Card counting is one of the most useful strategies used by professional gamblers in blackjack and other card games. Although it doesn’t guarantee a victory, it significantly helps to increase winning chances. Learn how to count cards in blackjack right now to beat the dealer in the future.
Blackjack is among gamblers’ favorites not only due to its simplicity and popularity. It is also a game where gamblers have a really high chance to win, especially if they know how to count cards. As such a simple but smart strategy as card counting is used mostly in blackjack, let’s learn some tips that may help to win.
Card counting in blackjack
Before learning how to count cards in blackjack, refresh in mind the basic rules of the game. As you know, to beat the dealer in blackjack, you need to collect a hand of a total value of 21 points (no more). The value of cards is the following: face cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10, numeric cards’ value is equivalent to their numbers, while A is equal to 1 or 11 depending on the game.
To know the value of cards left in a deck, players count them. It helps to understand which card will be dealt: small (2-6), medium (7-10), or big (J-A). If you do everything right, you can predict which ones you can be given during the next move and beat the dealer.
Counting cards is not something you can easily learn at online gambling guides for beginners. Therefore, read how to count cards in blackjack now.
How to count cards in blackjack?
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player, card counting can come in handy at the blackjack table. But how to succeed and where to start?
Generally speaking, the card counting procedure can be divided into four steps:
- Give every card its value
- Depending on cards you receive, keep a running count of values
- With the help of this information, decide about the value of cards in a deck
- Change bets/number of extra cards for the hand depending on the outcome
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Hi-Lo system
To give each card its value, use a popular Hi-Lo system. The Hi-Lo system is one of the most popular and widely used card counting techniques in blackjack. It’s a relatively simple yet effective method for tracking the ratio of high and low cards remaining in the deck.
According to it, each card has a value of either -1, +1, or 0. The total value of a standard 52-card deck is 0. Give the smallest cards (2-6) a value of +1. Cards of middle (or neutral) value, i.e. 7-10, are equal to 0. Face cards and Ace receive a -1 value. To memorize them faster, look at the table:
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The count starts with every new shuffle. The dealer gives you cards and you have to determine their value. Give each card +1, -1, or 0 depending on their rank. Then, decide about our net move – to increase/decrease a bet or number of cards in your hand.
How to do it? If the card count is positive, it means that the deck is richer in big ones. Therefore, it is better to increase the bet and not to risk adding extra cards.
If the outcome is negative it means that the remaining cards are richer in small cards and it is better to decrease your bet. The rule is simple – bet on positive counts and avoid betting on negative ones. Good luck at the blackjack table with our tips!
