One of the most well-known and controversial aspects of blackjack play over the years has been card counting.

Card counting is severely frowned upon by casinos because it is a skill set that gives the player the edge and helps negate the house edge.

However, it is not illegal; casinos do take it seriously enough to keep an eye out for card counters and even ask them to leave, because it can finally affect the casino’s profits in a hugely adverse manner.

On this page we:

• Take a look at card counting and see what the basic requirements are
• List out some of the popular and well-known card counting systems
• Analyze one of the most popular card counting systems, the Hi-Lo counting strategy

Basics Needed for Card Counting in Blackjack

Card counting is not easy to do. It is a skill that requires a lot of practice and also a thorough understanding of how the game of blackjack works. There are quite a few things that a player needs to be able to develop into a good card counter. These include:

• Thorough knowledge of basic blackjack strategy
• Mastery over the game itself
• Ability to count down a deck fast
• Be able to work easily with numbers in the head
• Ability to remain calm and normal while counting cards
• Rigorous practice sessions to be able to count accurately over time

Of all the above points, the most critical is an absolute knowledge and understanding of the basic blackjack strategy. Without that basic knowledge, trying to count cards would be a futile exercise. An understanding of basic blackjack strategy helps you understand the game and the way the house edge works.

Video on card counting:

How Card Counting Works

The way card counting works, at least in theory, is simple; in practice it takes skill and speed. It has more to do with math – statistics and probability – and less to do with memorizing numbers. As the dealer deals out cards from a shoe during a game of blackjack, players can use this technique to determine the cards left in the deck. This allows the player to analyze his position: does he have an advantage over the dealer and therefore should ride his hand, or is the dealer in a better enough position for the player to play safe?

• A deck with more 10s and Aces is good for the player.
• A deck with more of small value cards is good for the dealer.

Card counting helps the player figure out the odds of more 10-value cards and Aces being in the deck. This in turn allows the player to adjust his wagering and play strategy. That way the options favor the player more than the dealer, especially when he knows the deck has more 10-value cards and Aces than smaller value cards. The different moves that become favorable include:

• Blackjack: With the shoe having more 10-value cards and Aces, the possibility of landing blackjacks is equal for both the dealer and the player. However, the player will earn a 3 to 2 payout, unlike the dealer.
• Double down: Doubling down is a good choice if the player is looking for a 10-value card. With the shoe having more of 10-value cards and Aces, the double down option can help earn good rewards.
• Stand: The player could look to stand on totals between hard 12 and hard 16 while the dealer may not opt to do so. In case of a shoe with more 10-value cards and Aces, standing is the easier way to go as against hitting, as the latter may result in the hand going bust.
• Split: Splitting is usually a good option when the player has a high-value hand. If the shoe has more 10-value cards and Aces, splitting becomes a safe option to look at.
• Insurance bet: A good card counter will know when there are more 10-value cards and Aces in the deck. That makes it easy for him to take the insurance bet option when he sees the Ace as the dealer’s face up card.
• Surrender: In a game where the shoe has more Aces and 10-value cards, the option of surrender also becomes a good alternative as it still allows the player to save on the original wager even if the dealer has a strong hand. It is sometimes definitely a safer option than hitting and going bust or standing and having the dealer land a stronger hand.

The following is the percentage of benefits that a player stands to get for using any one of the hands listed above.

• Stand: 40%
• Insurance: 34%
• Double down: 9%
• Blackjack: 7%
• Surrender: 6%
• Split: 4%

Different types of Card Counting Systems

There are different card counting systems that have been developed over the years to help players beat the house edge and win more often in blackjack. The following are some of the popular card counting systems in use.

• Hi-Low
• KO
• Hi Opt I
• Hi Opt II
• Halves
• Omega II
• Red 7
• Zen

Among all these systems, one of the most popular is the Hi-Lo card counting system. We take a look at this system in a little more detail next.

Counting Cards Using the Hi-Lo Card Counting System

The first card counting strategy was introduced in the 1960s by Edward Thorp. Thorp was a professor of math at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and came out with the Ten Count system in his book Beat the Dealer. However, while the Ten Count system is the first, the most popular is the Hi-Lo card counting system.

The Hi-Lo card counting system was formulated in 1963 by Harvey Dubner. It has been used and also discussed extensively by blackjack players and writers respectively. The system is simple and that is one of the main reasons for its popularity. This is how the Hi-Lo system works.

• For each card, assign a specific value. The values for the different cards are as follows:
  • Cards 2 to 6: +1
  • Cards 7 to 9: 0
  • Cards 10 to Ace: -1
• Based on the values assigned to the cards that have been dealt, keep a ‘running count’.
  • The running count keeps getting updated with the latest data after every deal.
  • This is done by adding or subtracting numbers from the existing running count based on the values arrived at using the numbers given in the first step.
  • An increase in the running count is good for the player as the house edge comes down.
  • A decrease in the running count is good for the dealer as the advantage shifts to the casino.
• Determine the ‘True Count’.
  • The True Count helps in the present scenario where casinos use multiple decks.
  • To determine the True Count, divide the running count by the number of decks left in the shoe.
  • The True Count is directly proportional to the player bet – the greater the True Count the higher the player can go with his wager.
• In keeping with the above observation, vary your bet according to the level of the True Count.
  • Bet big when the True Count rises.
  • Bet small when the True Count goes down.
• Sometimes, knowing just the True Count may not be enough; that is when a table of Index Numbers can be really helpful.

With a table of Index Numbers, betting becomes easier. There are many of them around; 2 of these are Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 and were listed by Don Schlesinger in Blackjack Attack. There are different Index Numbers that a player can use. Check Stanford Wong’s Professional Blackjack for a complete list.

We tabulate for you below some of the statistics that can be arrived at using the Hi-Lo card counting system. The assumptions for the data are:

• A six-deck shoe is used.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• The game allows re-splitting.
• A player can re-split to a maximum of 4 hands including Aces.
• The game allows doubling down after a split.
• The game has the Surrender option.

Basic Hi-Lo Statistics

Spread	Penetration	Index Numbers	Player Advantage	Standard Deviation	Average 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

In the above table, the different columns represent the following:

• Spread: This is the ratio between the minimum and maximum bet for a hand.
• Penetration: The total number of decks that have to be played before getting to the cut card. The standard number is 4.5 for a 6-deck shoe.
• Index Numbers: As explained earlier.
• Player Advantage: This denotes the ratio between the net amount won by player and the total initial bets placed.
• Standard Deviation: This denotes the level of volatility for each initial bet.
• Average Bet: This is the average final bet for each hand against the lowest bet placed.

 Blackjack Card Counting FAQ – Everything about Card Counting

Card counting is a very popular Blackjack technique which allows the player to get an edge over the dealer. Card counting can be a bit tricky though.