How To Count Cards

Counting cards is the most popular and possibly the most practical
way to get an edge when playing blackjack. It's a completely legal
means of getting an edge over the casino, and it's one of the
reasons that blackjack is one of the only beatable casino games on
the floor. This page provides a detailed overview of how card
counting works, the history of the practice, and some insights into
how to get started counting cards for yourself.

You'll probably be surprised at how easy it is to count cards, but
once you realize that, you'll also be surprised at how many
different ways of counting cards exist. But don't let the number of options scare you away. Counting cards is
one of the easiest ways to become an advantage gambler. You don't have to be a genius or a savant. All you
have to do is be able to add 1 and subtract 1 from a running count in your head.

How Card Counting Works

In most gambling games, the odds are the same every time you bet. That's because the games have no
memory of past occurrences.

Card counting is a technique used in blackjack to improve your long-term odds. By assigning values to each card, you can gauge the strength or weakness of the remaining cards in the show. Adjust your bets depending on the value of the remaining cards. Your bets increase if the count is high. But when card counting was a full-time job making me well over $100/hr I didn't want to go back to waiting tables! How to Manage your Bankroll and Calculate Bets One of the benefits of running blackjack teams for nearly a decade is that I'm an expert at bankroll management: keeping EV as high as possible and risk as low as possible.

If you're playing roulette, there are 38 spaces where the ball can land. If you bet on any single space on the
wheel, your odds of winning are 37 to 1. They remain 37 to 1 on every subsequent spin.

But suppose you filled in one of those spaces when a ball landed in it?

The odds of winning on the next spin would become 36 to 1.

And if you kept blacking out spaces, you'd eventually have much better odds of winning that single number
bet.

In fact, eventually, when the odds of winning got to be 34 to 1, you'd have a positive expectation bet against
the casino. The single number bet pays off at 35 to 1.

All you'd need to do would be to wait until enough numbers had been blocked off the wheel.

Of course, that will never happen at the roulette table, but it happens all the time with a blackjack game.

That's because once a card has been dealt, it can't be dealt again until it's shuffled back into the deck.

You will find games with automatic shuffling machines where the cards get fed back into the deck immediately
after each hand. And in those games, it's impossible to get an edge over the casino—at least via counting
cards.

But in other games, the odds of winning change based on the composition of the deck.

It's easy to see why with a thought experiment:

Pretend you're playing in a single deck blackjack game where all the aces have already been dealt.

What are your odds of getting a blackjack? If you said 0%, give yourself a gold star.

You can't get a blackjack without a 10 and an ace. So as each ace and 10 card gets dealt, your chances of
getting a blackjack decrease.

Why is this important?

It's important because the payout for a blackjack (or a natural) is 3 to 2, and that's where a lot of the player's
expected value comes from.

By the same token, if lots of lower cards have been dealt, and a lot of aces and 10s are still in the deck, you
have a better chance of getting a blackjack.

If you raised the size of your bets when you have a better chance of hitting a blackjack, and you lowered the
size of your bets when you have a worse chance of hitting a blackjack, you'd probably make more gambling
at cards, wouldn't you?

Card counters use a heuristic system to keep track of the ratio of high cards to low cards in the deck. It's
simply a matter of assigning a value to the high cards and the low cards and tallying them up as you see the
cards get dealt.

The simplest systems just assign the aces and 10s a value of -1 and the 2s through 6s a value of +1.

As you keep a running count, you can raise and lower your bets according to how favorable the deck is.

You can also make changes to the strategy you use to play your hand based on the count.

Basic strategy players face a house edge of between 0.25% and 1%, depending on the rules at the casino in
question.

But card counters can flip that edge to their side and get an edge over the casino of as much as 1% or 2%.

That doesn't sound like much, but if you're playing for high enough stakes, you can make a little bit of money
and have a lot of fun.

And it's way better than the approach most people take when gambling—betting their money, crossing their
fingers, and relying on lady luck.

The History of Counting Cards

• Who invented card counting?
• How long have been people counting cards?
• Why do the casinos allow this activity to go on?

