Blackjack card counting

How to count cards

In short, counting cards in blackjack is a strategy for deteriming the optimal times for placing larger bets in order to beat the house. The card counter does this by tracking the saturation of high cards and low cards in dealer’s deck.  When the deck is rich in high cards like tens and aces this is in the player’s advantage.  When the deck is rich in low cards, this is good for the dealer. A successful card counter will track the deck until he has a good feel for which way the deck is going.  Then will adjust his bets accrodingly. 
Contrary to popular belief you don’t have to be a PhD in mathematics to count cards.  You do need patience, discipline, and lots of practice to get your technique down, however. Read on to find out about card counting and the many different card counting techniques you can use at the blackjack table.

How to count cards

To count cards you need to keep track of the cards that have been dealt by the dealer.  This includes cards in the dealer’s hand, as well as in the hands of the other players.  Each card counting strategy will give a specific point value for each card.  After the dealer has gone though some of his deck you can get a feel for where the count is and where it is heading.  If you have a positive count that means the deck is in your favor, when the count is negative it is in the dealers favor.

Because online casinos use between 6-8 decks that are continuously shuffled, it is very hard to count cards online.  Because you are only seeing the cards that you and the dealer have you are getting less information with every bet than in a full table with 8 players in a real casino.  It is practically impossible to get any meaningful information from counting this way.  If you really think you want to try card counting online your best bet is to find an online game that is single deck.  However, a blackjack on these games usually only pays out 6-5 or even money, thus negating any advantage you would have by card counting.

• Hi Lo Blackjack Card Counting System

In the Hi-Lo count all cards valued between 2 and 6 receive a value of +1 while all tens and aces count as -1, and the rest of the cards are neutral having no effect on the count.  To arrive at what is known as the ”true count” you must divide the running count by the number of decks remaining in the shoe.

• KO (Knockout) Blackjack Card Counting

The KO card counting system is based on the Hi-Lo system with one exception; the 7, has a value of +1.  This does away with the need to divide the count by the number of remaining decks to arrive at the ”true count” in the Hi-Lo counting system.

• Hi-Opt I Blackjack Card Counting System

The Hi-Opt I system is also based on the Hi-Lo system, but has a more complicated point conversion structure as outlined in this table.

2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	J	Q	K	A
0	+1	+1	+1	+1	0	0	0	-1	-1	-1	-1	0

It takes more practice and a sharper mind to count cards using the table above, so it is recommended only for players who have already mastered the regular Hi-Lo count system.

• Hi-Opt II Blackjack Card Counting System

For those really seeking a challenge the Hi-Opt II strategy has you counting cards according to this table.

2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	J	Q	K	A
+1	+1	+2	+2	+1	+1	0	0	-2	-2	-2	-2	0

Now you are adding and subtracting numbers larger than 1 from the count and you must know each cards value or else the count becomes worthless.

Though card counting has contributed to the popularity of blackjack, casinos are not very happy about having card counters at their table.  Though card counting is not illegal in any jurisdiction in the US, casinos have the right to refuse anyone on their property for any reason.  The result of this is that card counters who do not properly disguise their play will start feeling the heat from the pit boss after they start winning big.  Many of the best counters have been banned from all major casinos on the Vegas strip and in Atlantic City.

For more background on other card counters and the history of blackjack, visit our blackjack history page.  You’ll be fascinated by the many stories of fortunes won in the only game where beating the dealer has become a reality.

Practice at home

Before you attempt to card counting in blackjack, make sure that you thoroughly understand the basic strategy, you should even have it memorized at this point.

Now, get a deck of cards and look over them, familiarize yourself with all of the point values (+1, -1, 0). Once you feel confident that you can immediately recognize the point value of each card, deal through it like you would in a casino. Try to keep track of the points; you'll notice that many cards will start canceling each other out and certain patterns will repeat—recognizing these patterns is critical to becoming a successful card counter.

Keep practicing until you can count down the entire deck in 25 seconds or less. It won't be easy, but becoming an efficient card counter takes dedication. It will be very difficult at first, but keep practicing and eventually all of these processes will become second nature to you. That's when you know you're ready