Blackjack Counting Back-Counting and Wonging 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main disadvantage of Wonging in a casino with advanced surveillance?
- Lower overall mathematical edge per hand played
- Increased visibility and easier detection by casino security (Correct answer)
- Slower card counting speed is required
- Inability to use true count conversion accurately
Correct answer: Increased visibility and easier detection by casino security
The pattern of joining only at high counts and leaving when they drop is conspicuous behavior that modern casinos specifically train staff and AI systems to monitor.
Question 2: How does Wonging affect a counter's expected value compared to playing all hands?
- It slightly decreases expected value per session
- It significantly increases expected value per hour of actual table play (Correct answer)
- It has no measurable effect on expected value
- It only improves expected value in single-deck games
Correct answer: It significantly increases expected value per hour of actual table play
By filtering out negative-EV situations entirely, Wongers achieve dramatically higher expected value per hour since every session begins with a player advantage.
Question 3: In a busy casino, what advanced Wonging technique do experienced counters use?
- Shuffle tracking instead of back-counting
- Back-counting multiple tables simultaneously before committing to one (Correct answer)
- Playing only at tables near emergency exits
- Switching to pure basic strategy to avoid detection
Correct answer: Back-counting multiple tables simultaneously before committing to one
Experienced counters watch several tables at once, ready to join whichever reaches a favorable count first, maximizing efficiency and minimizing idle time.
Question 4: What does 'table hopping' mean in the context of card counting?
- Physically moving between different casino floors or properties
- Moving from table to table to back-count multiple shoes and join only the most favorable (Correct answer)
- Switching between different card games like blackjack and baccarat
- Playing the same table multiple times within a single shoe
Correct answer: Moving from table to table to back-count multiple shoes and join only the most favorable
Table hopping involves moving between blackjack tables to back-count multiple shoes and enter only the most favorable ones, maximizing time spent in positive counts.
Question 5: When a Wonger exits a game due to a dropping count, what is the safest departure strategy?
- Immediately stand up and walk briskly to another table
- Place a small cover bet, then color up and leave calmly (Correct answer)
- Request a table break from the floor supervisor
- Signal a pit boss before leaving to appear cooperative
Correct answer: Place a small cover bet, then color up and leave calmly
Placing a small cover bet before leaving makes the exit appear routine and count-unrelated, reducing suspicion from casino surveillance personnel.
Question 6: How does back-counting affect the variance of a counter's results?
- It substantially increases variance due to irregular play patterns
- It reduces variance by removing negative-expectation hands from the session (Correct answer)
- It has no measurable effect on variance
- It only affects variance in games with more than four decks
Correct answer: It reduces variance by removing negative-expectation hands from the session
By playing only in positive-count situations, Wongers reduce negative-EV decisions in their sample, lowering overall variance while maintaining a consistent player edge.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the core advantage a Wonger holds over a standard flat bettor?
- Access to information about cards before they are shuffled
- Playing only when holding a positive expected value, entering every session with an edge (Correct answer)
- Knowledge of the dealer's hole card through observation
- Memorizing the exact order of every card in the shoe
Correct answer: Playing only when holding a positive expected value, entering every session with an edge
Because Wongers only sit down at positive counts, virtually every session they play begins with the player holding a statistical edge over the casino.
What is the main disadvantage of Wonging in a casino with advanced surveillance?