We take a look at some of the answers to these questions in this brief history of counting cards.

Many histories of card counting cite Ed Thorp as the inventor of card counting, and that's fair. He did invent
what we think of as the 'modern' method of counting cards.

But Ed Thorp himself, in his book Beat the Dealer, mentioned several gamblers of his acquaintance who were
beating the casinos with various crude card counting methods. But these guys were system players, and it's
unclear as to how successful they were. Thorp just doesn't go into that much detail.

But in terms of a mathematically proven card counting strategy to beat the house, Ed Thorp's book is the first
and most important example. And even though it was published in 1962, it's still in print, and almost all
advantage blackjack players recommend owning and reading a copy of it.

Of course, in the early 1960s, John Scarne was considered the foremost gambling authority in the world. He
had addressed blackjack strategy in his book, Scarne's Guide to Casino Gambling, but Thorp had criticized
some of that advice as being mathematically incorrect.

Thorp and Scarne had a bit of a rivalry, but both of them contributed mightily to the literature of advantage gambling.

It only took Vegas casinos a couple of years to become terrified of Thorp's methods, so they made a couple of
changes to blackjack rules throughout the city. They eliminate the option of splitting aces, which was a huge
blow to players. They also only allowed players to double down on a total of 11.

Some well-publicized challenges between Thorp, Scarne, and the casinos made a bit of news, but no one ever
accepted anyone's challenges for various reasons. It seems as if the excitement of being able to beat the
casino is a news story that recurs every now and then. It was all the news when the book and then the movie
Bringing Down the House came out, too.

Casinos began putting countermeasures in place to prevent card counters from getting an edge throughout
the 1960s and the 1970s. The most common countermeasure at that time was to increase the number of
decks in play. In those days, games with 2 and 4 decks were considered tough. Now, 6 and 8 deck shoes are
more or less the standard.

Another development that would matter to the advantage blackjack community was the rise of the Griffin
Agency. They were a private investigations company which put together a book of mug shots of known
gambling cheats. They eventually included known card counters in these books, which were called The Griffin
Book. At one time, they made a fortune selling their services to casinos, but the company has since become
defunct.

During these few decades, various teams have engaged in this type of advantage play, too. The most famous
of these is the MIT Blackjack Team, which isn't exactly one team at all. In fact, it's several, and there have been
several incarnations through the years.

Since the 1970s, literally hundreds of books on card counting have been written and published. Some
of them, like the books by Stanford Wong, are excellent. Others, like Bringing Down the House
by Ben Mezrich, are mediocre at best. (That's the book that made the MIT Blackjack Team a household
phrase, at least temporarily.)

You'll find reviews of blackjack books on this page of our site.

Counting cards has even been the subject of court cases. In New Jersey, the courts have ruled that since
counting cards isn't illegal, the casinos have no right to bar players suspected of counting. Atlantic City
responded by increasing their countermeasures. You won't find anything less than an 8 deck game there, and
most games use a continuous shuffling machine, which makes counting impossible.

Is Counting Cards Illegal?

In no jurisdiction of the world that we know of is counting cards illegal. Think about it. How could thinking
about the game you're playing be illegal? It's not even cheating.

This doesn't mean that casinos don't reserve the right to run you out of there if they catch you. It's probably
more common that they'll just start shuffling up on you a lot more often, though.

On the other hand, if you're using some kind of device to count cards, you ARE cheating, and in most
jurisdictions, you're breaking the law. You're not allowed to use devices when gambling in order to get an
edge. This includes any kind of portable computer you might try to use to help you count.

We're amazed that people would feel the need to use such a device in the first place. It's not that hard to keep
count mentally. It just takes a little bit of practice.

How to Count Cards

The first step in learning how to count cards is to choose a card counting system. We have a page about card
counting for beginners which includes information about a simple count called the ace-five count, but it's not
as practical or as accurate as it needs to be. It's just good for players who are just getting started.

We recommend that beginners start with the venerable and still useful hi-lo count, which is basically the same
counting system used in Thorp's book Beat the Dealer.

