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Card Counting – The Best Blackjack Strategy
Unlike most other casino games, blackjack is not all about dumb luck. It is one of the few games where you can actually use strategies effectively, and successfully influence the odds in your favour. When it comes to blackjack strategies, perhaps the most popular one is card counting. Even though it is something of a forbidden subject to talk about at casinos, it can really help you up your game and win more in the long run. Aside from card counting, there are various helpful strategy charts that can really aid you in getting better at the game, and winning more.
Practice Card Counting and Win Real Money at 888 Casino!
You can find them online, but make sure you find a chart for the specific game you are playing. They are a good introduction to blackjack strategy, and will definitely help you lay the groundwork for card counting. There are many ways to count cards – some designed for newcomers to the concept, others for veterans. Let’s start with a brief overview of what card counting is all about.
What Exactly Is Card Counting?
Card counting is a blackjack strategy that aims to decrease the game’s inherent casino edge. This is achieved by the player running a count of all cards they see, having an idea of what cards are left in the shoe, and betting accordingly. This system allows players to bet with less risk when the count is favourable, and minimise losses when it is not.
Every card counting system assigns a positive, negative, or zero value to each card value in the deck. When a card is dealt, the running count is adjusted by the card’s value. Low cards make the count increase, as they show that more high cards are left in the shoe, and vice-versa. There are numerous card counting methods out there – easier ones tend to be more inaccurate, while difficult ones provide players with much better information about what cards are left in the shoe. No matter what system you decide to use, mastering it will take a lot of time and practice. Don’t expect to be good at this right away.
The MIT Blackjack Team
We cannot talk about card counting without mentioning the famous MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Blackjack Team, and all they did to further improve and popularise card counting over the years. The team was formed of students and ex-students from the institute, and successfully operated from 1979 through the beginning of the 21st century. The MIT team was renowned for using sophisticated card counting methods and managing to beat many casinos worldwide, while making a fortune from it. Their exploits are the subject of the popular movie ‘21’, even though the events in the movie are slightly romanticised and exaggerated.
The Different Card Counting Strategies
Card counting strategies are generally divided into two types – single-level and multi-level counts. The former never increases or decreases the running count by more than a single, pre-determined value, while the latter makes bigger distinctions between the card values, thus achieving greater accuracy. Single-level count would use -1, 0, and +1, while multi-level counts can include +2, -2, +0.5, -0.5, etc. Below, you can see some of the most popular strategies, their level, and the point values they assign to different cards.
| Strategy | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10, J, Q, K | Ace | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-Lo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 |
| KO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 |
| Omega II | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | 0 | 2 |
| Halves | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | -0.5 | -1 | -1 | 3 |
| Zen Count | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -1 | 2 |
If you are new to the concept of card counting, we recommend you start with a single-level system, like the Hi-Lo strategy. It’s perfect for training until you are good enough to dive into the more complex systems. Now, let’s see how card counting is actually done and how it can help you win.
How Do You Actually Count Cards?
The actual process of counting cards requires quite a bit of concentration and a strong memory. You need to have the card values already memorised upon entering the game. Then, as the game starts, you need to pay attention to every card that comes into play, and adjust your running count accordingly, starting from zero. Below, you can see a very helpful video that will provide you with a clear overview of the process.
Even though counting cards is not easy, anyone can learn to do it – you do not need to be a mathematical wizard or some kind of genius. Provided that you have the time to practice, you will eventually learn how to do it without thinking that much. Just make sure you start out slow, and concentrate on remembering the value of the running count. Speaking of counts, it’s time to touch on a pretty important subject.
Running Count & True Count
While assigning point values to every card you see, you keep track of the running count. However, it doesn’t show what exactly your edge is, unless you are playing with a single deck of cards. The so-called ‘true count’ is the value according to which you must adjust your bets. It is calculated by dividing your running count to the amount of decks remaining in the game. For example, if your running count is 5, and there are 2 decks left, your true count would stand at 2.5. If the true count is exactly 1, you and the casino have even chances. If it goes above 1, however, the game is favourable towards you.
