In a game of blackjack, your aim is to beat the dealer to 21. The value of your hand cannot exceed 21 otherwise you lose. But as long as it is under 21 and higher than the dealer’s, you win. People have come up with various ways to ‘beat the game’, so to speak, and give players better chances of winning.
The main system for blackjack is card counting. This is where you use a particular counting method to keep track of what cards have come up. The idea behind this is that you should have an idea of who has the advantage, you or the dealer. KISS systems are a more beginner-friendly version of card counting. They are easy to understand and put into practice.
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What Are KISS Systems?
The term ‘KISS’ stands for ‘keep it short and simple’. KISS systems are a simpler version of card counting. They work in pretty much the same way, but they involve fewer cards and the technique of counting cards is more straightforward.
There are currently three KISS systems: the original KISS system and the later KISS II and KISS III systems. We will look at all three of them below. However, it is worth pointing out that the original one is not so popular these days. This is because the more recent KISS II and KISS III systems are generally more beneficial.
KISS
When counting cards, you assign a value to each card rank. Whenever a card comes up, you add or subtract its value from the current total. The original KISS system assigns the following values to the cards:
|
Ranks |
Value |
|
4, 5, 6 |
+1 |
|
A, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 |
0 |
|
10, J, Q, K |
-1 |
As you can see from the table, nearly half of the cards (A, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9) have a value of 0. This means that you can ignore them as they do not affect the count in any way.
The fact that you only have to consider seven cards (4, 5 and 6 along with 10, J, Q and K) makes the KISS system easier than standard card counting. This is because you have to keep track of fewer cards.
KISS II
The KISS II system builds on the original, though there is more to it as there is a greater number of things to remember. It is most suitable for games of single-deck blackjack. Usually, a game of blackjack uses six or eight decks. Single-deck versions are not that common. This is because when there is just one deck in play, it is easier for players to count cards.
|
Ranks |
Value |
|
3, 4, 5, 6 |
+1 |
|
2 black (spades or clubs) |
+1 |
|
2 red (hearts or diamonds) |
0 |
|
A, 7, 8, 9 |
0 |
|
10, J, Q, K |
-1 |
KISS III
Unlike KISS II, the KISS III system is suitable for blackjack games with multiple decks in play. It is very much the same as KISS II except it has different values for 7 and A.
|
Ranks |
Value |
|
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
+1 |
|
2 black (spades or clubs) |
+1 |
|
2 red (hearts or diamonds) |
0 |
|
8, 9 |
0 |
|
10, J, Q, K, A |
-1 |
How to Use KISS Systems
How to Use KISS Systems
When a game of blackjack starts, the running total is 0. Whenever the dealer deals a card, you add or subtract the relevant value.
To give an example, you are using the KISS III system and your first two cards are 3 and 4. Each of these has a value of +1, so the running total is now +2. The dealer’s face-up card is 10, whose value is -1. This makes the running total +1.
A positive running total means that there are more high-value cards remaining and the player has the advantage. When the running total is negative, there are more low-value cards remaining and the dealer has the advantage.
Practise the KISS Systems
If you want to practise any of the KISS systems, there are lots of online casinos you can join. Gambling Zone has reviewed some of the best blackjack sites around today. We recommend joining one of these as each one has a licence and is a safe, secure option for online gambling. Stick with our recommendations and you should not have any major issues.
