SHUFFLE TRACKIN 
A talented card counter who thinks he can track shuffles just because he can count cards is like a little league pitcher who thinks that because he can see the strike zone, he can throw strikes.
For most counters, as for most little league pitchers, there is a rude awakening once the game starts. Neither the shuffle tracker, nor the pitcher, however, will ever know if he can be successful unless he practices, drills, and practices some more. If you've got the talent, it will surface. If not. .. hey, try bowling. I have known many highly skilled counters, including professionals, who acknowledge that they simply can't track shuffles, despite a thorough understanding of the mathematics and principles involved. Many have given it up because, "When I try to cut to the high-card slug, the high cards often just aren't there." So, before you waste six months studying charts and theory, let's find out if you even have a chance at succeeding as a tracker.
When I initially published the Shuffle Tracking Series ten years ago, I really did believe that shuffle machines might take over. As it turned out, some casinos use shuffle machines, primarily as a time-saving device, but Vegas (and Nevada in general) remains a shuffle tracker's paradise, and most other states that offer blackjack also continue to offer hand-shuffled games. What the casinos learned from my Shuffle Tracking Series was that doesn't matter that their shuffles are not impenetrable-most advantage players simply can't track shuffles.
Many can count cards, but virtually none of them can track shuffles for beans. Most of the big teams tried it for a while ... and quit. Most casino game protection personnel are not even looking for shuffle trackers today. Many believe the skill itself to be more mythical than real-and they're not that far off. The Necessary Tools Let's begin with the equipment you need to begin. If getting all of this stuff sounds like too much of a chore, give it up now. Shuffle tracking is an advanced skill and you'll never learn to do it by thinking about it, reading about it, or dreaming about it. It takes work. Here's what you need to start: -12 decks of casino playing cards (16 if you play in 8-deckers) -
One dealing shoe -One discard tray -A couple of plastic cut cards (you can substitute the jokers for these) - Wide felt-tip permanent markers in at least 2 different colors -Notebook for record keeping Other useful items: -Casino (or poker) chips in various colors -Dealer's chip tray (float) -Regulation blackjack layout -Cocktail waitress (hey, for distraction!) Here are some exercises developed by Radar O'Reilly (Blackjack Forum s Atlantic City reporter), one of the most talented trackers I know: Exercise #1: Cutting a Standing Stack In all of my examples, I will use six decks of cards. If you typically play in eight-deck games, then you should adjust these exercises to suit the extra decks.
If you go back and forth between six and eight decks you must practice and drill for both. After removing the jokers, thoroughly shuffle the six decks together. You must do this because you will likely be able to see "lines" between the individual decks if you just stack them out of the boxes one atop the next. Thoroughly shuffle the decks, and then stack them into the discard tray face up. The order of the cards is of no importance.
Now, using a felt-tip permanent marker, number the faces of the cards from I to 312, turning them face down onto the table as you number them. When finished, you should have a facedown stack of all six decks, with the top card numbered 312 on the face, and the bottom card numbered 1. Set this stack into the discard tray face down. Now try to slide the plastic cut card into the stack exactly two decks up from the bottom. If you do this correctly, the card below the cut card should have the number 104 written on the face, and the card above should be number 105. Try it! How closely can you cut to exactly two decks up from the bottom? .