You do not need to be completely accurate with your running count – a rough estimate should do it. If the odds are in your favour, bet big, otherwise, bet small land cautious. This is the basic principle around which card counting revolves. In the end, it is more art than science, really, as you need to come up with your own betting system in order to succeed.
The Number of Decks
Blackjack games are typically played with one to eight standard 52-card decks, shuffled together. Most live dealer blackjack games are played with 6 or 8, depending on the provider.
The number of decks in play is really important when it comes to card counting, as you can see in the paragraph above. Make sure you know how many decks you have to deal with when sitting at a table, as this is instrumental to knowing the exact value of your true count.
How to Practice Card Counting
Do not think that you can just walk into a casino and start counting cards just by knowing how the concept works. Practice is essential to becoming good at counting, as it will condition your brain to assign point values and keep track of the running and true counts. After sufficient practice, you will make the calculations without even thinking about it. Also, it is really important that you master some basic blackjack strategies before counting cards – after all, you need to win in order to take advantage of the edge that the system gives you.
Train at Home
If you are willing to give card counting a try, it would be best to start training at home. The easiest first step is to simply take a standard deck of cards, and start dealing, while keeping a running count. To improve realism, put some music on, or make sure there is some noise in the background – this is how casinos usually sound. Plus, you need to be able to concentrate on keeping the count. Make sure you practice your poker face – if you are to be a card counter, you must learn how to cover that fact. Otherwise you might have some trouble at real casinos.
Practice Card Counting Online at Live Dealer Blackjack Games
RNG blackjack games are great for practicing your basic strategy, but will not do you much good when it comes to counting cards. All cards are shuffled after each round at such games, making it impossible for players to keep a running count. This is where live dealer games come in – they are identical to playing at a real casino, so you can apply your card counting talents on them! There are many other benefits to live dealer blackjack, besides being able to count cards without having to keep a straight poker face the entire time.
Since the dealer cannot see you, you can actually take notes and do whatever you can to make the process easier for you. On top of that, live games offer a genuine casino atmosphere, along with the convenience of online gaming. They are the perfect place to practice card counting, and win some money with it.
- Master the Basic Strategy Charts Card counting serves to tell you when the odds are in your favour. However, you still have to win the round – and that’s where the basic strategy charts come in. Find one on the Internet and study it. Most of the moves are more or less logical, but there are some special situations where the right move is not always the most obvious one. Practice until you learn the best moves for every given situation.
- Choose a Card Counting Method Even if you consider yourself an expert at blackjack, it is always wise to start with the easiest card counting method – the Hi-Lo system. It works very well and is easy enough remember. It’s perfect for learning the ropes, and mastering it will definitely improve your win rate. Plus, it opens up the path to the other, more complex card counting strategies which you should definitely try after you feel comfortable with the Hi-Lo system.
- Practice at Live Dealer Blackjack Games Once you are confident enough in your skills, go to one of our recommended casinos and try out the available live blackjack games. You will be able to practice card counting freely, without worrying about being caught and forced to leave. The decks used in live blackjack games are not shuffled between rounds, which makes is possible to maintain a running count. Make sure you are familiar with the table’s rules and decks in play, so you can make the most out of your strategy.
FAQ
- 1. Card Counting – Legal or Illegal in the UK? No, card counting is not illegal by any means. After all, it is not cheating, but a clever way to play the game. However, casinos are not particularly fond of card counters, and have the habit of blacklisting players who have been caught in the act.
- 2. Does Card Counting work? Yes, it does work. However, do not think that by counting cards you are guaranteed to win every game and become a millionaire. The system simply allows you to know when the odds are in your favour. It is a game of chance, after all – you will win some, and you will lose some.
- 3. What are the 3 steps to card counting? First, pay attention to the cards that are being dealt, and calculate your running count. Second, figure out the true count. Third, place your bet accordingly – if the odds are in your favour, bet big, if not – bet small. It’s as easy as that.
- 4. Is there a good Card Counting app, software or machine? While there are plenty of card counting applications out there, we cannot claim that there is a good one. The best way to count cards is to do it on your own, with your own head. Studies have shown that a player who knows the basic concept counts cards better than even the most advanced software.