Introduction to the High-Low Card Counting Strategy - Wizard of Odds
High-Low Card Counting Strategy Introduction by The Wizard of Odds. Tweet
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Introduction
The Hi-Lo Count is the most widely written about, and in my judgment, the most commonly used card counting strategy. The High-Low was first introduced in 1963 by Harvey Dubner1. It has since been discussed by just about all the major blackjack writers. In my opinion, the best introductory treatment is in Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong, and the most detailed coverage is in Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger.
How it Works
Step 1: Assign a point value to each rank, as follows.
High-Low Point Values
Rank | Value |
---|---|
2 | +1 |
3 | +1 |
4 | +1 |
5 | +1 |
6 | +1 |
7 | 0 |
8 | 0 |
9 | 0 |
10 | -1 |
J | -1 |
Q | -1 |
K | -1 |
A | -1 |
Rank | Value |
---|---|
2 | +1 |
3 | +1 |
4 | +1 |
5 | +1 |
6 | +1 |
7 | 0 |
8 | 0 |
9 | 0 |
10 | -1 |
J | -1 |
Q | -1 |
K | -1 |
A | -1 |
Step 2: Start with a “Running Count” of zero at the start of the deck/shoe. As cards are revealed, keep adding or subtracting from the Running Count, according to the point system in step 1. For example, if the first ten cards to come out of the shoe were 3, 5, K, 7, Q, A, 8, 5, 4, 2, then the running count would be 1 +1 -1 +0 -1 -1 +0 +1 +1 +1 = +2.
Step 3: Divide the running count by the number of decks remaining, to get what is known as the “True Count.” This is the part that beginning counters hate. You don?t need to be exact. A rough estimate will do, in my opinion. Let’s look at example. The running count is +7 and there are about 4 decks left. The true count would be 7/4 = 1.75. Round that up to 2, to keep it simple. The more you play the more you will be comfortable eyeballing this adjustment, without doing any real division in your head. Usually the right play is obvious. In borderline cases only will you need to do this True Count conversion.
Step 4: The greater the true count, the more you should bet. This is where card counting becomes more art than science. Some blackjack books give rigid rules on how this should be done. However, the casino managers have read these books too, and the patterns recommended in earlier books now set off red flags. How you do this should depend on your own style, and how much heat you are getting. It helps avoid heat to keep the ratio of maximum bet to minimum bet to a limit, known as the ?Bet Spread.? Only increasing bets after a win, only decreasing after a loss, and staying the same after a push, makes play look more natural, but at a cost to profitability.
Step 5: For some hands, you will play according to the True Count and a table of “Index Numbers,” rather than basic strategy. The greater the count, the more inclined you will be to stand, double, split, take insurance, and surrender. For example, the Index Number for a player 15 against a dealer 10 is +4. This means the player should stand if the True Count is +4 or higher, otherwise hit.
The following tables are known as the “Illustrious 18” and “Fab 4” respectively.2 They appear in Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger, and are republished here with permission. These are the most important index numbers to remember. Knowing only these will give the counter 80% to 85% of the value of knowing every index number, based on a six-deck game. The difference is more in single and double-deck games. The lists are given in order of value. If you can?t memorize all of them, start at the top, and work your way down.
