You’ve certainly heard of card counting before, but you may not fully grasp what it entails. This website contains all the information you need to know about card counting, whether you play blackjack online or at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Definition of Card Counting in Blackjack
The solution to this, arguably the most crucial question, is more nuanced than it first appears.
To begin, the act of “card counting” in blackjack does not entail keeping track of each and every card in the deck. Card counting, on the other hand, is a method of calculating the likelihood of a given card being drawn next in order to make informed betting decisions.
Remember that the more Aces and 10-value cards that are still in the deck, the better the player’s odds are in blackjack. Therefore, knowing which cards have been utilized enables you to know when more of these cards remain in the shoe by card counting.
Although mastering card counting cannot ensure immediate success, it has been shown to increase the long-term profitability of blackjack play.
Last but not least, card counting in blackjack is not like other techniques that make empty promises of financial gain. Card counting is a legitimate strategy that has been adopted by many winning players for years. This strategy is also cost-free to learn because all the resources you need to get started are right here on this very website.
Blackjack Card Counting Strategy
In blackjack, card counting is a necessary skill. Assigning a value to each set of cards is the first step, and it’s much simpler than it sounds. We’ll focus on Hi-Lo, the most popular card counting system, whose values are as follows:
Every number from 2-6 is +1.
From Seven to Nine equals Zero
It’s a -1 for tens through aces.
Remembering these values is the single most crucial part of card counting. Then, throughout play, you may keep track of how many cards have been played thus far. You would have a total of one if the first five cards you saw were the 5, 2, 7, 8, and A.
The running total can be used to predict whether or not the next hand will feature a 10-A card with a higher or lower probability than usual. Keep in mind, too, that your card counting must to begin anew from scratch every time the dealer reshuffles and refills the shoe.
Blackjack: Counting Cards When Playing with More Than One Deck
Here’s a scenario to think about. You, the other two players at the table, and the dealer have been dealt the following hands:
You: 10, 8
Two-Player Hand: 2, 8, Q
Third Player: 10, 2, J
Card Count: 10 6 9
After this round, what would the total be? With a -3 edge, the casino has the upper hand because there are more 10-A cards out there than usual, increasing the likelihood that you will be given lower cards in the next hand.
Finding out how many decks are being utilized is the first step in implementing this technique. Then, by using the same method mentioned above, you may count the cards by correctly assigning values to individual cards as they are dealt. You need to know how many decks are left in the shoe before each new hand is dealt, as a count of +6 with one deck left in the shoe has better odds than a count of +6 with three decks left in the shoe, for example.
When there are three decks left, a count of +6 indicates six additional high cards in a stack of 156 cards, but the same figure when there is only one deck left indicates six additional high cards in a stack of 52 cards. Therefore, a count of +6 is significantly more beneficial as the number of remaining cards decreases.
How then do you arrive at the right figure? To do this, simply divide the amount by the number of decks still in use. If you have a count of +6 while there are still 3 decks in play, the True Count is +2 (+6/3=+2). It’s a very straightforward solution to the issue, but it does the job wonderfully.
Card Counting Strategy: A Primer
You’ve mastered card counting; the next question is how to put that knowledge to use. Well, you utilize the values to figure out how much to change your stake based on your expected hand value.
Therefore, if your running count is high, you know that there are a disproportionately large number of high cards still in the deck, and you should raise your bet to take advantage of the improved odds.
However, if your count is negative, you should reduce your wager because your odds of receiving good cards are lower than usual. It’s a matter of making the most of favourable odds and limiting damage from unfavourable ones.
However, as you’ll see in the following section, you’ll need to be discreet while making changes to your wagers.
Does Blackjack Law Prohibit Card Counting?
Card counting is widely believed to be unlawful despite the fact that it is not. It’s just another example of leveraging one’s skills to one’s advantage, like in countless other games and sports. However, casinos do not approve of card counting, and players who are suspected of doing so are generally asked to leave the premises.
Legislators in New Jersey see no problem with players utilizing talent to gain an edge, thus the state’s casinos are not allowed to evict card counters who violate the law.
However, casinos in states other than New Jersey have caught on to card counting and implemented numerous countermeasures. Card counters are easily fooled by these casinos’ strategies, which include teaching dealers to deal faster and changing the deck more frequently.
Online Blackjack: A Guide to Card Counting
While card counting is a viable strategy in a land-based casino, it is not applicable to online blackjack.
If so, then why? The reason is that the hands do not form a set but are, rather, independent entities. Because of this, card counting can never be successful because there is never an opportunity to start a running count. So, to improve your odds of winning in normal online blackjack games, you need just employ additional blackjack strategies.
With the advent of live dealer blackjack, however, things have changed in the realm of online blackjack. This is an attempt to recreate the casino blackjack experience using a live dealer who is broadcast to the players’ screens via webcam. That’s great news for card counters, who may resume their counting and gain an advantage over the casino as a result.
It’s important to adjust your wagers subtly, just as you would in a land-based casino, because online casinos have a variety of methods for identifying potential card counters and banning them from playing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Card Counting In Blackjack
Can I count cards while betting on Blackjack?
Give each card a point value; this will help you determine whether to increase your wager when the count is high or decrease it when the count is low.
“Running Count” refers to the player’s running court, which is updated after each card is dealt. You can then divide that number by the number of remaining decks to get the accurate card count.
The “True Count” is calculated by dividing the current count by the number of unused decks.
Adjust your wager once you know the value of each card and have established the true count based on the cards that have been dealt.
Is it possible to win in Blackjack without card counting?
The short response is no. Blackjack is a game where card counting is unnecessary to win. One of the most well-known advantage techniques in gambling, card counting can offer you a significant edge over other players.