Tips for Counting Cards in Blackjack
In this article, we are going to tell you how to count cards at blackjack, by giving you TheSportsGeek’s top-5 card counting tips!
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Finn Archer in Casino— Sep 20th, 2022 5:52pm EDTDo you want to know how to count cards in blackjack? Let’s take a look at the two most popular strategies to count cards, the high/low method and the ace/five method. And once you know how to count, we will then tell you how to use card counting in blackjack to win cold hard cash at the table!
High/Low Counting Method
The high/low method of card counting is the most simplistic and widely used way to count cards at blackjack. In a nutshell, you are going to assign a value to each card as it comes out of the deck based on its rank. Low cards count as +1, middle cards count as 0, and the big cards count as -1.
At the start of a new shoe, your count always starts at zero and will go up and down based on the cards that are dealt. If that sounds easy, it is because, in theory, it is. But keeping a running count of the deck is just a small part of counting cards at the blackjack table.
Once you get deep enough into the deck to start getting an accurate count (at least 1 full deck) you then divide your running total by the decks remaining to be dealt. This will give you what is known as the true count. Establishing a true count can be difficult at first, as you will need to get really good at eyeballing how many cards are left in the shoe, but once you get the hang of it, it will quickly become second nature.
Once you have your running true count, you can start to adjust your strategy based on the cards that have already been dealt and more importantly, the cards that are still left in the deck! The entire concept of card counting in blackjack is based on lots of high cards and aces being left in the deck being good for the players and lots of low cards left in the deck being good for the casino. That is because the more high cards that are left in the deck, the more often that the dealer will bust.
Anytime that your true count gets to a +4 or above, you should look for ways to increase your bets. If the count gets to -4 or lower, it would be a great time to sit out or move tables, as that count is going to cost you money. There are more detailed strategy guides out there on what to do in specific situations, but for the sake of this article, we are going to keep our tips high level, rather than getting lost in the details.
Ace/Five Counting Method
While the high/low method is very easy to learn and is widely used, it isn’t always the most accurate. The ace/five method of card counting is a new-age way to count cards that focuses on aces and fives and can get you a more accurate count to help guide you to better decisions.
Just like if you were using the high/low method, you start each new shoe with a count of zero. But, instead of having to count every card that is dealt, which can be a bit overwhelming at times, when you are counting using the ace/five method, all you are counting are the aces and fives, which is much easier to keep up with.
For every five that is dealt, you are going to add +1 to the count. For every ace dealt, you are going to subtract -1 from your running count. If the count gets to +2 or higher, you are going to want to double up your bets to take advantage of the deck that is in your favor. If your count gets to +10 or higher, you’ll want to press your bets to your max, as you stand to win a lot of money with a juicy shoe on tap.
Practice Counting At Home
I just threw a lot at you. And I promise you that counting cards, as easy as it may seem to just add or subtract based on the cards dealt, is hard to do, especially when you are trying it for the first time. The best way to get good at keeping a running count is to practice away from the table.
Trying to get the hang of counting while you are playing is a major mistake that a lot of new counters make. Keeping the running count in your head needs to be second nature, or you will lose the count, and it will cost you money. Having the wrong count calculated is much worse than not counting at all, as you are going to make meaningful decisions based on flawed data. Until keeping the count is as easy as breathing, you aren’t ready to try it at a casino. Luckily for you, cards are cards, and if all you do is deal to yourself at home and practice, you will start to get the hang of it in no time.
Pick The Right Game And Know The Rules
The movies might lead you to believe that counting cards is a foolproof way to get rich quickly. And while being an effective card counter will give you a big head start over a player that isn’t counting, there are some games, that no matter how well you count cards, you won’t be able to beat.
Most casual players don’t fully understand how small changes to the rule set can make a big difference in the casino’s edge. Rules like only being able to double on 10 or 11, only being able to split aces once, or losing the ability to surrender, are all rules that increase the house advantage for the casino.
Before you even dream of sitting down at a blackjack table to try and count cards, you have to know everything about the rule set of the game. Does the dealer hit or stand on soft 17? Are you allowed to double after a split? Does a blackjack pay 3-2 or 6-5? If you are playing a typical low-limit game at your local casino, you are going to have a hard time finding optimal rule-set games. We could dive deep into all of these specific rules, but instead, I will list a couple of the more important ones that you should be looking for below.
Rules To Be On The Lookout For Before You Sit Down
- 4-8 decks
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Double after split allowed
- Late surrender allowed
- Re-splitting aces allowed
Don’t Get Caught!
Now that you have an idea of what card counting at blackjack actually is and what it isn’t, the last piece of the puzzle is getting out the front door with the money! If you do all of the above things perfectly and use your card counting skills to beat the casino and make money, you still have to make sure that you don’t get caught.
Card counting isn’t technically illegal, but it is heavily frowned upon, and if a casino even suspects that you are counting cards, they are going to refuse your action and kick you out. You could go the movie route and focus your efforts on distracting the pit bosses or wearing elaborate disguises to keep the casino off of your scent, but that is mostly unnecessary.
The best way to keep the casino from catching on to your card counting strategy is to make sure that you aren’t getting greedy.
If every time that the count gets good for you, you bet 10x your normal wager, it is a red flag for casino security. I hate to break it to you, but the casino knows how to count cards too, and you have to make sure that you stay under the radar, even if that means occasionally giving up expected value (EV) to stay incognito.
There is no value to counting cards if you aren’t adjusting your strategy to correspond with the count, but you must make sure that you are very careful when you do it, so you don’t end up in the black book and get banned. Every great card counter that has been caught over the years has one thing in common, and that is that they got too greedy and pushed harder than they should have.
Conclusion
Are you ready to go full Rain Man and start counting cards? Make sure that you do your homework before you ever step foot inside of a casino. Know which method you want to use, ensure that the rules of the table you are at are optimal, or as close to it as possible, and most importantly, don’t get caught!
If you are looking for a cheap way to practice counting cards, you should give online blackjack a try! Online, you will have far fewer distractions, which should help you focus on improving your counting ability. And with lower limits online than at brick-and-mortar casinos, you will be able to hone your skills without going broke.
Don’t have a favorite online casino yet? Make sure that you swing by TheSportsGeek’s blackjack sites page, where we bring our readers exclusive offers at all of the top online casinos. Thanks for reading and good luck on your card counting journey, and who knows, maybe one day you will be the star of the next Hollywood movie as a player that beat Vegas by counting cards at blackjack!
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FAQ
Whats the best blackjack strategy?
S= Stand. Dh= Double down if allowed, if not hit. Ds= Double down if allowed, if not stand. Rh= Surrender if allowed, if not hit. Rs= Surrender if allowed, if not stand.
What is the best card to hit in blackjack?
Player 21: In the event your point total equals 21 (not Blackjack), you automatically win and the dealer will pay you even money. Five Card Trick: In the event you draw 5 cards to a hand without exceeding 21, you automatically win and the Dealer will pay you even money.
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
What is the basic strategy in card counting?
Start counting cards with the Hi-Lo strategy, which assigns value to every card. You must keep a running count based off of each dealt card’s values to determine what’s left in the deck. Cards 2-6 have a value of +1, cards 7-9 have no value, and aces and face cards are worth -1.
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
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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