Counting cards in blackjack involves tracking the score of each type of card to gain an advantage. The Hi-Lo system assigns values to cards and the count increases as low-value cards are played. More complex systems exist, and some players use “woning” to wait for a high count before playing. The profit margin is small but can give the player an edge of about 1%.
When people say they will count cards, they are referring to a strategy where cards are tracked to give a slight statistical advantage in a card game. Most people count cards in blackjack, although it can also be used in games such as spades, hearts or bridge.
The reason why counting cards in blackjack is useful is that there are some stacks of the deck that are useful for the dealer and some stacks that are useful for the player. A deck in which a large number of high-value cards, Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces remain, and a small number of low-value cards gives the player more opportunities to get a blackjack, doubling down has a better chance of success and the dealer risks busting. For the opposite reasons, a deck with few high-value cards left is advantageous to the house.
To count cards, you don’t actually keep track of every single card in a deck. This is a common myth, but it would be largely impossible for all but a savant, and is largely unnecessary. Instead, to count cards, people assign a score to each type of card and then keep a running count of that score.
In its most basic form, this is known as a Hi-Lo system and can be undertaken by anyone with rudimentary tracking and addition skills. The Hi-Lo card counting system assigns all cards with a face value from one to six with a value of +1, cards with a face value from seven to nine have a value of 0, and cards with a face value of ten through the ace is assigned a value of -1. As low-value cards are played, the count increases, meaning a higher ratio of high-value cards remains. As high-value cards are played, the count decreases, meaning a higher ratio of low-value cards remains. The higher the count, the more likely you are to successfully double down or hit blackjack. The lower the count, the more the odds are stacked against the player.
There are other card counting systems that become substantially more complex than the Hi-Lo system. These assign different values to different cards and in some cases involve maintaining a side count of some cards, particularly Aces. This is because there are circumstances where knowing how many Aces are left helps to understand the betting odds.
Some card counting players use a technique commonly known as woning. A winning player will wait at the side of a table, not participating in the game, and instead just stand by and count cards. They will count until the number is high enough for their odds to play to be strong. They will then sit down and play at a strong table, playing until the count becomes low enough that it is no longer worth betting, at which point they will leave the table.
The profit margin in blackjack when a player counts cards is fairly small, but can be a steady income if done successfully. Blackjack without card counting generally gives the house an edge of about 0.5%. With card counting, in a standard six-deck game, the player gets an edge of about 1%.
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