Internet Blackjack

Just as there are many variations of blackjack games, there are at least 23 variations of card counting systems available for blackjack players. The type of system used depends on the skill of the blackjack player, since they range from easy (for beginners) to very difficult (for advanced professionals). Regardless of the variation, all card counting systems share common identifiers.

Card counting involves assigning every card a value of positive, negative, or null as it comes out of the shoe. These values are determined by the card counting strategy used, as different strategies assign different values to the cards. When the count is favorable (the deck is rich with 10s and Aces), players switch from making the minimum bet, to making large wagers. A favorable count value varies from system to system.

Just as all card counting systems assign values, each is labeled as “balanced” or “unbalanced”. After all cards in a 52-card deck are counted, the strategy is deemed “balanced” if the final count equals zero, whereas it is labeled “unbalanced” if the opposite is true.

The Knock Out (KO) and High/Low (Hi-Lo) systems are the best choices for educational purposes, as one is balanced and one is unbalanced, and both are popular methods for amateur card counters. Described below, they will provide aspiring blackjack card counters with enough understanding to practice the method themselves.

Knock Out (KO) Card Counting

The powerful and widely-used KO strategy is an unbalanced card counting system, as a +4 value results after counting a 52-card deck. This is because 2-7 are assigned +1, 8-9 are assigned 0, and 10-A are assigned -1. Depending on the number of decks in the shoe, the initial running count (IRC) or starting value varies. The IRC formula is (# of decks – 1) x -4. Therefore one deck has an IRC of zero, two decks have an IRC of -4, six -20, and eight -28.

The key count is when the count is favorable. The key count of the KO card counting system varies depending on how many decks are in the shoe (one deck +2, two +1, six -4, eight -6). The “magic number” that tells the card counter when to make large wagers is revealed when the IRC is greater than or equal to the key count.

High/Low (Hi-Lo) Card Counting

The widely known and most popular card counting strategy is Hi-Lo. This is a balanced strategy because the final count will always equal zero, as the initial running count (IRC) begins at 0 and the system assigns an equal number of +1 and -1 values to the 52-card deck: 2-6 count +1, 7-9 count 0, and 10-A count -1. It is recommended that players wait for a brand new shoe to begin counting. Regardless of how many decks are in the shoe, if the player counts correctly the final count at the end of the shoe will be 0.

For High/Low, the “magic number” is a high true count. The true count is obtained by approximating how many decks are left in the shoe and dividing the running count by it. For example, if there are approximately 3 decks left and the running count is +6, the equation is 6/3 = 2. A high true count value is ultimately determined by the player, with +4 or more being considered relatively high universally.

Learning how to card count in a casino is very difficult for the majority of beginner card counters. This is because casino blackjack cards are dealt very quickly, and decisions by players are expected to be made equally as fast. This requires players to not only keep a running tally in their head, but to recall strategic play decisions and socialize at the same time. For this reason, it’s recommended that beginner card counters practice at home with friends first.

Blackjack players intending to use card counting strategy at casino tables should be aware of this pertinent information: card counting is not illegal per se, but casinos have the right to refuse service to any patron, particularly card counters, and will enforce countermeasures. Once an individual is labeled as a card counter, their image is recorded and saved in a database that automatically detects them upon entrance to a casino.

FAQ on Card Counting

Q: Can you use the card counting systems while playing blackjack at online casinos?

A: It is not possible to use the card counting systems when playing internet blackjack. The reason it doesn’t work is because after each hand the virtual deck is shuffled. So each hand is it’s own and the hand before it has no effect on the current hand.

Q: Is the 21 Blackjack Movie actually based on a true story?

A: It is indeed! In the movie “21″ they embellished the story but there was definitely a team of MIT students that took vegas for millions using team card counting. The movie was based on the best selling book “Bringing Down The House” which was written by Ben Mezrich. The book had a more accurate portrayal of the actual events and is a great read.