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Everyone who dabbles in blackjack has heard of card counting. Card counting has a reputation as being an illegal method for bringing down the house, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Firstly, card counting is not illegal in casinos, however it is frowned upon as a slightly dishonest practice. Casinos don’t like card counters, so if they believe you are doing it, they will most likely evict you from the table, if not the casino itself.
Secondly, card counting is not a magical strategy which will see you win every time and take the house for millions. At most, card counting gives you a 1% edge over the house. To take advantage of this you also have to be on top of your game.
Counting cards hit the headlines in the mid-1990s when it came out that a group of students from MIT University were working as professional card counters in casinos all over the country. Mostly math students, some of the players were raking in six figure sums in a session, and enjoying all the perks of being high-rollers, including complimentary suites, food, and drinks. The operation was run by Harvard alumnus Mike Kaplan and funded by his investment company.
Although the theory of card counting has been around since the 1960s, it was this team of students who brought the idea into the awareness of the general public. When their story became the basis for the movie 21 (2008), it introduced a whole new generation to the concept of card counting. Despite the consequences faced by the players in the film, many viewers still came away with the idea to give card counting a try.
The Basics
So how difficult is card counting and do you really have to be a mathematical genius? The math involved is actually incredibly simple, the challenge comes from keeping a running score through all the distractions of the casino floor. Especially if you play online casinos and they offer a lot of distracting but so interesting Starburst free spins UK no deposit. And also you need to remember that it doesn’t need to look like you are counting.
The aim of counting cards is to assign a running total to the cards left in the deck and bet when the total favors the player.
Advanced Card Counting
Card counting is simpler than you think
There are a handful of different card counting methods for blackjack that all work along the same principle. The simplest one to start with is Hi-Lo, so that’s what we’ll look at today…
High cards (10+) are given a value of -1, while low cards (2-6) are +1 and middle cards (7-9) are worth 0. A positive total is good for you because it means there are more high cards left in the deck, which gives you a better chance of hitting blackjack and the dealer busting. A negative total favors the house because there are many small cards left, which makes it easier for you to bust but gives the dealer a better chance of sticking below 16.
Card counting helps you figure out what’s left in the deck by counting the cards you can see. So, every time a face up card comes out of the shoe, you have to adjust the count. This means not just your cards, but the cards belonging to everyone on the table. And you need to do it fast – so it’s worth practicing a lot at home.
Things get more complicated when you’re playing at a casino because they employ a variety of tactics to stop counters. Most blackjack tables now use multiple decks in a shoe, so you need to adjust the running count depending on how many decks are left. To get the true count, divide your running count by the number of remaining decks.
Another tactic used by blackjack dealers is to periodically burn a card. This is usually done after shuffling or when a new dealer arrives. They remove a facedown card from the deck to interrupt counting and remove any marks on the top card.
Online Blackjack
Card counting doesn’t work with online blackjack. This is because the software uses a random number generator (RNG) instead of a set of decks. This is essentially the same as shuffling a deck after every hand as it means the same cards can come up again in the next round. While you might think this would deter players, many choose to play online blackjack for real money because this system makes the game fairer for everyone. Players cannot manipulate the cards and the dealer can’t be bought, so you’ll never end up on the wrong end of a card scam. Other than that, online blackjack has all the same thrills and excitement of playing the table game at a casino.
Conclusion
While it’s unlikely that card counting will lead you to untold riches, done properly and when combined with a high level of blackjack skill, it can give you an advantage at the table. Keeping the count amid distractions can be difficult, and you’ll also need to learn when is the right time to increase/decrease bets without looking suspicious. Be aware that if a casino catches you counting they are within their rights to exact a fitting punishment. This could mean losing your money, being evicted from the casino, and even a lifetime ban.