Players are always trying to beat the house, and that’s all part of the fun in casinos. But there comes a point when strategy crosses over into something truly next-level, and that was definitely the case when gamblers developed card counting. Instead of figuring out whether to hit or stand, they were figuring out if the game was favorable even before the next cards were dealt.
While it may seem like you have to be Rain Man to pull off card counting profitably, it’s not really that hard. The essence of it is to keep a running count while your game of blackjack moves along. As each card is dealt, you update your number in your head. Then, you adjust your strategy based on that number.
Sound doable? Good! Let’s get into a bit more detail.
How Does Card Counting Work?
Counting cards requires players to track the ratio of high cards (tens, face cards, and aces) to low cards (2-6) that remain in the deck at any given time. The idea is to know whether the deck is loaded with high cards. If it is, that makes blackjacks more likely. If, on the other hand, the deck is depleted, you’ll know that hitting a blackjack is harder. Put another way, a deck loaded with high cards helps you as a player. A deck full of low cards is swinging in the dealer’s favor.
What is the implication of knowing this fact? Well, when the deck is offering a slightly lower house edge, you might want to increase your bet size. When it’s moving in the opposite direction, that could be a good time to decrease your wagers. This strategic adjustment is what gives card counters the ability to reduce the house edge.
And remember, optimal blackjack strategy already brings this house edge quite low – to half a percent or less. This is one of the very lowest house edges you’ll find in any casino game, which is why blackjack is a longtime favorite of hardcore gambling experts.
The Simple Math of Card Counting
Card counting is an effort to peek behind the curtain and understand the probabilities presented by a specific deck of cards. In a generic deck of cards, this math is easy. There are 16 high cards in the deck of 52. This means that about a third are high cards. What is the chance of pulling one off the top? One in three, or about thirty percent.
But that’s only true when the deck is fresh. If you start with a new deck and deal out 15 high cards straight, you have left 37 cards in the deck, and only one of them is a high card. What are the chances now of pulling a high card? 1 in 37, or 2.7%. The chances aren’t that good now. Wouldn’t you like to know that before you put money on the line? That’s what card counting is all about.
Card Counting Systems – Is There a Best One?
Each card counting system has its own level of complexity and accuracy. The one most gamblers are using is called the KO or Knock Out system. It’s quite well known and widely used. In this system, the process is simple. You start at zero. For any cards 2-6 that are dealt, you add one to the count. If 7-9 are dealt, you do nothing. And if tens, aces, or faces are dealt, you subtract one. The higher the count, the better for the player. It means the deck is getting stacked with high cards.
This system is best used in single deck blackjack. There are, however, other systems, should you wish to learn more.
Hi-Lo
In Hi-Lo counting, you’ll need to perform a similar calculation to the KO system. The only difference is that when you have multiple decks, you need to divide your running count by the number of decks to get the true count. Thus, a count of +6 in six-deck blackjack is actually a +1. Bitcoin blackjack players may like the increased accuracy of this method, especially if they’ve left the confines of single-deck games.
Zen Count
The Zen Count is a more advanced system that uses a multi-level approach, assigning different values to different cards for greater accuracy. It provides a more precise count but requires more mental arithmetic, making it suitable for experienced card counters. In short, you’re going to have to know more card values. If you want to step up your efforts, you can check it out here.
Omega II
The Omega II system is a complex, balanced card counting strategy that offers high accuracy by assigning values from -2 to +2 to different cards. It requires true count conversion and, like Zen counting, is best suited for players who are comfortable with more advanced counting techniques.
Cautions and Risks
Card counting is not a cheat code to win every hand in blackjack – far from it. It’s a way to narrow an already small house edge, helping you generate a greater expected return over many hands of blackjack as you play along. It also takes decent focus, so you have to be ready to run those numbers attentively.
How much is it worth? Perhaps around 1% of edge. For some, this is a very meaningful adjustment to a player’s odds. For others, it’s not worth the effort.
Moreover, casinos are well aware of card counting techniques and have implemented various measures to counteract them, such as using multiple blackjack decks, shuffling more frequently, and employing sophisticated surveillance systems. And this is definitely true online. It’s harder in some ways to generate benefits from card counting when you’re not playing live, especially when you consider continuous shuffling games (more on this below).
Card counting is helpful but not a silver bullet.
Famous Card Counters
Over the years, several individuals and teams have made a name for themselves through successful card counting. One of the most famous is the MIT Blackjack Team, a group of students and ex-students from MIT, Harvard, and other leading colleges who used card counting and team play to win millions from casinos around the world during the 1980s and 1990s.
The MIT team’s success became legendary, leading to books, documentaries, and the movie 21 (which we recommend as a decent watch). However, their story also serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of live card counting. We won’t spoil the movie, but check it out if you’re interested in finding out how things ultimately ended for the math geniuses who took on the casinos.
Card Counting Online
Card counting online comes with certain challenges, as we’ve mentioned. The main issue is that, even in certain single deck blackjack games, the deck is continuously shuffled. This means that you might always be facing a fresh deck. This would negate any efforts to count cards. Instead, the odds in these games always remain constant.
So much for that.
However, live online blackjack, where real dealers operate the game via video feed, is different. These games use physical cards and follow similar rules to those in brick-and-mortar casinos, including periodic shuffling rather than after every hand. This means that card counting is possible, although still challenging. The count lives only for so long before it is wiped out. Keep an eye on what’s going on with the decks as you play if you want to try counting cards in live dealer online blackjack. Also, there are limitations to what is allowed, even in online play. Wild bet manipulation may be flagged for suspicious activity. All we can say is exercise caution when attempting card counting strategies.
FAQ
Is card counting illegal in online blackjack?
No, card counting is not illegal, but casinos reserve the right to ban players they suspect of counting cards or engaging in suspicious or prohibited conduct.
Can you use card counting in online blackjack? Is it effective?
Card counting can be ineffective in some online blackjack games due to continuous shuffling, but it may work in live online blackjack under certain conditions.
How many decks are typically used in live online blackjack
Live online blackjack games often use 6 to 8 decks, which makes card counting more challenging. However, single and double deck versions are available.
Do casinos shuffle more frequently in live online blackjack?
Yes, casinos often shuffle more frequently in live online blackjack in part to reduce the effectiveness of card counting.