Here's how it works:

• Every time you see a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you add 1 to the running count.
• Every time you see an ace or any card worth 10, you subtract 1 from the running count.

You need to be comfortable with integers in order to pull this off. If you remember how the number line from
middle school math works, you should be fine. If you need a refresher on integers, you can find one here.

This count that you're keeping is called a 'running count'. If at any time during your session the dealer stops
and shuffles up, you need to start your count over from 0.You also need to learn how to convert this running
count into a 'true count'. This takes into account the number of decks in play. To convert the running count
into a true count, divide the count by the number of decks you estimate are left in the shoe. This will eliminate
the dilutive effect of having so many decks of cards in play.

The point of this count is to determine when you should raise your bets:

• If the count is 0 or negative, you bet the minimum amount at the table.
• If the count is positive, you increase the size of your bets in accordance with
  how high the true count has gotten.

Most players just multiply their minimum bet by the true count number to get the amount to bet.

You're betting $5 per hand.

If the true count is +1, 0, or negative, you bet $5 per hand.

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If the true count is +2, you bet $10 per hand.

if the true count is +3, you bet $15 per hand.

The size of your 'betting spread' is up to you, but the more you bet when the count is really high, the more of
a mathematical edge you get against the casino.

But here's something else to keep in mind. One of the ways that casinos spot counters is by monitoring players
who are changing their bet sizes. The lower your spread, the less likely you are to get caught. We've been
caught using a spread of 1-10 units, which was admittedly a little aggressive. We've seen counters who limit
their top bets to 3X or 5X their minimum bet.

Of course, there are also basic strategy adjustments based on how high or low the count is. These take into
account how likely it is that you'll be dealt a high card or low card on the next card, and it also takes into
account the likelihood that the dealer has a 10 in the hole or something much lower.

Adjusting your strategy to account for the true count nets you an additional 0.2% to 0.3% against the casino.
It's not necessary to change your strategy based on the count, but if you want to milk the casino for every
tenth of a percent, you can do so.

The reasons should be obvious, but if the count is low, you're less likely to get a blackjack. That means
doubling down and splitting aren't as likely to net you the big payoff that you're hoping for when you put more
money into action. It also means that there are a relatively large number of low value cards in the deck, making
it less likely that you'll bust if you hit.

On the other hand, if the count is high, you're more likely to get a blackjack. So you want to split and double
more often so that you can get more money into action and take advantage of that bigger payout. It also
means that you're more likely to get a 10 on your next card, which is likely to bust a lot of hands.

You shouldn't be adjusting your strategy on every move you make, either. Only about 10% of the time do you
make these adjustments in your basic strategy.

We generally just rely on bet sizing to provide use with our edge over the casino.

How to Practice Counting Cards

You can't just read the above guide on how to do the hi-lo count and walk into a casino and start counting .
This is a skill like any other, and you're going to need to practice. You start by counting through a single deck
of cards at your kitchen table.

The hi-lo count is a balance counting system. That means there are as many +1 values as there are -1 values.
If you count through a deck of cards using this system accurately, you should end with 0. If you're ending with
any other number, start over, concentrate, and keep at it until you can count through a deck one card at a
time and get a total of 0 when you finish.

Once you can count through a single deck of cards accurately again and again, start timing yourself. Your
goal should be to cut your initial time in half.

Once you've accomplished that, start dealing through the deck in pairs instead of dealing through the cards
one at a time. Your goal now is to start recognizing combinations of cards and what their point totals are. For
example, if you deal a 2 and a 5 (a 'hard 7'), you're looking at a +2. If you deal a 10 and a 2, you're looking at
2 cards which have canceled each other out and count as 0.

Your goal is again to cut the time it takes you to count through the deck in half.

Once you've accomplished this, it's time to start amping up the distractions. Learn to count through the deck
accurately with the television on. Try playing the radio and the television at the same time.

Your goal is to be able to count so quickly, accurately, and silently that it requires no effort.You also want to
be able to accomplish this without looking like you're concentrating especially hard.

