Card Counting in Blackjack - Strategy and Practice

Card counting in blackjack is by definition a card game strategy that is mainly used by skilled blackjack players. The player tries to keep a mental overview of the cards in the sled. So you can get an advantage over the casino by calculating the probability of certain cards in the game. Some time ago, some clever minds invented the card counting strategy. With this it is possible to achieve secure profits. And that in the long term. Continue reading our article and learn how to count the blackjack cards.

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Card Counting in Blackjack - 4 Steps

Before we reveal the steps that you have to follow in blackjack card counting, an important requirement: Online casinos and offline casinos now use a large number of decks of cards at the same time in blackjack. As a result, card counting is not possible. Our chronological guide refers to the fact that only one set of cards is played. Now do the following steps to be able to learn the theoretical card counting.

1. Take a seat

It is important that you sit down at a table, in the last position. Ideally, there are 5 players sitting to the left of you. Everyone is dealt their cards now and the first round begins. You're making a low bet.

2. Blackjack counting

Now you have to remember how many high cards have been dealt. If we assume that none of the players draws another card, then 14 cards are "used up" with you and the dealer. You remember that now. You place a low bet again and you don't care if you win or lose.

3. Remember & Count Cards

If there are only 25 cards left in the deck and 3 aces have already been dealt, then one of the last 25 cards must be an ace. So now you want to catch the moment by being very sure that the dealer will lose due to the remaining cards or you will win safely due to remaining cards.

4. Blackjack Card counting start again

Now you would just repeat the game. But as mentioned before, card counting blackjack is no longer possible online, as there are a lot of decks mixed in the sled at the same time.

Benefits	Minuses
Blackjack card counting is only available at Blackjack Live tables in online casinos	Blackjack card counting does not exist in online casinos
Taking advantage of an advantage over casinos with particularly high stakes	Complex blackjack counting systems make the implementation at the table even more complicated
Counting cards with high and low values	In some games, blackjack card counting no longer works at all
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Is card counting legal in Blackjack?

Another important thing to keep in mind: although card counting is absolutely legal in blackjack, the casino will probably kick you out if you are discovered dabi. If this happens, you should calmly get up, exchange your chips and leave the casino. Anyone who resists will probably be confronted, reported and in the worst case all winnings will be forfeited, as they will be confiscated.

We would like to emphasize that with this Arti kel would not like to ask any of our readers to try one of the techniques presented in a real casino .

In the following Youtube video you will find our blackjack explanation and instructions:

Although card counting is not illegal in blackjack, some casinos behave as if it were. Because casinos are private land, they have the house right and can prohibit anyone from entering the casino. In their eyes, card counting is illegal. And be warned: you will exercise your domiciliary right the minute you notice that someone is counting the cards at the table.

For us, card counting is more of a strategic approach during the game. If you learn to combine a good blackjack strategy with a waterproof card counting strategy, you will have a big advantage over the casino! And with this you have a good chance to turn your knowledge at the blackjack table into considerable winnings.

Just as poker players bet everything if they have correctly calculated the chances of winning their hand, so blackjack players should also have the right to increase the stakes if they can expect the game to turn out well for them.

Whenever a case involving card counting ended up in court, the same argument appears: card counting is a matter of skill and not fraud. To date, no casino has ever been able to successfully prove that you are actually cheating when counting cards.

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Hi-Lo Strategy - the best and easiest way to count cards

One of the most profitable and perhaps the easiest ways to count cards is the Hi-Lo strategy. The strategy is basically a "running count" technique in which each card has a certain value. (If you don't know what blackjack is all about yet, go to our blackjack rules or give it a try Online Blackjack ).

The strategy is used to indicate when the ratio of high-value cards to low-value cards is unbalanced.

High value cards, such as tens and aces, not only increase the chance of a blackjack being dealt, but also increase the chance of hands worth at least 20. A deck that contains a lot of high cards puts the player in a very profitable situation, because it increases the chance that the dealer will lose.

In a situation where the majority of cards are of low value (cards with the value from 2 to 6), the dealer will have a significant advantage over the player.