Illustrious 18
Order | Play | Index |
---|---|---|
1 | Insurance | +3 |
2 | 16 Vs. 10 | +0 |
3 | 15 Vs. 10 | +4 |
4 | 10,10 Vs. 5 | +5 |
5 | 10,10 Vs. 6 | +4 |
6 | 10 Vs. 10 | +4 |
7 | 12 Vs. 3 | +2 |
8 | 12 Vs. 2 | +3 |
9 | 11 Vs. A | +1 |
10 | 9 Vs. 2 | +1 |
11 | 10 Vs. A | +4 |
12 | 9 Vs. 7 | +3 |
13 | 16 Vs. 9 | +5 |
14 | 13 Vs. 2 | -1 |
15 | 12 Vs. 4 | 0 |
16 | 12 Vs. 5 | -2 |
17 | 12 Vs. 6 | -1 |
18 | 13 Vs. 3 | -2 |
Order | Play | Index |
---|---|---|
1 | Insurance | +3 |
2 | 16 Vs. 10 | +0 |
3 | 15 Vs. 10 | +4 |
4 | 10,10 Vs. 5 | +5 |
5 | 10,10 Vs. 6 | +4 |
6 | 10 Vs. 10 | +4 |
7 | 12 Vs. 3 | +2 |
8 | 12 Vs. 2 | +3 |
9 | 11 Vs. A | +1 |
10 | 9 Vs. 2 | +1 |
11 | 10 Vs. A | +4 |
12 | 9 Vs. 7 | +3 |
13 | 16 Vs. 9 | +5 |
14 | 13 Vs. 2 | -1 |
15 | 12 Vs. 4 | 0 |
16 | 12 Vs. 5 | -2 |
17 | 12 Vs. 6 | -1 |
18 | 13 Vs. 3 | -2 |
The player should stand/double/split if the True Count equals or exceeds the Index Number, otherwise hit. The player should take insurance if the True Count is +3 or greater.
Fab 4 Surrenders
Order | Play | Index |
---|---|---|
1 | 14 Vs. 10 | +3 |
2 | 15 Vs. 10 | +0 |
3 | 15 Vs. 9 | +2 |
4 | 15 Vs. A | +1 |
Order | Play | Index |
---|---|---|
1 | 14 Vs. 10 | +3 |
2 | 15 Vs. 10 | +0 |
3 | 15 Vs. 9 | +2 |
4 | 15 Vs. A | +1 |
The player should surrender if the True Count equals or exceeds the Index Number.
A full table of all index numbers can be found in Chapter 3, and Appendix A, of Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong.
The next table shows some statistics using the High-Low. The blackjack rules this table is based are liberal Vegas shoe, as follows:
Six decks Dealer stands on soft 17 Surrender allowed Double after split allowed Player may resplit to four hands, including aces
To avoid setting off red flags, the simulation increased the bet after a win only, decreased after a loss only, and always stayed the same after a push, except resetting to a minimum bet after a shuffle. The simulation rounded the remaining decks to the nearest half deck, otherwise playing perfectly.
High-Low Statistics
Spread | Penetration | Index Numbers | Player Adv. | Std. Dev. | Avg.Bet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 to 5 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.157% | 1.50 | 1.35 |
1 to 10 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.368% | 2.04 | 1.57 |
1 to 15 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.578% | 2.67 | 1.73 |
1 to 5 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.300% | 1.60 | 1.41 |
1 to 10 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.587% | 2.27 | 1.68 |
1 to 15 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.834% | 3.06 | 1.90 |
1 to 5 | 5 | I18+F4 | 0.469% | 1.70 | 1.47 |
1 to 10 | 5 | I18+F4 | 0.837% | 2.52 | 1.80 |
1 to 15 | 5 | I18+F4 | 1.147% | 3.49 | 2.10 |
1 to 5 | 4.5 | All | 0.313% | 1.61 | 1.41 |
1 to 10 | 4.5 | All | 0.608% | 2.29 | 1.68 |
1 to 15 | 4.5 | All | 0.862% | 3.10 | 1.91 |
1 to 5 | 5 | All | 0.494% | 1.71 | 1.47 |
1 to 10 | 5 | All | 0.857% | 2.55 | 1.81 |
1 to 15 | 5 | All | 1.182% | 3.54 | 2.11 |
Spread | Penetration | Index Numbers | Player Adv. | Std. Dev. | Avg.Bet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 to 5 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.157% | 1.50 | 1.35 |
1 to 10 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.368% | 2.04 | 1.57 |
1 to 15 | 4 | I18+F4 | 0.578% | 2.67 | 1.73 |
1 to 5 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.300% | 1.60 | 1.41 |
1 to 10 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.587% | 2.27 | 1.68 |
1 to 15 | 4.5 | I18+F4 | 0.834% | 3.06 | 1.90 |
1 to 5 | 5 | I18+F4 | 0.469% | 1.70 | 1.47 |
1 to 10 | 5 | I18+F4 | 0.837% | 2.52 | 1.80 |
1 to 15 | 5 | I18+F4 | 1.147% | 3.49 | 2.10 |
1 to 5 | 4.5 | All | 0.313% | 1.61 | 1.41 |
1 to 10 | 4.5 | All | 0.608% | 2.29 | 1.68 |
1 to 15 | 4.5 | All | 0.862% | 3.10 | 1.91 |
1 to 5 | 5 | All | 0.494% | 1.71 | 1.47 |
1 to 10 | 5 | All | 0.857% | 2.55 | 1.81 |
