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Learn to Count Cards

No matter how well you play Blackjack, no matter how accurately you follow the proper basic strategy, the casinos will always have a built-in edge against you. That edge might be quite small if you play in a competitive market like Las Vegas or it might be huge if you play only in areas like Puerto Rico. In either case, you will ultimately lose all the money you care to risk at the game (assuming you continue to play indefinitely) if you do not learn how to count cards. Yes, there are other ways to get an edge over the casino at Blackjack and we'll discuss those ways someday, but the easiest is card counting. You heard me right -- the easiest, by far, is card counting.

Most people think it's amazing that I can memorize the cards as they're played from a six-deck shoe. Well, that WOULD be amazing! But that's not what I do. If I could memorize six decks of cards and remember what's been played and what remains to be played, I'd be retired. Sorry, there may be a real "Rainman" out there, but I'm not he. (him?).

Card counting is simple. Not easy, but simple. Each card is assigned a point value and all a counter does is add the points up to determine what we call the 'running' count. For most of you who play a multi-deck game (that's 2 or more decks), I'd recommend you learn the 'High/Low' or plus/minus counting method. The point values for each card are as follows:

The first thing to point out is that 3 of the cards don't figure into the calculation at all; the 7, 8 and 9. For counting purposes, they don't exist. The 'little' cards counted as plus 1. Let's hink about the dealer for a moment. A Blackjack dealer MUST hit a hand of 12 through 16; s/he has no choice in the matter. Well, a 5 helps the dealer at lot since it makes a hand of 12-16 into a hand of 17-21. So, all the little cards are 'bad' for the player and we'd like to get rid of them. The tens and aces are good for the player because they give us 20s and, more importantly, 'Blackjacks' or 'naturals'. Now, I know what you're thinking; the dealer can get a natural just like us. But remember that when the dealer gets a natural, s/he wins just our bet. But when we get a natural, we get paid a bonus. Consequently, while we'll each get an equal number of naturals, the player will ultimately make more money. So, as the cards come out, we're glad as players to get naturals and 20s and other hands like that, but it also means that fewer such hands are available in the cards which remain in the deck(s). An extreme example would be a double-deck game where all 8 aces came out on the first round. Until those cards are shuffled again, it is impossible for us to get a natural. See how that works? As 'big' cards are played, it leaves fewer in the remaining decks.

To begin learning how to count, pick up a deck of cards, shuffle them well and turn them over one at a time. Recite the point value for that card. For example, if it's a 2, then say "one". Don't say "plus 1", since the number 1 is considered to be positive. If the next card is a 7, say nothing, since it has no value. If the third card is a Queen, say "m-one", rather than "minus one" so that you save a syllable. Do not attempt to keep track of the cards, just learn each card's point value. Go through as often as necessary until you have it all down pat.

Once you have each card's point value memorized, you may begin learning how to count. It's simple. Just turn the cards over one at a time and add them algebraically. For example, a 2 (point value of 1) and a Queen (point value of m-one) add up to zero. A 2 followed by a 5 add up to 2 -- now comes a King, so the count is 1. See how we get that?

This is called the running count.

In the next lesson, I'll refine the counting technique.

ARCHIVE of BLACKJACK ARTICLES

2008 Articles

• Don't Bar Yourself
  
• Evaluating Double Deck Games - A New Idea
  
• Risk-Averse Betting
  
• Movie Review "21"
  
• A Blackjack Diary
  

2007 Articles

• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 1
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 2
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 3
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 4
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 5
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 6
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 7
  
• Blackjack Tournaments with Elimination Hands - Part 8
  
• Team Play - Introduction
  
• Team Play - Money Management - Part 1
  
• Team Play -Money Management - Part 2

2006 Articles

• High Stakes Blackjack
  
• A 1 to 16 Bet Spread
  
• 6 to 5 Single Deck Blackjack
  
• Excel for the Blackjack Player - Part 1
  
• Excel for the Blackjack Player - Part 2
  
• Heads Up Blackjack-Tournament - Part 1
  
• Heads Up Blackjack-Tournament - Part 2
  
• Heads Up Blackjack-Tournament - Part 3
  

2005 Articles

• $20 An Hour At Blackjack
  
• Beating Narrow Bet Limits
  
• Book Review: Play To Win -Ken Einiger
  
• Blackjack Team Money Management
  
• A Great Book On Blackjack
  
• A Blackjack Tournament Bet Examined
  
• The Other Side Speaks
  
• Camouflage Betting
  
• $100 An Hour At Blackjack
  
• Ace-5 Count Revisited
  

2004 Articles

• Beating the 8-Deck Game
• Variations On A Theme
• Really Bad Blackjack
• Crowded Table...or Not?
• The True Count Revisited
• Spread 'Em To Beat 'Em
• The Great Revelation
• Don't Bar Yourself
• The Insurance Bet
• Which Count to Use?
• The "Rule Of" Rule

2003 Articles

• Beating the Double-Deck Game - Part 1
• Beating the Double-Deck Game - Part 2
• Beating the Double-Deck Game - Part 3
• Beating the Double-Deck Game - Basic Strategy Variations
• The School Simulations
• The Triple 7s Side Bet
• Single-Deck: Basic Strategy Variations
• Synergistic Blackjack-Part 2
  
• Synergistic Blackjack-Part 1
• Winning at Spanish 21

2002 Articles

• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 1
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 2
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 3
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 4
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 5
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 6
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 7
• Tournament Blackjack Training - Part 8

2001 Articles

• Beating Tough Games - Part 1
• Beating Tough Games - Part 2
• Beating Tough Games - Part 3
• Beating Tough Games - Part 4
• Product Review: Statistical Blackjack Analyzer
• A Simple Way To Win At Single-Deck
• Savvy Sayin's About Blackjack
• 'Tis The Season To Be Jolly

2000 Articles

• Playing Multiple Hands Part 1
• Playing Multiple Hands Part 2
• Playing Multiple Hands Part 3
• Counting Systems: Level-Three: Part 4
• Counting Systems: Computer-Level: Part 5
• Counting Systems: Multi-Parameter: Part 6
• Counting Systems: Unbalanced: Part 7
• Which Count to Use?
• Playing Multiple Hands Part 1
• Playing Multiple Hands Part 2
• Playing Multiple Hands Part 3
• I Expect To Win With 20
• A Few Tricks Of The Trade
• The Future Of Blackjack

1999 Articles

• Counting Systems: Single-Level: Part 2
• Counting Systems: Level-Two: Part 3
• In The Beginning....
• Practice Grasshopper Practice
• Blackjack On A Budget
• It's All In The Percentages
• Tournament Report -1999
• Blackjack Tournaments -1999
• Into The Depths
• Tripping Out
• Evaluating Games: Part 2

1998 Articles

• Single Deck Play -part 1
• Single Deck Play -part 2
• Single Deck Play -part 3
• Multiple-card Soft Hands
• Bonus Blackjacks-Part 2
• Bonus Blackjacks
• Expanding Surrender
• I Get 16; She Has 20
• Intimidation
• Evaluating Games
• Letter to an Ex-counter
• Basic Strategy Variations
• Casino Playing Tactics
• Test Your Knowledge: Part 1
• Test Your Knowledge Part 2
• Test Your Knowledge Part 3
• Test Your Knowledge: The Final Exam

1997 Articles

• Money Management Part 1 & 2
• The True Count
• Learn to Count Cards - Part 2
• Learn to Count Cards
  
• Donating Money to the Casino of Your Choice
• Taking Advantage of Surrender
• I Am Not a Blackjack Fanatic!
• In Pursuit of Basic Strategy