If there are more low cards in the deck, the chance that the dealer will lose when drawing a new card on a hard hand (12 to 16) is much lower.

If there are more high cards in the deck, the chance that the dealer loses here is much greater.

How does Hi-Lo and the Running Count work?

From the moment the first card of a newly shuffled deck is dealt, the player begins to count the value of the cards. A low card increases your value by one point, a high card decreases your current value (the "Running Count") by one point. All cards from 7 to 9 are neutral and are not counted in the Hi-Lo strategy.

This is what your count would look like in any round of blackjack:

Player #	Hand	Value
Player #1	A, 5	-1, +1
Player #2	6, 2	+1, +1
Player #3	7, 8	0, 0
Player #4	D, D	-1, -1
Player #5	3, 8	+1, 0
Dealer	9	0

The total number after this round should be +1. More low-value cards have been dealt, which is why there are more high-quality cards in the remaining deck. As you may have noticed, your value may not be very accurate after just a few hands. The more information you have collected, the more precise your value becomes and the greater your advantage becomes.

The first time you try to count on your own, you can just go through a deck of cards with all the cards. You counted correctly if you end up coming out at 0.

The first few times this will not be easy, but the more you practice, the faster and more accurate your counting will be. After a while, you can try to count two cards at once, just by looking at the blackjack hands. If you practice long enough, you will recognize different card combinations and their value almost automatically. And that's the great thing about the simple Hi-Lo strategy. We will introduce you to more complex counting strategies later.

However, most experts agree that the benefits of quick and easy strategies far exceed those of more accurate and complex strategies.

It won't be long before you can use this simple technique and play blackjack at the same time at normal speed. You need to keep the current value in mind and be able to concentrate on the game without attracting attention. If you haven't mastered the counting strategy in your sleep yet and have to think for a long time until you get to your current value, the dealers and security chiefs will notice it, because they are trained to recognize such behaviors.

The True Count - this is how the amount of bets in blackjack card counting is determined

A second factor to consider when trying to determine the balance of a blackjack deck is the number of cards remaining in the deck.

As we already mentioned, the closer you are to the end of a deck, the more accurate your value becomes. If you now divide the current value ("Running Count") by the number of estimated remaining decks, you get an even more exact value, the so-called "True Count".

When you get your Running Count in a True Count your value will be much more accurate! This can be a little difficult, but if you start practicing with multiple decks, you will soon be able to estimate how many decks are left in the sled.

Let's say your current value is +4 and you estimate that there are two decks left in the sled, then the "True Count" is +2.

If the value is still positive after the split, the chances are good to get a good profit by increasing your bet. The "True Count" is a more accurate indicator of how favorable/unfavorable the deck really is.

Follow the table for the recommended use for certain True Count values and size of the sled.

True Count	2 Decks	6+ Decks
0	1 Unit	1 Unit
+ 1	2 Units	2 Units
+ 2	3 Units	3 Units
+ 3	4 Units	4 Units
+ 4	5 Units	5 Units
+ 5	6 Units	6 Units

How the table works: As soon as more than half of the slide has been played (ideally 75% for a 2-deck slide and 60% for slides with 6 or more decks) and the true Count has a positive value, start increasing your bet according to the table: Second column for 2-deck slide and third column for 6-deck slide.

You should never set foot in a casino or online casino with live blackjack and want to count cards if you have not already spent a significant number of hours in front of the coach!

In a real game, you also have to pay attention to your bets as well as on your hand, so your card counting must be lightning fast and unnoticed.

Other counting strategies and application in casinos

Since card counting strategies have been around, there have been people trying to refine and improve these strategies. However, experience shows that simpler techniques are also easier to apply. Even if you think you have mastered a complex and very accurate counting strategy, it will not bring you more money in the long run than another, simple strategy.

The disadvantages of complex strategies such as "side-counts" or multi-level strategies are obvious: the more you focus on the strategy and the more information you have to absorb, the more it will prevent you from your ability to play fast and count accurately.

You will earn more money if you play a simple strategy fast than if you play a complex strategy slow. The less effort you have to spend on counting, the more you can pay attention to the security guards in the casino.