Have someone you trust watch you. Have them point out if you're frowning, if your brow is furrowing, if
you're sub-vocalizing and/or moving your lips—anything that might clue the casino in on the fact that
you're counting.

You can also practice counting in an online setting, but we think that's less effective than using real cards.
After all, you want to duplicate the kind of distracted environment that you'll find in a casino. And you'll also be
dealing with regular-sized playing cards at a regular-sized table, so why not practice with the tools you'll
actually be using.

Next, you should find a low stakes blackjack game somewhere and practice counting there. At most blackjack
tables where there's not a lot of action going on, you can just observe. Try keeping a running count and
converting it into a true count when you're not playing. See how comfortable you are with it.

Finally, when you're ready, try playing in as low a stakes game as you can find. Count cards. Get in and get out.
You don't want to get busted your first time out. It would be awful to be banned or barred on your first
counting session.

How to Avoid Getting Caught

Let's talk a little more about avoiding detection. The easiest way to avoid detection is to not spend a lot of time
in any one place. It's tempting when you find a juicy game to stay there forever, but that's the opposite of what
you should do.

In Sklansky on Blackjack, David Sklansky provides the following advice about avoiding detection:

• Don't play at the same casino more than once a day—or maybe even more
  than once a week.
• Don't play there during the same shift every day.
• Don't play with the same dealers every day.
• Don't spend more than an hour at any given table at any given casino at a time.

These all seem like sensible guidelines to us, but we have a few more suggestions:

• Don't give advice to the other players at the table.
• Don't deviate from basic strategy too much.
• Pay attention to how much attention the casino staff are paying to you. If you
  think you're being watched, get out of there.
• Don't concentrate too hard.
• Tip the dealer occasionally. Counters are notorious for not tipping, as it cuts into
  their expectation.
• Don't drink alcohol, but do have a drink in your hand. We always order a club soda
  with lime in a short glass. It looks like an alcoholic drink, but your mind will stay sharp.
• Avoid looking nerdy in any way. You don't want to look like a mathematician.
  You want to look like a country bumpkin or a city slicker, but not a brainy type.

Don't stress out too much about avoiding detection. Scenes of violence in modern casinos are rare. The
industry is too well-regulated. The worst case scenario is that you'll be escorted off the premises.

On the other hand, if you want to read some interesting stories about encounters between blackjack players
and dealers during a less civilized age, check out Lawrence Revere's books on blackjack. The World's Greatest
Blackjack Bookby Lance Humble also contains some interesting stories.

And if you're just looking for drama related to counting cards, check out Ben Mezrich's book, Bringing Down
the House. It's completely different from the movie, but it's no less melodramatic. It's also (admittedly)
inaccurate about the details of what really happened, which is disappointing. We've found that the true
stories are almost always more interesting than the fictionalized versions.

Various Systems for Getting an Edge

The hi-lo system is only one way of counting cards. Numerous methods exist, all of which have interesting
names. Each of these systems have advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons. We provide a broad
overview of the most popular systems below, but each of these link to a page describing that particular system
in more detail.

First, a word about types of card counting systems. They can be categorized in multiple ways, but two that
matter follow:

1. Balanced versus unbalanced

   A balanced system has the same number of points for low value cards as it does high value
   cards, so that when you count through a deck, you always finish with 0. An unbalanced system
   does not. Unbalanced systems are often used to eliminate the need for a running count
   to true count conversion.

2. Single level versus multi level

   A balanced system has the same number of points for low value cards as it does high value
   cards, so that when you count through a deck, you always finish with 0. An unbalanced system
   does not. Unbalanced systems are often used to eliminate the need for a running count
   to true count conversion.

When you click through to the detailed description of each system below, you'll find information about these
2 categories and how they apply.

The goals of different systems vary. Some have a goal to just be easy to use. Others focus on offering the best
edge when making basic strategy adjustments. Others shoot for a strong betting correlation. We discuss how
each system meets those criteria in the individual articles, too.

Hi-Lo System

This is the most basic and probably 2nd easiest counting system to learn. We describe it in some detail on
this page, but we go into exhaustive detail on the page devoted specifically to that system.

