How to count cards in blackjack, explained

You may have heard of card counting before, but you probably don't understand it very well. On this page, you'll learn everything you need to know about card counting, both in real-life casinos and online, including how many great blackjack players count cards.

What does Card Counting in Blackjack mean?

This could be the most important question, but the answer is not as simple as some might think.

First of all, card counting in blackjack doesn't mean keeping track of every card in the deck, which is difficult. Card counting, on the other hand, is when you use a method to figure out how likely it is that a certain card will be pulled next. You can use this knowledge to figure out how much to bet.

Here is the most important rule of blackjack: The player has more of an edge when there are more Aces and 10s in the deck. Card counting lets you know when there will be more of the same cards in the shoe by keeping track of which cards have already been used.

Even though it's not perfect and doesn't promise earnings right away, those who learn card counting should be able to make money in the long run by playing blackjack.

Last but not least, and this is very important, card counting in blackjack is not just another method that says it will make money but never does. Card counting is a real method that has been used by many great players and shown to work. It's also a plan that won't cost you anything, since you can find all the free information you need on this page.

How to Count Cards in Blackjack

So, how do you count cards in blackjack? Actually, it's not as hard as you think. The first step is to give each group of cards a number. We will focus on Hi-Lo, which is the most common way to count cards. Here are its values:

Because these numbers are so important to card counting, make sure you remember them right. After that, you'll always keep track of the cards that are used in a game. So, if the first five cards you see are 5, 2, 7, 8, and A, your score will be +1.

Then, you can use your moving sum to figure out if your chances of getting a 10-A card in the next hand are better or worse than normal. But keep in mind that you have to start counting cards again when the player fills the shoe and shuffles the cards.

How to Count Cards When Playing Blackjack with More Than One Deck?

So picture this happening. You and two other people are playing at the same table. The cards you and the other players, as well as the dealer, have been given are:

What would the count be after this hand? Well, it would be -3, which would mean that the casino has the edge because you are more likely to get lower cards in the next hand because there are more 10-A cards on the table than usual.

The first thing to know about this method is how many decks are used. After that, you can count the cards the same way you did before, giving each card the right number. But before you get a new hand, you have to figure out how many decks are in the shoe. For example, the chances are better with a count of +6 and one deck left than with a count of +6 and three decks left.

This is because a score of +6 with three decks left means there are six more high cards in a stack of 156 cards, but a score of the same number with only one deck left means there are six more high cards in a stack of 52 cards. A count of +6 is much better when there are fewer cards in the shoe.

So, how do you figure out what the right number is? In fact, it's not that hard. You just divide the number of leftover decks by the total number of decks. In the earlier case, there were still three decks, so the True Count would be +2 (+6/3=+2). It is a simple and very successful way to solve the problem.

Card Counts: How to Use Them

How can you use the fact that you know how to count cards to make money? You use the numbers to figure out how much to change your bet based on how likely it is that you will be given better cards.

So, if your running count is high, it means that there are more than the average number of higher cards left in the pack. Because of this, you should increase the size of your bet so that you can take advantage of the better chances.

But if your count is less than zero, you should lower your bet because you are less likely to get good cards. It comes down to taking advantage of the best chances and losing as little as possible when the odds are against you.

But as you'll see in the next part, you have to be careful when changing your bets.

Is it against the rules to count cards in blackjack?

Card counting is not against the law, despite what most people think. Simply put, it is a way to get an edge over a competitor in many other sports and games. But casinos don't like it, and players who are thought to be counting cards are often quickly kicked out.

If you want to count cards, the best place to go is New Jersey, where casinos can't kick out card counters because politicians don't think it's wrong for players to use skill to their advantage.

After learning about the practise, casinos outside of New Jersey have come up with different ways to find people who are counting cards. Also, they often use tricks to scare off card counters, like teaching traders to deal faster and changing the cards more often.

How to Use Counting Cards in Blackjack Online

You can count cards when you play blackjack online, but you can't do that when you play in an online casino.

But why does this happen? The reason for this is that the hands don't go in order. Instead, they are each a separate hand. It's impossible to count cards because there's no way to keep track of the number. So, if you want to win more often in normal online blackjack games, all you have to do is use more blackjack tactics.

The only exception to this rule is live player blackjack, which has only been around for a short time in the world of online blackjack. This is meant to be an exact copy of how blackjack is played in casinos. It does this by using a real dealer and streaming him or her through a webcam to each player's screen. Card counters can start counting again, giving them an edge over the house.

Online casinos have a number of ways to find people who might be counting cards, and if they think someone is doing this, they will ban them. But, just like when you count cards in real casinos, you should be careful when changing your bets.