How to Learn to Count Cards at Blackjack

Cards at Blackjack

You don’t need to be a math prodigy to count cards. Any gambler with minimal computational skills can determine the probability of a deck being heated. There are various Blackjack strategies for dealing when a player has calculated the probability of a particular card being drawn. They are suitable for professionals as well as beginners who have just sat down at the table.

The simplest technique

An uncomplicated way of counting cards is called Hi-Lo. It’s based on dividing the cards into three categories. Each subgroup is labeled:

  • positive;
  • negative;
  • Neutral.

The lower denominations from 1 to 6 add +1 point, as the deck starts to warm up (i.e. becomes more profitable for the gambler) when they come out. Denominations 7-9 are neutral (+0 points), as they do not change the ratios for winnings. The higher denominations from 10 to Ace are negative (-1 point). Leaving them out of the deck minimizes the chances of winning a point. The strategy in this case is simple: the more points the deck receives, the more solid the betting amounts.

Counting cards in blackjack

Running and True Count

The above method is relevant when Blackjack is played with a single deck. When there are several decks, the calculations become more complicated. In this case, a new algorithm must be applied. It involves dividing the run count by the number of remaining decks. As an example: the warm-up score is +8, and the remaining decks are +4. Dividing 8 by 4 gives a true score of +2. When a fractional result is obtained, rounding for a whole is performed.

Specific Strategies

There are numerous strategies for playing Blackjack. The choice depends on the specific situation, the goals pursued, and the skills of the gambler. To master a particular strategy usually takes several months. Optimal is the method of Hi-Lo, because it can apply even a child. Other strategies are more difficult to learn and use. They can take years to master.

Experts emphasise that counting methods themselves do not produce the expected effect without specific rules. In brief, they can be summarised as follows:

  1. Be careful when counting, don’t miss any cards when dealing.
  2. Trust the chosen strategy, even if it doesn’t seem to work.
  3. Practice regularly, evolve, apply new methods.
  4. Invest part of your profits to improve your skills.
  5. Stop in time, don’t get into excitement.

It is irrational to play Blackjack, when the chosen strategy is applied once in a while, i.e. not every hand. When playing in an online casino, it is allowed to take notes so that you don’t miss the right numbers. It is forbidden to do so in a real establishment, so be prepared for extraneous interference (loud music, noise, shouting of visitors, etc.). The casino will not make card counting easy, but will do everything it can to make it more difficult.

Remember, the game of Blackjack looks simple, but it is a whole universe with its own rules and features. To profit, the gambler needs to hone old skills, acquire new ones, and constantly look for unconventional moves. Professionals will not lie about the difficult and gruelling path a beginner has to take, but in the end the money invested is sure to pay off.