One of the toughest tables to play for beginning counters are those with fast dealers. There are many reasons to avoid playing blackjack if a dealer is fast.
1. Fast dealers will make it tougher to keep the running count, and to do so accurately.
2. Fast dealers will make it tougher to remain calm and to use your memory of your proper basic strategy or strategy deviations.
3. Fast dealers will make it a lot harder to notice dealer errors. If for example the dealer pulls a 6-card 21 for himself, and then scoops up all the players cards and his own cards before you can count and verify it, you’ve all lost unnecessarily.
4. Fast dealers will make it harder to get your bet sizing right.
5. Fast dealers will make it harder for you as a player to make Scavenger plays (more on that later).
6. Fast dealers are probably sharpest in tagging you as a card counter – they are already proficient in dealing, have the casino’s interests at heart by raising the win rate for the house, and can observe your eyes and if you are moving your lips.
7. Fast dealers can cheat more. This one is rare, but there are little tricks even in a shoe game that players can get fleeced by without notice. For example, underpaying blackjacks, extra burns cards during play, etc.
Now, for skilled Advantage Players, a fast dealer can help raise the EV. However, for new Card Counters, stay away from the fast ones.
