How to Count Cards in Blackjack Like a Pro

Card Counting Basics

Card counting is a way of keeping track of the cards so that you know when the deck has shifted in your favour. When it does, you increase your bets. Conversely, when the deck has shifted in favour of the house, you decrease your bet or sit out the round entirely. The method further reduces the house edge and can give players a significant advantage over the house.

A mathematical analysis of blackjack shows that the high value cards (10s, picture cards and aces) benefit the player and that low value cards (2s through to 6s) benefit the dealer. The cards in between, 7s, 8s and 9s, are neutral.

Therefore, the aim is to keep track of how many of each type of cards there are left in the shoe. Most card counting systems achieve this using a -1, 0 and +1 method. Each card in the deck is assigned a value, the low cards +1, the neutral cards 0 and the player beneficial cards -1.

Players keep a running total in their head as the cards are played, and this gives them an overview of what is left in the shoe. If you are playing with a multi-deck shoe, then you need to divide the running count (the number in your head) by the number of decks remaining in the shoe to give the true count.

When the true count is a large positive number it means that many low cards have been dealt, so there are more high value cards left in the deck and you therefore bet larger amounts. It takes a little bit of practise to get used to the system, but it can hand you a real advantage. Best of all, it is actually very simple. However, there are situations when it won’t work, such as when the cards are shuffled between each round.

A Look at High Value Cards

As mentioned, the high value cards are beneficial to players. The more of them there are left in the shoe compared to low value cards, the better your chance of winning.

The reason for this is actually quite simple. If there are many high value cards, then you have a better chance of being dealt blackjack, which is both the strongest hand and the best paying.

If the dealer is holding anything from 12 to 16 it is called a stiff hand. No matter which version of blackjack you are playing, the dealer will always have to draw more cards with a total less than 17. If there are many high value cards left in the shoe, then there is a higher chance of the dealer busting. However, players are not required to draw if they have a stiff hand, which gives them an advantage.

That is why the above scenario is a good time to Double Down. A similar logic dictates that players should split if they have a pair and the dealer has a weak up card. Of course, the reverse of these situations is also true. If the deck has many low value cards and the dealer has to draw, then the house will have the advantage. This is why having a sense of what is remaining in the shoe is a huge boost to players and why card counting is such a powerful technique.

The Hi-Low Card Counting System

In games where a cut card is placed in the shoe to determine when a shuffle happens, it is normal for between half and three-quarters of the shoe to be used between shuffling. This gives players plenty of time to gain a sense of what is left in the show by counting cards.

The Hi-Low Card Counting System is the best known and easiest to use. It is the method mentioned above, where low value cards are assigned +1, neutral cards 0 and high value cards -1. All that players then have to do is keep careful track of the cards that are dealt and discarded as the game progresses, adding and subtracting one from their count as necessary. When the cards are shuffled, the count returns to 0 and the process starts again.

The longer the process continues, the more meaningful the count becomes. However, you should not wait too long to act otherwise you may find that it is too late to take advantage of the situation. Usually a few rounds is enough to build a helpful running count, and you can then place your bets accordingly.

Betting When Card Counting

Most players using a card counting system will begin by betting the table minimum each time that a fresh shoe is used or when they join a table. The bet can then be increased as the count goes up and if it reaches the region of +4, it is a good time to start using options such as Double Down. If the count then drops back down towards 0 or below, then the bet should be reduced to the table minimum. While this sounds very simple, it actually requires a large amount of focus. If you make even one or two small mistakes, it can end up costing you a lot of money.

Ideally, a player will combine card counting with blackjack strategy charts. A true expert player will also understand when it is possible to deviate from the charts. For example, if there is a high count the chart may suggest that you hit on your hand when it may actually be worth Doubling Down in order to try to maximise your winnings.

Practising Card Counting

If you want to try card counting in a casino environment then it is essential that you practise first. If not, not only is the casino more likely to catch you and ask you to leave (mumbling numbers under your breath is a sure way to attract their attention), but as mentioned, you are likely to make mistakes and lose money.

Luckily, it isn’t very hard to practise card counting at home. Take a deck of cards and shuffle them. Then, just go through them one at a time and as you do so, say the tags out loud. For example, if the card is a 4 then say “plus 1” and if it is followed by a Jack say “minus 1”. At the same time, be sure to keep track of the running count and work your way through the entire deck.

As there is an equal number of low and high value cards in a deck, you should have a running count of 0 when you reach the end. If you do not, then it means that you have made a mistake somewhere. It is worth practising this several times until you always land at 0. At some point, you should also switch to running the count in your head. Those who really practise are able to run through an entire deck of cards in less than 30 seconds.

Don’t forget, if you are playing a multi-deck game, which most are, then you will need to divide the running count by the number of decks left in the shoe, not the number of decks at the start of the shoe. Again, it sounds complicated but it is possible to achieve with a bit of practise.

By now, you should have a good understanding of how blackjack card counting works. Hopefully, you can soon put it to good use and start enjoying the rewards.