Playing the game provides a chance to test all the skills at once — adding up hands, counting, playing decisions, betting, and watching out for dealer errors. The software will warn you when you make any errors. A few notes:

Ø  Make sure you have read the Practice Game section on page 64.

Ø  If you want the game to check your betting, you must tell CV how you are betting. From the main menu, select Strategies then Betting Strategy Simple to enter your bets.

Ø  The Deck Bias options on the Options-Settings screen, Speeds/Biases tab, contain two additional biases applicable to counting. The Positive and Negative Counts biases will cause the count to greatly increase or decrease. This tests your ability to handle unusual counts during play. The Randomize Bias option cycles randomly through the five deck biases to give you a tough workout.

Ø  You can peek at the count at any time by moving the mouse over the Tray button on the control bar at the bottom of the table.

Ø  If you are using the Dynamic Stats Window, you can tell it to always display the count, never display it, or display it only between rounds.

Ø  If you do not have Dynamic Stats up, you can have the software automatically pop-up the Tray Stats window with the count at end of each round or just before each shuffle. This is controlled on the Options-Settings screen, Environment tab, Viewing Options. Set either the “Always peek at count” or “Peek at count before shuffle options” options.

Ø  All errors are logged and can also be displayed in tables or charts. Separate playing and betting error charts can be displayed as you play in the Dynamic Stats Window if you have a wide-screen monitor.

Ø  Look over all game options. There are many, many ways of improving the practice environment. Change your seat, other players and table formats to keep you on your toes. You can set other players, to come and go for additional realism and distraction. For more distraction, turn up the TV.

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger