Blackjack card counting: how does it work?

Blackjack is a popular game that is available in almost every modern casino. Its key feature is the movement of cards into the chipper after each deal. During the distribution, the deck is not shuffled. Therefore, with minimal counting skills, the player’s chances of winning increase dramatically. How to stay in the black when playing blackjack using this method will be discussed in detail below.

Counting technique

Blackjack contains dozens of counting systems, many of which are copyrighted. However, there are several basic factors that allow you to learn to count. Let’s arrange them depending on the degree of complexity:

• Ace-Five – Only aces and fives count here. Each five in the hand adds 1 to zero, and the ace subtracts 1 from the initial zero. The higher the score, the greater the player’s chances of success. The technique is easy to master for a beginner.
• Plus or minus – the system provides for the classification of cards into 3 types: small (2-6), neutral (6-9), large (10-ace). Each category is assigned a value of -1, 0, +1, respectively. The higher the score, the higher the chances of winning. The technique allows the client to activate in time, start making large bets while the deck is “hot”.
• Hi-Opt — only cards with a face value of 3, 4, 5, 6 (favorable) and 10 (unfavorable) are taken into account in the system. A distinctive feature of the method was ignoring aces. The technique does not allow the use of an aggressive strategy, therefore it is suitable for cautious players.
• Halves – in fact, this is a modernized version of the Plus-Minus technique. The cards here are characterized by a value that is proportional to the transformation of the mathematical probability of the game after they enter the chipper. Accordingly, increasing the total score increases the likelihood of success. The denomination from 10 to Ace is considered as -2, nine – -1, eight – 0, seven and two – +1, three and four – +2, five – +3.

The Thorpe system is of theoretical interest. In it, the values of the cards indicate the transformation of mathematical expectation. Jacks, queens and kings are not taken into account. The five (+11) has the highest positive indicator, the ace (-9) has the lowest. The system is accurate, but extremely difficult to calculate. It is necessary not only to take into account the cards, but also to perform arithmetic operations with large numbers. In this regard, the system is only possible for mathematically gifted players.

Casino Opposition

Many casinos prohibit customers from counting cards. They interpret such practices as unfair play. Given this fact, special staff is hired to ensure that visitors do not count cards in blackjack. If the reception does not help, then the following restrictions are introduced:

• a ban on raising rates;
• increase in the number of decks;
• installation and activation of shuffle equipment.

In an online casino, the shoe is updated after each hand. As a consequence, card counting methods become inefficient here. The calculation does not lose its relevance only on Live platforms, where the distribution is made by a live dealer. The cards should be shuffled after several deals.

In this way, card counting increases the likelihood of a customer winning. Many casinos prohibit these methods. Using these tools correctly, you can significantly increase the likelihood of making a profit. Professionals regularly use such techniques or invent their own, more sophisticated options.