Any advantage to calling for a setup?

Quite often at the casinos we'll see guys who've been getting a string of junk cards call for a setup. I'm pretty sure we all know what a setup is but just in case: it's when the floorman brings in two fresh decks and the dealer proceeds to wash/shuffle the cards before putting them into the machine shuffler.

The only slight advantage I see to this is the marginal increase in potential for holding pocket pairs or pocket paints like AK, QJ, AJ and so fourth. This is because even though the dealer and machine shuffle the cards, the deck is still quite fresh thus the paint cards tend to stay within close proximity to each other.

However, my honest opinion is that guys who request a setup are looking for a psychological fresh start and it's just placebo... however, I suppose this could be exploited because if I see these guys switch gears and start betting aggressively preflop then I'll know they've got at least one paint..

Any thoughts on other advantages of calling for a setup?

Same idiots who claim online is rigged in most cases. Unless a card is damaged/marked changing decks is just idiotic superstition.

Interesting theory regarding the paint staying close together. Honestly though, while there is a slight chance this strategy might have a short term benefit I can't see it being long term (which is where poker profits come from)

Seems like silly buggers games to me, quite honestly.

Pretty dumb imo

No advantage. Washing the deck randomizes the deck pretty well, shuffler does the rest.

Asking for a setup just calls out to the rest of the table that you are more superstitious than most and you blame bad outcome of a hands on lucky instead of your lack of skill.

jaxpaboo said:

No advantage. Washing the deck randomizes the deck pretty well, shuffler does the rest.

Asking for a setup just calls out to the rest of the table that you are more superstitious than most and you blame bad outcome of a hands on lucky instead of your lack of skill.

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true true.... it's also a sign that the player is experiencing frustration and will most likely be making impatient decisions which can be exploited.

Card rooms like to get the most out of their cards and sometimes they just wont change the deck until someone asks. If you see the cards getting warn down with small marks or bends, maybe it happens to two cards in a row that get replaced, just ask for a new setup and you can be rest assured the deck is no longer "rigged" in most cases all these markings are accidental and nearly impossible to see during a hand anyways, but you never know.

Calling for a setup too much slows down the game and is a clear disadvantage, also people who call for a setup alot are probably luck ridden fish.

MrEncryptor said:

the deck is still quite fresh thus the paint cards tend to stay within close proximity to each other.

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Every place I've played, the dealer does a mash/splash shuffle with a new deck (spreads all the cards out on the table and mixes them up real good) before the actual shuffling begins. Then rip and split shuffles.

I dunno... not buying it.

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There is no way cards "stay together". Just a couple shuffles will sufficiently randomize a deck, and the standard protocol is 3 shuffle and a cut, then the cards are dealt which means according to your theory every player would get one high card... It's just not the case, you may be able to predict which 1/4 of the deck the ace of spades is in if you see it go in and it's shuffle once or twice but three shuffles and a cut, or any time an autos juggler is used, no way.

2 cuts actually one after second shuffle and one before deal