K-O (Knockout) System

The K-O or Knockout System is an unbalanced system that eliminates the need to convert the running count
into a true count. They do this by starting the count at a negative number and unbalancing the count.

Hi-Opt I and Hi-Opt II Systems

These are the systems promoted in Lance Humble's book, The World's Greatest Blackjack Book.

Wong Halves System

This is one of the most accurate systems to use, but it's also harder to use than most. It doesn't use whole
numbers. 2s and 9s, for example, are worth +0.5 and -0.5, respectively. This increases the count's accuracy,
but it makes it harder to implement.

Omega II System

This system is found in Bryce Carlson's book, Blackjack for Blood. It's relatively hard and requires you to keep
a side count of aces.

Zen System

This one comes from Arnold Snyder's book, Blackbelt in Blackjack (which is one of the best books on the
subject, in our opinion.) It's more accurate than the Hi-Lo System, but it's also harder to implement. Some
cards are worth 1 and some are worth 2, which makes it a 'multi level' system.

Red 7 System

This strategy is as easy as the Hi-Lo System. Like the K-O System, it also eliminates the need for a running
count to true count conversion. It's also found in Arnold Snyder's book, Blackbelt in Black, which we can't
recommend too highly. It's probably our favorite blackjack book.

Canfield Expert and Master Systems

The Canfield Expert is an older system from the 1970s that was used mostly in single deck games. It's easy to
use but probably not as effective as newer counts with a similar level of difficulty. The Master system is much
harder and not as effective as it should be given its difficulty.

Kiss 2 and Kiss 3 Systems

These counts are unusual in that they keep up with suits as well as point values. These are surprisingly
powerful and easy counts to use. They're explained in detail in Renzey's Blackjack Bluebook II.

Mentor System

This is a system that's used mostly for multi deck games. It's featured in Renzey's Blackjack Bluebook II.

REKO System

This is Norm Wattenberger's improvement to the K-O System mentioned earlier.

Revere Systems

Lawrence Revere was one of the great characters in the game of blackjack. He published several books
himself, but the most entertaining material ABOUT him can be found in Lance Humble's The World's Greatest
Blackjack Book. Most of his systems are harder than they need to be.

Silver Fox System

This is a proprietary system that used to be available from Ralph Stricker.

UBZ a System

This is also called the 'Unbalanced Zen Count'. It's another proprietary system.

Uston Systems

• Uston APC

Ken Uston also had several counting systems. They seem hard.

Much of the information about the various systems above was learned reading QFIT, which is an
excellent resource, and we're in Norm Wattenberger's debt for the information he provides there.

Conclusion

Counting cards is a completely legal way to get an edge over the casino, and the great thing about it is that it's
not really that hard to do. That being said, learning how requires a certain amount of dedication. But if you
can add or subtract 1 repeatedly, you can count cards in blackjack.

The practice has an interesting history, and it's recently caught the public eye again because of the movie
Bringing Down the House.

Casinos are wise to how counters get an edge, and they're good at thwarting suspected advantage players.

It just means you have to be sensible and smart. Don't be obvious about what you're doing. And don't camp
out at one place for hours on end or hit the same casino at the same time every day of the week.

You'll get most of your edge by raising and lowering your bets based on the ratio of high cards to low cards in
the deck, but you can get another 0.2% or 0.3% by adjusting your strategy decisions about 10% of the time.
The rule of thumb is to hit more often when the count is low, but double down and split less often. You do the
opposite when the count is high.

Lots of people still beat the casinos on a regular basis. With a little bit of study and effort, you too can become
a card counter. It just takes a little bit of practice.

There are many skills available for you to learn, so you can take your blackjack games up a notch.

To be a profitable blackjack player, card counting is a technique you should master.

Counting cards is a great skill you can use to know when the odds are in your favor. If you have a firm grasp of the game, mastering the basics of card counting is simple to follow.

Get ready to improve your blackjack skills! Below, I'll teach you how to count cards and how you can increase your chances of winning big.

What Is Card Counting?