While the Hi-Lo strategy is seen as the best strategy, there are others that, depending on their own personal preferences, are often used – as always, everyone has their own taste. But you will quickly realize that all card counting strategies are very similar, they just use different values. If you can learn how to use the Hi-Lo strategy, you will also be able to use other strategies quickly, as long as you practice properly. To illustrate how the values work in other strategies, we have created a small table for an overview.

Name	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10 - K	A
Wizard	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	-1
KNOCKOUT	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	-1	-1
Hi-Lo	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	-1	-1
Hi-Opt I	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	-1	0
Hi-Opt II	1	1	2	2	1	1	0	0	-2	0
ZenCount	1	1	2	2	2	1	0	0	-2	-1
Omega II	1	1	2	2	2	1	0	-1	-2	0

As you can see from this table, the strategies all look relatively similar, but the counting is different. At the end of the day, only the player can decide what works best for him, so it certainly doesn't hurt to experiment with all the possibilities.

The blackjack counting technique "Wonging"

One of the most famous card counting technique in blackjack is called "wonging", named after the pseudonym Stanford Wong, which John Ferguson used to write his blackjack books. The name "wonging" refers to the technique described by him of watching blackjack tables, counting the cards approximately as described above, but only intervening in the game when the value of the cards gives an advantage to the player.

With this technique you reduce your running costs, because you do not bet anything as long as you are not sitting at a "hot" table. However, this technique is very well known today and a casino manager will have no problems recognizing the technique.

In addition, there are many casinos that no longer allow bets on an already played deck. The obvious advantage of such counting strategies in the background, such as "wonging", is that the player does not have to play every hand he counts. This will minimize the fluctuations in your bankroll and even increase your advantage.

Why are card counting strategies more profitable?

For the reasons already mentioned, multi-faceted counting strategies are much easier to recognize for the casino employees than simple strategies. A group of counters playing together as a team are very easy to spot for surveillance cameras. Secret characters and codes are recorded by the cameras, even if you think that no one will notice them. And if they are not noticed right away, then certainly after reviewing the tapes.

However, a camera will never be able to see into a player's mind, and this is probably the reason why high-tech casinos still have difficulty tracking down the most successful card counters today. The moment the strategy comes out of your head and involves other team members, it leaves a mark that the casino staff will find.

Most casinos try to track down card counters by observing irregularities in the betting pattern, both manually and with the help of on-site technology. If you use a simple counting strategy, you can focus on covering your tracks, for example by talking to other people at the table or adjusting your betting patterns so that it is not suspicious.

Blackjack card counting in the team

Of course, a single player can only play a certain number of hands at a time. Therefore, playing in a team seems to be a clever way to increase hourly wages. Team play has been successfully practiced by groups such as the M.I.T. Blackjack Team. This was a series of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), who provided the template for the film "21".

The most well-known way to play in a team is the one in which the different team members play at one table at a time and indicate to the rest of the team when a table is "hot" and they should get into the game. One advantage of this is that players only have to make a big bet if they can be sure that the table is favorable for them.

The disadvantage is that playing in a team means a lot of effort. In addition to the immediate danger of getting caught, there are also a lot of people involved in the game and everyone wants a piece of the pie.

In addition, a casino manager will certainly have an extra eye on a high-roller who changes from table to table. Again, the risk of getting caught is obviously very high.

If you still want to try out what it's like to play in a team or if you just want to know how it works, we have put together a classic structure of a blackjack team here:

The Card counting team

• gorilla : Gorillas are not known for their math skills, so they don't have to count in the blackjack team either. Instead, this team member runs from table to table and plays the maximum bet – and only if the table is really "hot". A classic gorilla character is that of a drunk millionaire who just throws his money around.
• spotter : This team member is an active player at the table. However, his main task is to keep track of the exact value of the deck at his table. Since many casinos observe irregularities in the betting pattern at the tables, the spotter always makes only the minimum bet. He then signals to the gorilla or the boss of the team when the deck is "hot".
• The Back-spotter : This team member does not necessarily have to sit at the table. His task is to observe the tables from a distance and give a signal to the rest of the team when the gorilla should go to the table.
• The Big Player : The big player's job is to keep the team from getting caught. A high-roller who also plays blackjack well will surely attract the attention of the casino staff. Remember, it is not illegal to play blackjack with a perfect strategy. And a talented player with the same bank roll as the gorilla will surely attract the attention of the casino and distract attention from the team.