1 to 15 | 5 | All | 1.182% | 3.54 | 2.11 |
Explantion of columns
Spread: This is the ratio of the player?s minimum bet to maximum bet. The bigger the range, the greater the player?s advantage, and bankroll volatility. A wide bet spread also sets off a red flag. In a six-deck game, I think a 1 to 15 spread is about the most aggressive the player should get. The simulation played one betting spot only.
Penetration: How many decks played before reaching the cut card. In a six-deck shoe, 4.5 is the norm.
Index Numbers: I already explained index numbers above. Simulations were run using both the Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 (I18+F4) above, and with the full table. The difference is not much, which shows that knowing the top 22 gets you most of the benefit of knowing all of them.
Player Advantage: This is the ratio of net player win to total initial bets. For example, in the last row, the player could expect to win 1.182% of his total initial bets.
Standard Deviation: This is a term for the volatility per initial bet.
Average Bet: The average final bet per hand, compared to the lowest bet For example, in the last row, if the player?s minimum bet were $100, his average bet would be $211. This includes additional money bet due to doubles and splits.
This table was created using CVCX Blackjack Analyzer by Casino Vérité. This software produces hundreds of different statistics for just about any set of rules, betting strategies, and playing strategies. For the player who wants to run these tests, this software is the best there is, in my opinion.
Footnotes
- Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong, page 31, 1994 ed.
- Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger, page 62, 2004 ed.
Acknowledgments
Don Schlesinger: For his permission to reprint the Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 tables from his book, Blackjack Attack. Norman Wattenberger: For his complimentary use of CVCX Blackjack Analyzer by Casino Vérité.
Practice
Practice your card counting skills with our trainer.
Further Reading
- Card Counting Introduction.
- Wizard Ace-Five Count: Very easy and simple card counting strategy.
- “21” Movie Review: Truth and fiction about the movie about the MIT card counting team.
- Blackjack book reviews.
- Main blackjack page.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
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FAQ
Can you have a blackjack strategy card?
Not only do all casinos I know allow strategy cards or books, most will give you a card with basic strategy on it. The only restrictions are if you are slowing down play.Feb 7, 2012
What is the formula for counting cards in blackjack?
Every time a card is laid down on the table, you’re going to add or subtract 1 from the running count—the overall score after adding the values of each card dealt. If you see a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, add 1 to the total. If you see a 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, subtract 1 from the total.
Is basic strategy enough to win at blackjack?
The “best decisions” for the player, in this case, are the ones that lose the least amount of money to the casino over time. Basic strategy does not overcome the casino’s house edge until we add card counting to the mix.
Can you use a strategy card in blackjack?
Yes, you can use betting strategies in blackjack, in addition to following the blackjack cheat sheet.Aug 21, 2024
Can you win money with basic strategy blackjack?
The most basic advantage-playing strategy is counting cards. It will provide you with a 1% to 2% advantage in the long run. However, you can only use this system in land-based casinos. Standard online games will shuffle the cards after every hand and negate card counting.Aug 21, 2024
Use these Blackjack Strategy Charts to learn the correct decision for every hand. Basic Strategy is the first step to beating blackjack with card counting
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