 3 rounds to 4
spots. Do it several times for each and write down
how many cards you have left after doing this. You
will find that it is virtually impossible for the
dealer to run out of cards dealing 2 rounds to 6 spots,
3 rounds to 4 spots, 5 rounds to 2 spots and so on.
A dealer could run out if they were to deal 3
rounds to 5 spots, which is the reason they only deal
2 rounds [which is terrible penetration].

This post has rambled a little bit, but since
preferential shuffling is one of the topics on this
board, I wanted to open it up.