Blackjack Card Counting

In blackjack the casino has a very small edge even when the player uses the optimal blackjack strategy.
Card counting is a method that can be used to tip this small edge in the players favor by using all possible information available to the player. In blackjack, unlike all other online casino games, there is a past and a future.
The art of card counting is based on the player using the past card to predict the future cards and thus tip the edge in their favor.

There are many types of card counting, some simple and some very complex.
In this article Casino Games Guide will focus on the hi/low strategy, which is the most basic and easy to implement of all card counting methods.

Hi/Low Card Counting

Running Count

This card counting system is very simple.
All you have to be able to do is add or subtract 1 from a “running count”, which is the number of all the additions and subtractions combined.
Here is what you do to the ‘running count’ when each card comes.

Between 2 and 6 = ADD 1

Between 7 and 9 = Stays the same

Between 10 and Ace = SUBTRACT 1

For example, if a ten is dealt you subtract one from the running count.
This results in a running count of -1. If an 8 comes next then the running count stays at -1.
If a king is dealt after the 8, then you subtract another 1 from the running count resulting in a running count of -2. If a 2 comes next then you add 1 to the running count bringing it back to -1.
This continues until the deck of cards is changed or shuffled.

The True Count

The running count doesn’t take into account the number of decks left in the shoe, which makes it less accurate.
The fewer decks in the shoe the more accurate the running count is because there has been that much more information determining the count.
The true count takes both the running count and the number of decks remaining into account which makes it much more accurate.
To find the true count you just have to divide the running count by the number of decks remaining in the shoe.
For example if there are 3 decks left in the shoe and the running count is 9, then the true count would be 3.

Using the Count to Your Advantage

A deck that has a lot of high cards is good for the player.
High cards include any 10’s or Aces.
This means when the true count is high there is a better chance that the player will beat the dealer and win the hand.
The advantage is still small, at about 1%, even when the count is very high.
Basically what you want to do is bet small when the count is unfavorable and bet high when you have the advantage.
This method of betting will help you use the count to gain an advantage over the casino.

Remember that even though card counting is legal, many casinos frown upon it and have imposed their own rules and techniques to take the advantage away from card counters.
You should always be careful and discrete when card counting and try to prevent the casino from realizing what you are doing.

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