Card counting is a skill that players can use to keep track of the number of high and low cards the dealer hasn't dealt yet.

Blackjack is the only casino game where a player's decisions can affect the outcome. Additionally, blackjack has a set number of cards and a set number of decks played.

When the dealer plays those cards, it affects the remaining cards in the deck. This changes the advantage for the player.

When you count cards, and the advantage is in your favor, you can raise your bets to win big. If the advantage is in favor of the dealer, the card counter either lowers his bet or forfeits his turn to play.

Counting cards allow you to make varying bets to win against the house edge. But it isn't a technique for gaining consistent blackjack wins.

It's possible to win high stakes from counting cards, but even the best card counters take time to pull it off well.

How Does Card Counting Work?

Card counting in casino games involves keeping a running tally based on the face value of the dealt cards. It's a system for you to keep track of the ratio of low to high cards.

In a deck, there's an equal number of high-value and low-value cards. After the dealer shuffles the deck, he plays either high or low cards at the start of the game.

If he plays more low cards at the start, there's a higher possibility of high cards remaining in the deck.

Card counters can then raise their bets since they have the advantage of winning.

Every time the dealer shows a low-value card, they are more likely to bust from hitting their hand.

If you're dealt with high cards, a higher concentration of low cards will remain in the deck. The advantage shifts to the casino and card counters will have to decrease their bet size.

If the dealer has a hand of 12 through 16, they can still hit. Since there's a higher concentration of low cards, the dealer can hit without busting.

Basic Steps On How To Card Count

Are you now ready to learn the basics of card counting? Below are four basic steps on how to count cards in blackjack:

Assign Each Card A Value

Hi-Lo card counting system is the basic strategy for beginner card counters.

The idea is to assign a certain value to a card based on its face value. Assigning values take place mentally, so make sure you remember to keep track of your tally.

Based on the Hi-Lo card counting system, here is how you assign values:

• +1 for cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• 0 for cards 7, 8, 9
• -1 for cards 10, J, Q, K, Ace

With each card dealt, you either add 1, subtract one, or do nothing based on its value.

The running count after the dealer shuffles is always 0. Additionally, you start your count after the shuffle.

Let's say your card is a 10, you assign it with the value -1. If the next card dealt is a 4, you assign it with the value +1. The cumulative value of both equals 0.

Keep A Running Count

After assigning each card a value, you continue adding all of its values, including the dealer's hand.

The sum of all the assigned values for each card dealt is the running count.

The idea of running count is to continue adding the values breaking its sum. You add these values until the round ends

Every time the dealer shuffles, the running count always starts at 0.

Let's say the dealer has 10, and your hand is K and Q. For each card dealt, their respective assigned values are -1, -1, -1. After the round, the running count is -3.

If the running count is positive and the dealer has dealt most cards, the player has a greater advantage. In this case, the player can place a higher bet.

If the running count turns out negative, then the advantage goes to the casino. The player should decrease his bet size in the next round.

Calculate True Count

In single-deck games, card counting has made it possible for players to win big from casinos. With this, casinos began using multiple decks to confuse card counters.

To keep a running count in multiple-deck games, you have to look for the true count or count per deck. The true count is your running count divided by the number of decks remaining.

True count = running count/number of decks remaining

In a single deck game, a running count of +5 gives the player the winning advantage. But in a 6 decks remaining game, a +5 running count is different.

Since there's less than 1 high card for each remaining deck, the player doesn't have the advantage yet. Other than the remaining high cards, the player has to consider the ratio of high to low cards.

Let's say your running count is -10, and you have 2 decks remaining. The true count is -5.

If you have a +5 running count with 1 deck remaining, there are only 5 extra 10's and A's in a deck. This makes you have an advantage over the dealer.

Changing Your Bets

It's important to note that card counting isn't a skill to make you have a blackjack. It's not a technique to gain you a winning hand.

Card counters have an advantage over the casino by placing varying betting strategies. Blackjack players who mastered counting cards know how to bet based on the count.

Keeping proper track of your running count and true count is essential in knowing. You can use this information to know when you have the advantage.