Countermeasures of the casinos

Card counting in blackjack strategies has been around for years, the first books on the topic were published in the early sixties – and since then, the employees and operators of casinos have been trying to prevent these activities.

Listed below are some of the most common – and also failed - attempts to stop card counting:

• Swap: According to the 31 card game rules, one, two or even all cards in his hand can exchange with the hand in the middle to improve his own hand. Whether he is after colors or numbers is completely up to him.
• Knock: If he knocks on the table, he lets all the players at the table know that the game is over after this round. However, each player is allowed to swap the cards in turn before the end in order to improve his own hand. After that, the cards are compared. Regionally, you can also say "I'm closing", which shows the same effect as knocking.
• Fit: If he does not want to do anything, so neither swaps nor knocks, then the player can simply pass. The helm is now handed over to the next player, who receives the same opportunities.

The "Cutting Card"

One of the first measures that the casinos have taken is the "Cutting card". This is a card after which you stop playing with the current deck. So the whole deck is never played through.

Multiple decks

Casinos have also started using multiple decks at one table - although the number of decks doesn't really matter, as explained in the Hi-Lo strategy, for example.

Own card counter

Nowadays, there are various automatic strategies that casinos use to track down dishonest gambling. Some casinos scan all the cards that have been given out of the blackjack sleds to count the cards themselves. If you notice that a deck is unbalanced in favor of the players, merge this information with irregularities in the betting pattern at the table. If a player systematically increases his bet when the computer finds the deck for "hot", it is suspected that the player is counting cards and probably asked to leave the casino or try his luck in another game.

Microchips in tokens

Another common method of detecting irregularities at the tables is the use of microchips inserted into the casino's tokens. This makes it very easy for the casino to monitor how and how much is wagered at the tables. This approach may sound a little like George Orwell, but casinos are businesses where surveillance cameras have been a good thing for decades and whose main goal is to make money, not to give it away.

Facial Recognition Technology in Casinos

One of the latest surveillance technologies in the casinos is facial recognition. Facial recognition cameras can identify known scammers, which are collected in a database. The cameras film all visitors entering the casino. Because of these new cameras, a well-known card counter might be asked to leave the casino before they've even made it to a blackjack table.

Counting cards without attracting attention

We are convinced that the best way to avoid getting caught in the casino is to keep your card counting in Blackjack strategy as simple as possible and really master it 100 percent. It is quite conceivable that the best card counters are not math geniuses or Rainman-like players, but those who know exactly how to count and who know how to become one with the casino environment.

Our card counting trainer will certainly help you to become a better card counter, but the task of how to merge with the casino is up to you.

But one thing is for sure: the better you are, the easier it is for you to come up with the right values and the easier it is for you to improve your camouflage skills in the casino. And one day we will hopefully hear about your legendary wins at the blackjack tables - or even better: we never hear about it!

History of card counting

Dr. Edward O. Thorp considered the father of card counting. His book "Beat the Dealer", published in 1962, showed not only the basics of card counting, but also various theories of how to play blackjack strategically correctly. In many ways, Thorp was far ahead of his time – at least he was one of the first to publish his theories and thus make them accessible to a wide audience.

Another big name in the business of card counting is Andy Bloch . Today he is known as a very successful poker player. But he was also a member of the M.I.T Blackjack team and he published a video instruction on card counting called "Beating Blackjack". In the blackjack documentary by David Layton "The Hot Shoe" Andy Bloch is mentioned.

In the film, Layton interviews card counters such as Thorp and Bloch. During the filming of the film, Layton used the knowledge gained with the help of the interviews and gambled $5,000 of the film budget for experimental purposes.

Blackjack Card Counting FAQs