How Do You Count Cards In Blackjack
Essentially, counting cards in blackjack involves assigning values to every card dealt out. By keeping a running count, you can assess whether the cards still to come will be high value or low value. The player continues to add to the count for every card dealt, including the dealer’s cards. The higher the running count, the more you bet.
We are sure you know how to play blackjack, but do you know how to count cards?
You’ve likely heard of card counting before, and while you may think it’s a hidden skill or art which takes years of practice, it’s actually far, far easier to pick up than that.
Card counting systems have three levels of complexity. The simplest systems are Hi-Lo Counts. You count low cards as +1 and high cards as -1. The higher the count, the bigger the proportion of high cards to low cards. Advantage players will increase their bets once a specific count is reached. IT'S HARD TO LEARN. First, you have to learn about the rule variations (things like 'double after. Ways to Count Cards in Blackjack Let’s briefly go through the rules of the game. You need to beat the dealer, collecting more points than them, but less than 21. According to the rules, cards have the following point values in blackjack.
If you’re interested in how to count cards in blackjack, it’s worth remembering that many physical casinos won’t look too kindly on you doing so – online, however, you may be able to work such strategies to your advantage.
Practice, as always, makes perfect – and this guide is here to help you make a better set of plays in black jack than ever before.
Is Counting Cards Hard?
Not at all. You simply need to understand the basic theory behind counting cards at all. Simply remember that bigger cards, i.e. those of 7 or over, are going to be more beneficial for you, as you’ll need them to be able to make 21.
Smaller cards, on the other hand, always play to the house’s strength. However, it’s also healthy to remember that a deck high in big numbers isn’t necessarily going to hand you a win.
It does, however, mean that the probability of you getting black jack increases massively. Remember this – once you’ve seen an ace or a 10 dealt, it’s gone from the deck.
Is counting cards hard? Not if you put your mind to it. It will help you find when to hit or stay and much more.
Learn How to Count Cards in Blackjack
Want to learn how to count cards in blackjack? You’ll need to pick a system. Card-counting systems are particularly well sought-after online, and you may even be asked to pay for a more lucrative strategy.
Our advice, generally, is don’t – there are plenty of great free guides out there and strategies to pick from. You’ll need to find an easy yet effective system if it’s your first time counting at all.
We’ll take a look at one of the simplest counting guides available later in our guide.
Counting Cards Blackjack
Counting cards blackjack or otherwise in the casino doesn’t always guarantee you a win. This is worth remembering. It does, however, seriously increase your chances of making money.
A basic strategy will generally revolve around the following:
- Assigning a different value to each card which is dealt and keeping a mental running tally.
- Add one for low cards of 2 to 6, and subtract one for cards 10 or higher (including ace) – 7s, 8s and 9s are neutral and score 0.
- This is known as the hi-lo system to some counters, and it’s thought to be one of the best entry level systems out there.
- Raise your bet size once your overall count or tally is positive. Click here to find out more about the bets.
- Some casinos may try to offset card-counting by introducing multiple decks. This is where things can get tricky.
- In this scenario, a good basic strategy to use is to take your standard count and divide it by the number of decks remaining.
Blackjack Card Counting Strategy
There are plenty of big blackjack card counting strategy guides and options out there, even those – as suggested – which ask for money up front.
The fact of the matter is, however, that even premium packages are fallible at times. If you’re looking to use this strategy for blackjack, it’s important to understand that the process simply helps to break down probabilities in-play so that you can make better informed decisions.
However, as any seasoned counter will tell you, these strategies in black jack pay off long-term – so you may have to play more than a few rounds to get any kind of real advantage.
Make sure to check out the odds for 21 before playing to ensure you get the very best experience.
Blackjack Card Counting Spreadsheet
It’s always good to set up a card-counting spreadsheet if you are new to these strategies. Keep track of what’s likely to come up and play in your favour when you’re playing black jack online or in live games.
It’s much easier to use this method from home than at a casino outright!
Blackjack Card Counting App
You can also download one of many different blackjack card-counting apps which will make suggestions to you based on current deals and hands.