It's not about gathering information to change your playing style. A card counter should know when to raise and lower his bets.

Otherwise, counting cards without making winning bet spreads would be mentally exhausting.

When the cards are in favor of the player, he should raise his bets to win big. If the count is negative or neutral, the player's hand is less likely to blackjack. He must then reduce his bet size.

Advanced Strategies For Counting Cards

Beginners that learn how to count cards start with the Hi-Lo strategy. It's the easiest and simplest skill to follow.

But once you've mastered the technique, you may want to explore other strategies.

For proficient card counters, here's how to count cards using advanced techniques:

Omega II

This technique is more sophisticated compared to the Hi-Lo strategy. Omega II is a ‘balanced system.'

This means your count starts at 0 after the dealer has dealt the deck completely. Below is how you assign values to each card dealt:

• 1 for card 2, 3, 7
• 2 for card 4, 5, 6
• -1 for card 9
• -2 for card 10, J, Q, K
• 0 for card A, 8

If the count turns out positive, then there's a greater concentration of low-value cards remaining.

Otherwise, for a negative count, a greater concentration of high cards remain in the deck.

Wong Halves

The Wong Halves technique is complex because some of its assigned values are fractions. The name comes from Stanford Wong, who developed this technique.

Below is how you assign values to each card:

• 1 for card 3, 4, 6
• 0.5 for card 2, 7
• 1.5 for card 5
• 0 for card 8
• -0.5 for card 9
• -1 for card 10, J, Q, K, A

Adding and subtracting fractions might confuse the player in the middle of the game. A player might also lose track of keeping count.

A trick to avoid getting confused is to double all assigned values into a whole number. This way, you can simplify it compared to using fractions.

Group Play

This technique requires a team effort, which can be pretty risky if you're caught. This is why you must be extra careful when pulling off group play.

The technique benefits multiple deck games in many tables. In this case, you can count both at the same time.

Group play involves signaling other teammates or players whether to join in, give up, or make a bet. You should take caution when doing this to avoid casinos from calling you out.

Is Card Counting Illegal?

Blackjack is the only game in casinos you can outsmart by mathematical means. With this, card counters use logic to sway the odds into their favor.

Before anyone tells you otherwise, card counting isn't illegal. What's allowed is using your mind and your logic to play the game.

There are no federal rules to prohibit card counting, as long as it isn't done using a device or a mobile app.

Some casinos frown upon counting cards in blackjack. Casinos will watch a player's behavior in any event. Once caught or suspected of card counting, they might ban you or vacate you from their table.

Casinos in general frown upon card counting. This is why if you're planning to count cards in blackjack, make sure to be cautious.

Another major misconception about card counting is that players should memorize the dealt cards. Soon, you'll see how counting cards isn't a technique of memorization.

You don't have to be a genius to be a card counter. Card counting is a skill that any average person can learn. Although it's a simple skill to learn, it will take time and practice to master.

What You Need To Master For Playing Blackjack

You can't rely on basic card counting skills alone if you want to win big in blackjack.

For you to be a profitable card counter, these are the following skills for you to equip yourself with:

Basic Strategy

The blackjack basic strategy are techniques that you can use to reduce the house edge.

Blackjack is a game that has a fixed set of rules. Using the basic blackjack strategy allows players to make proper playing decisions.

This uses a more logical way of playing, instead of relying on intuition.

Like card counting, this doesn't involve making assumptions or any memorization. It's knowing when to play, surrender, or make bets based on the available information shown to you.

Master Card Counting

Once you've mastered how to count cards, it's easy to see the mathematical reality of blackjack.

If the remaining deck has more 10's and A's, there's a greater possibility for blackjacks.

If the remaining deck has a high concentration of low cards, the dealer has the advantage.

A skilled card counter keeps careful track of this and knows when to make bets to his advantage.

Have A Winning Bet Spread And Playing Deviations

Basic blackjack strategy and card counting allow a player to make bets to his advantage.

Depending on the true count outcome, you can also shift your playing strategies. We call this ‘playing deviations.'

