What is Edge Sorting?
Players have been trying to gain an edge over casinos for ages, ever since the first brick-and-mortar establishments popped up centuries ago. One well-known tactic is card counting, pioneered by Edward Thorp back in the 1960s for blackjack. But there are other effective strategies out there, like edge sorting, famously used by Phil Ivey to scoop a fortune playing baccarat. So, what exactly is edge sorting, and is it a legal way to play at Ireland's best live casinos? Stick around to find out!
What's This Edge Sorting Craic?
Edge sorting is a clever and subtle gambling strategy where players figure out the value of cards by spotting tiny imperfections on their backs. It might sound a bit complex at first, but it's really about carefully observing slight, unintentional flaws on the back of playing cards. By using these minor imperfections, players get a strategic advantage. While this method is most often linked to baccarat, it can also give you an upper hand in other card games like blackjack and poker if you've got a keen eye. The success of edge sorting really hinges on your ability to spot and remember these minute inconsistencies, turning them into a powerful tool while you're playing.
How Does Edge Sorting Work?
To most casual players, the back of a facedown card looks like any other. But for a skilled edge sorter, this is where the real game begins. These players have top-notch eyesight and loads of experience at the tables, allowing them to identify cards just by looking at the patterns on their backs.
Card Manufacturing and Its Role in Edge Sorting
The secret behind edge sorting lies in the card manufacturing process. Occasionally, during production, slight variances occur in the cutting of cards, leading to faintly different patterns along the edges. To the uninitiated, these discrepancies are nearly imperceptible, but to a player with a trained eye, these variations are as clear as day. They can spot the telltale signs of different cards by scrutinizing the edges that show when the cards are stacked or spread out.
Professional edge sorters hone this skill over time, developing a keen sense of attention to detail that allows them to distinguish between cards that look identical to most. This ability doesn't just come naturally; it is often the result of hours of practice and a deep understanding of how different card decks are produced and used in live casinos. This explains why live casinos frequently change decks, as adept edge sorting can dramatically shift the odds in a game, providing insightful players with a significant advantage. Thus, edge sorting, while not widely practiced due to its complexity and the need for exceptional observational skills, remains a fascinating and potentially game-changing strategy in the world of high-stakes card gaming.
Balancing Risk and Reward
Edge sorting, while undoubtedly challenging, presents a unique opportunity to tilt the odds in your favor when playing against a live casino. The potential advantage gained through this technique can be as high as 7%. In practical terms, for every $100 wagered, edge sorting could theoretically yield a $7 return. While this margin might seem modest at first glance, it holds substantial appeal for high-stakes players.
Consider the scenario of betting $500 per hand. With edge sorting, this could result in an additional $35 per hand. If a player engages in 50 hands within an hour, this strategy could potentially lead to an extra $1,750 in that timeframe. Such figures illustrate why edge sorting is particularly attractive to high rollers, who can leverage their large bets to amplify their gains.
However, it's important to acknowledge the realities of relying on edge sorting as a consistent income source. To sustain a lifestyle solely through this strategy requires a substantial bankroll, and the risks involved are not negligible. Additionally, consistently winning through edge sorting may draw attention at the casino. High-profile players, especially those winning frequently, often find themselves under scrutiny. Casinos are known for their measures against players who are too successful, particularly if they suspect an unconventional strategy like edge sorting. Therefore, while edge sorting can be lucrative, it requires careful consideration of both the financial and practical aspects of casino gaming.
Is Using Edge Sorting Legal?
Casinos often regard the edge sorting strategy as blatant cheating, while many casino players consider it as a legitimate advantage play. The players themselves don’t manufacture the table game cards, so they believe they're not doing anything wrong.
However, Phil Ivey and his partner Cheung Yin Sun's $9.6 million win at the Borgata casino playing baccarat led to a lawsuit citing cheating allegations. In 2016, a federal judge ruled that the players refund the casino $10 million.
Interestingly, the US District Judge, Noel Hillman, ruled that the players didn’t commit any fraud. Instead, he found that the players violated the casino rules that prohibit the marking of cards. Although they didn’t physically mark the cards, the players used tiny card imperfections to their advantage.
In another instance, Crockfords casino in the UK refused to pay Phil his $11 million winnings from a 2012 session. He sued them, but lost again in the UK High Court after a judge classified edge sorting as “cheating.” It was pointed out that the case would have turned out differently if Phil had spotted the cards through simple observation instead of deliberately fixing the deck.
