Cards Counting in Blackjack

You might have heard of card counting, even if you don’t understand it well. In this article, you can read about everything you need to know about blackjack card counting. We will cover exactly how successful blackjack players count cards. Card counting online blackjack is not an impossible task of keeping track of every card in the deck. It evaluates the chances of what the following card will be. Card counting in online blackjack does not guarantee short-term profits. If you are able to master it can help you make profits in the long term. Card counting is a proven tactic that successful players use. You do not need to pay to learn it. You will find all the information you need right here on this page completely free.

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What is Card Counting in Blackjack?

Blackjack card counting is a proven system. It starts with assigning value to each group of cards. Also, it bases on remembering a basic blackjack rule. The more aces and 10 value cards that remain in the deck make it more favorable it is for the player. With card counting, you can understand when more of these cards remain in the shoe. You can do this by understanding the used cards.

The statistical evidence suggests that aces 10’s and 9’s are a benefit to the player. Low cards, benefit the dealer. They benefit the player by increasing the chance of blackjack. It is common that it pays out at 3 to 2 odds. The expected value increases from doubling down. 10s and aces’ elevated ratio makes it more probable for doubling down to succeed. These cards give opportunities for the player to split. The insurance bet can become profitable. This is by making the dealer’s chances of a blackjack higher. Another benefit is that they make it more probable for the dealer to bust. It increases the player’s odds in blackjack to bust as well. But, they can choose to stand on lower totals based on the count.

How to Count Cards in Blackjack?

The most common method of card counting is Hi-Lo. Card counting is simpler than you might think. The values are the most important aspect of card counting so memorize them well. During the game, you will keep a running count of the cards in the game. In this way, you will be able to determine your chances. That means if the chance is better or worse than usual of getting a 10-A card for your next hand. Note that when the dealer fills the shoe and shuffles the cards, you need to start over the card counting.

Assign a Value to Every Card

When you count cards each card will have its own value. The values in the Hi-Lo system are as follows:

  • Cards 2 to 6 have the value +1
  • Cards 7 to 9 have a value of 0
  • Cards 10 to ace have a value of -1

How to count cards for blackjack during the game, will be to keep a running count of the cards in the game. You will do this in the following way: the running total of 5, 2, 7, 8, A for example would be +1 (1+1+0+0-1). From this, you can then determine your chances.

The Running Count

Players determine the true count with the running total. If the running count is negative it means there are undesirable low-number cards. A positive running card count means there are desirable high-number cards. When players count the cards they can estimate according to assigned values. They can be positive, negative, or zero. If the running count is plus 5 for example, it indicates that there are five high-value cards in the deck. It helps determine if the card is favorable or unfavorable. Players are able to determine whether there are power cards or weak cards remaining. There is a better chance for players to win if the shoe is rich with 10 value cards.

Calculate A “True Count” or Count Per Deck

The genuine counting is the value obtained by the player following a running count. To calculate the true count, the player divides the running count by the number of decks that are still in play. An example of this is if the running count is 8 and there are 2 decks, the true count is +4. They say that the true count is an accurate representation of the deck. The higher the true count the more advantage the player has. That’s why a single deck works for card counting. Before taking an insurance bet is a time when you need to consider the true count. You can calculate the true count in a different way for separate card counting techniques. Some players even prefer to use the running count with a zero index. With hands like 16 vs. 10; the running count might be a little more accurate when deciding the best action to take.

Change Your Bets As The True Count Rises And Falls

You should raise your bets when the true count rises. When the cards are in the player’s favor, you should bet big. If the count is negative or neutral and against the player, you should place a small bet. It is a common misunderstanding counting cards blackjack helps you to always win. Even if they win in the long run, winning is close to 50/50. The advantage of counting is approximately 1-2%. You can determine how many units to bet by subtracting 1 from the true count. Multiply how many units to bet by your betting unit. If your betting unit is 100 for example, the running count is +10, the true count is +5, the optimal bet would be 4 x 100 = 400.

Advanced Blackjack Card Counting Strategies

The Omega II System is more an expert system than a beginner system. Partly because it is a 2-level system. It also has a side count for aces to keep up with. This system is powerful when evaluating decisions about insurance. First, memorize the cards worth when you want to use the mega II System.

Omega II System
Aces and 80
2,3 and 7+1
4,5 and 6+2
9-1
10-2
Wong Halves System
Start the count with 0 
If you see A, K, Q, J or 10Subtract 1 from the running count.
If you see a 9Subtract -0.5 from the running count.
If you see a 8Nothing to be done, the worth is 0.
If you see a 2 or 7Add 0.5 to the running count.

Basic Blackjack Card Counting Tips

  1. Hi-Lo is the most popular card-counting strategy. If a deck has a positive number it is good. You should bet more the higher the number is.
  2. Memorize the values of the cards. So you can determine when the deck is in favor. Start with 0 and add the values with each new card.
  3. When the count is running positive you should increase your bets. Meaning +2 or above. Bet more the higher the count is.
  4. Test yourself with a deck, and riffle through it. Aim at ending up with 0. Aim at getting through the deck in under 25s. Time yourself when you can get through the deck and end up at 0. Take a card and leave it face down. Get your tally once you’ve run through the cards, then determine what the face down card is.
  5. Add pairs fast and see them as a single number and not an equation. Like this, a jack and a 4 are 0, not -1 +1.
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Is Blackjack card counting legal?

Blackjack card counting in Canada is legal. You can do it as much as you wish without the threat of consequences. If a casino suspects you are counting cards and are able to make a profit from it they do have a right to stop you. It might result in one of the following: security asks you to leave the blackjack table. They may ask you to join another game instead. They might ask you to leave the casino. Another consequence might be a permanent ban from the premises. The punishment depends on the casino. It will depend on how much money you have gained from playing blackjack online for money and counting cards at the casino.

Summary

Card counting blackjack is like an extension of basic blackjack strategy. Mathematicians published and developed the first card-counting systems in journals. Still, it is not difficult to learn. The player adds values together from the cards which is the running count. A high running count means low-value cards have gone into the discard tray. High-value cards are still in the deck. Recall the basic strategy and the assumption that the next card will be a 10-value. If you know the percentage of 10-value cards in the deck is high the basic strategy becomes stronger. Play free blackjack online and practice blackjack counting cards.

FAQ: Blackjack Counting Cards

Hi-Lo might be the most popular card-counting system. 10 through A are valuable to the player in this setup.
You can raise your bet as the true count rises. Bet the biggest when the cards favor the player and small when the count is neutral or negative and doesn’t favor the player.
Card counting with 1 deck involves adding or subtracting the value of visible cards. The two starting cards are not available to adjust the running count with since they are not visible.
The true count denotes high or low card density per deck. Dividing the running count by the number of undealt decks leads you to an accurate true count.
Blackjack counting cards is legal, but if you are caught counting cards and winning at the casino you might be punished.