There are many strategies for a player to explore. First, practice a few of them and see which works best for you. After, you'll be ready to test your skills in online or land casinos.

How Long Does It Take To Learn To Count Cards?

A player must have the training discipline to master how to count cards. It takes about roughly 100 to 200 hours of practice by yourself at home.

Until you've reached this length of training, we won't tell you to test your skills in casinos.

Before you get excited to beat the casino, it still takes about 40 to 50 casino training hours. After then, you can start playing more aggressive strategies.

If you're still testing out your skills, you must start playing in low limit tables. It's also better to get a feel first of the casino environment.

Once you've tested your skills, you can start taking your playing strategies a level higher.

It takes a lot of time and practice before a card counter can win big. If you want to know whether you're ready or not, seek advice from a professional card counter.

They may be able to help you with the necessary skills needed before you can play to win.

Can You Still Count Cards In 2020?

When players do card counting in the current blackjack world, it takes more effort as needed.

Which is why most would put off learning how to count cards for this reason.

When the trick was gaining popularity in the 1960's, it's easier for players to win big against the casino.

Nowadays, casinos have established tighter surveillance to counter card counters. It's hard for them to find a way around modern technology.

These include databases, facial recognition, and RFID tracking inside chips.

Counting cards is proven to bring the house edge low. And casinos have been finding more means to track down those who attempt to pull it off.

Because it's not as easy to win today compared to before, most players consider card counting dead.

For those who are serious about card counting, they put in a lot of discipline into mastering the skill. These card counters are still making money today.

Card counters can still win big if they level up their playing style. Here's how to count cards using other approaches in 2020:

Shuffle Tracking

You can use shuffle tracking on top of card counting as an advantage against weak shuffles. By doing this, you get less suspected by the dealer and the casino.

In this technique, you want to look out for Aces, and 10's grouped together. These card batches are also known as ‘slugs' since they're discarded into the tray.

After the dealer shuffles his deck, he takes the slugs from the tray to shuffle them. Make sure to keep track of how he shuffles the discarded cards.

It's easier for you to determine when the dealer can pull out an Ace or a 10 in his next deck. If you successfully track these slugs, you can start raising your bets.

Shuffle tracking improves your card counting skills in two ways:

• Making your card counting less obvious to the dealer
• Helping you track Aces and 10's.

When you've traced the slugs, be mindful when raising your bets. This could give off the fact that you're counting cards.

Switch Up Your Appearance

You have to switch up your appearance so you can hit many casinos without raising suspicion. This doesn't require you to pull off sketchy disguises.

If you don't want to attract any attention towards you, avoid clothes that look flashy or eye-catching.

You can change your appearance by sporting a pair of glasses or having different hairstyles. You can even alter how you look with the way you keep your facial hair.

How To Card Count Blackjack

Be Careful With Bet Spreads

Making big bets can be profitable for you when you have the advantage. But large bets can also lead the casino to suspect you.

You have to be cautious with the number of bets you spread. First, identify how low and how high of a wager you're willing to risk.

Learn How To Count Cards

Make sure your least and greatest bet amount isn't spread too far apart from each other. For instance, a bet spread of $10 to $500 dollars seems too far out.

Making bet spreads of 1 to 100 will have you banned from your table.

Know Where To Count Cards

There are certain casinos that are lenient to players who count cards. As an advantage gambler, it's not advisable for you to hit the same casino all the time.

How To Count Cards In Euchre

A big win could draw attention and the surveillance to be on you. As much as possible, do your research first before knowing where to count cards.

It wil surprise you to know many gaming establishments are lenient on advantage players.

Final Note

Are you now more confident about getting started on counting cards? It's a simple technique that's easy to follow.

Regardless, I cannot stress enough how much dedication and practice it takes to master it. Please use our casino bonuses we offer at the casino you decide to play poker at, just in case you have a few unlucky rounds.

As of today, counting cards is still an applicable technique for blackjack players. Once they master the skill, they can use it to gain serious wins.

Before you jump to the serious strategies, make sure you've mastered the basic skills first. With enough practice, you'll be ready to test those skills out for yourself.