Never pay in for these apps or services, however – use free tools available to you, and then build your own confidence and strategies.
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Page Contents
Blackjack is one of the most popular gambling games because of its minimum casino advantage and higher chances to win for the players. It is also rather simple to play. You have to count the point values of cards in your hand and the hand of the dealer while keeping track of what comes out of the deck. Throughout the years, gamblers have invented systems that make it easy to keep track of cards during the blackjack gameplay, without having to remember each of them. If you want to learn how to do it, check out our detailed guide!
What Is Card Counting in Blackjack?
You might be wondering why you need blackjack card counting. Can’t you just rely on luck? Not if you would like to have an advantage. Counting cards will give you an idea of what cards can come into your hands. And this, consequently, will allow you to make predictions on what combinations you can collect and how many points you can get.
Counting every blackjack card is possible only for players with an exceptional photographic memory. Remembering every card that came out of up to eight decks is beyond the power of an ordinary person. However, you can keep score of blackjack cards by using a few simple techniques.
Card Counting Trainer
If you are a complete beginner in gambling and just starting to learn to count cards, a training software is an excellent option for you. This is a tool that will familiarize you with the process of keeping track of cards in blackjack and, as a bonus, will help you realize that you don’t have to memorize every single card in the game.
An online gambling setting may be more relaxed for some people than a land-based casino. However, even in a virtual casino, you have to be sure when placing your bets. You can start practising with the card counting software in one-deck mode and increase the complexity as you gain confidence. This way, you will acquire blackjack card counting experience in no time.
Ways to Count Cards in Blackjack
Let’s briefly go through the rules of the game. You need to beat the dealer, collecting more points than them, but less than 21.
According to the rules, cards have the following point values in blackjack:
- 2-10: value according to number
- K, Q, J: equals 10
- A: counts as 1 or 11
While the round is going on, it is crucial to know when to stop or, conversely, continue to take cards. This way, counting cards gives the player an advantage by informing them about the cards that are left in the deck. Here is the most popular way of counting cards in blackjack.
High-Low Count
The high-low or the basic count for blackjack appeared in 1962. It has become fundamental for all other systems, having received some improvements.
To start counting cards using the plus-minus system, you need to assign them values:
- Low: 2 to 6: +1
- Neutral: 7 to 9: 0
- High: 10 to A: -1
Then, you need to count all the cards that come out of the deck. If we combine the values of all 52 cards from the deck, the result will equal to 0. By counting the cards that you receive, you can make an estimate and predict what type of card will be next.
Here is how you can interpret the results of counting:
- Positive score: low cards came out, so the probability of a high card coming out increased
- Negative score: increased likelihood of low card output
Having certain cards on hand and a positive or negative score in your head makes it easier to decide what to do next to win.
More Blackjack Counting Methods
Blackjack is among the most played casino games globally. So, it’s no wonder that there is more than one gambling strategy for it.
There are dozens of counting systems, but the simpler they are, the less accurate the result. And more complex systems that have high accuracy are quite challenging to learn. Experienced gamblers recommend starting the learning process of how to count cards in blackjack from the high-low count. However, as you progress, you may find it exciting to discover other methods, such as:
- Hi-Opt 1, 2
- Omega
- Red 7
- Zen
Whether you are planning to play blackjack online or at a land-based casino, knowing the basic counting strategies will give you an advantage and increase your chances of winning.
Quick and accurate blackjack card counting is not as simple as it might seem. The game is dynamic and full of adrenaline, especially when playing for real money. You need to read the cards on your hands and at the dealer. At the same time, you need to track how many cards are out of the deck and manage to keep counting.
Even to play according to the simplest high-low system, you will need training. The first steps may be confusing, but remember that it is fine to make mistakes. With practice, you will notice that the process is becoming easy and smooth.
Once you are confident with your newfound blackjack skills, come try them out at Bob Casino. We have a wide variety of blackjack games, including ones with live dealers. Come sign up for an account and begin your blackjack journey today!