Blog Posted on 01/01/2020 | Author: Karen Macarthur
Card Counting Has Never Been This Easy! Take A Look!
Gambling for centuries has been a major recreational activity for people around the globe. Today, people love playing casino games such as Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette in online casinos from the comfort of their home. Since its introduction in France in the 1700s, Blackjack has been one of the most popular casino games. In the game of Blackjack, players can improve their odds of winning by counting cards. Keep reading to know how to count cards and improve your chances of winning a handsome amount of money.
What is card counting?
Card counting is a technique that lets Blackjack players know when the advantages shift in their favour. When this occurs, card counters will increase their bets. When the advantages shift in favour of the croupier, the player will make a small bet or even discontinue the gameplay. Card counters can get an edge over the casino by varying bets in this manner.
The high-value cards (picture cards, tens and aces) benefit the gambler than the croupier, while the low-value cards (two to six) are more beneficial to the croupier. The remaining cards (six, seven and eight) don’t help the player very much.
Card counting steps
Card counting can essentially be broken into 4 steps:
- Step 1 – Assign a value to each card
- Step 2 – Keep a “running count” based on the values of card dealt
- Step 3 – Use this information to calculate the count per deck or “true count”
- Step 4 – change your bets with an increase in the true count
Keep in mind that card counting is simple but will take time to master.
Step 1: Assign a value to each card
The card values of the most common card counting system Hi-Lo are as follows:
- 2-6 = +1
- 7-9 = 0
- 10-Ace = -1
With each card dealt, the player will either add 1, subtract 1 or do nothing based on the card’s value.
Step 2: The running count
After assigning a value to each card, keep a running count by adding or subtracting every card that you see in each shoe until the dealer shuffles the card again. With a single deck Blackjack, this information would be enough to start betting accordingly. If the running count increases, the advantage begins shifting to the player. If the running count is negative, the dealer’s advantage increases.
Step 3: Calculate the true count
Most casinos use multiple decks in order to thwart card counters. You can use the running count in a multiple deck game by simply translating the information into a true count.
Let’s assume two different situations, a +5 running count with 6 decks remaining and +5 running count with just 1 deck remaining. In the first example, there is less than 1 additional high card per deck remaining and the player doesn’t have the advantage yet. In addition to the number of extra high cards, the concentration of high cards to the concentration of low cards also matter to the card counter.
Therefore, if you have a running count of 5 with only one deck remaining, there are 5 extra 10’s and Aces in the remaining 52 cards. This puts the edge in favour of the gambler. The formula for the running count is:
True count = running count/decks remaining
So, if the running count is 10 and you have 5 decks remaining, the true count is 2 (10/5).
And if the running count is -7 and you have 2 decks remaining, the true count is -3 (-7/2).
While counting cards, you can use this information to bet according to the advantage offered by the game. Also, the true count will help you know when to change your playing strategy.
Step 4: Vary your bets as the true count rises and falls
Although the true count and running count are essential in knowing when the edge is in favour of the player, the gameplay will be exhausting if you don’t use this information to change your playing strategy. In order to get the most out of the information you obtain from card counting, you need to raise your bets as the true count rises. You must place really big bets when the cards are in your favour and really small when the count is negative or is in favour of the dealer.
Also, don’t stay at any casino for too long. As a card counter, you’re the only (legal) snag in the casino with a solid betting strategy. So, take full advantage of this strategy and improve your odds of winning.
