Blackjack Card Counting
When you are learning how to play blackjack, the phrase ‘card counting’ is likely to come up time and time again. It is a highly debated issue in blackjack and other card games, with the technique almost having a mythical status among gamblers. Card counting is a skill players can use to determine the value of a deck and make more educated guesses depending on what cards are left to be dealt. In this card-counting guide, we will explore this blackjack strategy in full and determine whether or not it is worth learning.
What is Blackjack Card Counting?
How to Count Cards in Blackjack
Different Card Counting Systems
Hi-Lo
Hi-Lo is the most popular method of card counting. For this, players assign a value to all low and high cards in the deck and keep a running value as they play. The idea is that the more high-value cards left in the deck, the more favourable the game is for the player, and vice versa. During the game, the higher the running value is, the safer you are to play bigger bets.
Red Seven
With Red Seven, players assign values as follows: 1-6 is +1, ten, and the face cards are -1 and eight and nine are zero. As the name might suggest, the number seven is important here. A red seven is a +1, and a black seven is zero. This counting system is particularly useful for newcomers and has become more popular in recent years.
K-O
K-O is a card counting system that once again assigns values to cards. In K-O, the biggest difference from the Hi-Lo is that the number 7 is assigned a +1 point. Two through seven have one point, eight and nine have zero, and ten and above are given -1. This is one of the easiest card-counting systems to learn.
KISS
There are multiple versions of the KISS system that are used by players. In its simplest form though, the system values four through six as +1, ten through King as minus one, and every other number as zero. This system is popular because it counts half of the deck as zero, making it much easier to count through.
Omega II
Omega II is considered a more complex strategy than the ones previously mentioned. It values cards as follows: two, three and seven are counted as +1, four, five and six are +2, eight and ace are zero, nine is -1, and ten are -2, as are the suits.
Hi-Opt
Hi-Opt card counting are strategies that are considered to be highly optimal. These require a lot of skill. In the system, Two, three, six and seven are considered +1, eight, nine and Ace are zero, four and five are +2 and the rest of the cards are -2.
Zen Count
The Zen Count system is similar to Hi-Opt and Omega II. In the system, four through six count as +2, two, three and seven are +1, eight and nine are zero, Ace is -1, and 10 through King are -2.
Wong Halves
Wong Halves is an extremely complex card-counting system. Due to its complexity, it has been rated as one of the most successful blackjack card-counting strategies. In the system, five is worth +1.5, three, four and six are +1, two and seven are +0.5, eight is zero, nine is -0.5, and ten through Ace are -1.
Illustrious 18
The Illustrious 18 is a string of eight variations on the traditional basic blackjack strategy. To utilise this technique, you will need a thorough understanding of what basic blackjack strategy is and how it is applied. This gives you an indication of how to play each hand depending on what has already left the deck and your running value.
Single-deck
Single-deck card counting is the easiest, as it requires only keeping track of 52 cards throughout the game. Unfortunately, most blackjack games are multi-deck, which makes things more difficult.
Multi-deck
In Multi-Deck card counting, players will need to make sure they understand the game’s full count. To work this out, players must divide the running value by the number of decks in play if they want to be as accurate as possible. Needless to say, this can be extremely difficult and takes a lot of skill.
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Advantages of Card Counting
Card counting is famous for being one of the few blackjack strategies that can reduce the house edge if utilised correctly. If done correctly, players will have the ability to make more effective bets and, when used in conjunction with other techniques like Blackjack Basic Strategy, can really help a player make more long-term gains.
Disadvantages of Card Counting
No system is perfect, though, and the biggest disadvantage of card counting is that it is extremely difficult to use and get right. It also involves a lot of tracking and can go horribly wrong with the slightest hint of human error. As well as this, it is now basically impossible to use it in any online blackjack game, whether live or virtual.
