Features - Card Counting Introduction

Introduction

Don't you have to be some sort of mathematical genius or have a photographic memory to count cards I hear you ask?

Not really. Even if the casino is using multiple decks, keeping track of the cards is only a matter of counting. All you really need is a good memory and the ability to count up to plus or minus twelve in increments of one.

Card Counting has become synonymous with the name of Edward Thorp. In 1962, Dr. Thorp published the first card-counting thesis on blackjack, the New York Times best-selling Beat the Dealer.

In it were the words that would send the casino industry reeling: "In the modern casino game of blackjack, the player can gain a consistent advantage over the house."

Dr. Thorp determined through mathematical computation that the card that has the most influence on the deck being in a favorable condition (for the player) was the five. When the deck is low in fives, the player has a higher advantage than if it's sparse in any other card. Logic dictated that for a very simple card counting strategy, simply keep track of the abundance (or lack thereof) of fives. This is the basis of his "Five Count" system which was later improved to include tens and renamed the "Ten Count" system.

Today, there are many different card counting systems. Typically, the more complex a system is, the better your advantage should you master it. However, the difference between card counting System X and System Y is usually so small that ease of using the system becomes more important than gaining an additional 0.12 % advantage (or whatever it is). We shall take a look at the most recognized systems in the next few pages.


Home Compare Online Casinos Casino Bonuses High Roller Casinos Casino Games Features Baccarat Variations Backgammon Strategy Beginners Guide Blackjack Odds Blackjack Strategy Guide Blackjack Tournaments Blackjack Variations Card Counting Casino Book Reviews Casino House Edges Craps Dice Technique Game Systems Legendary Gamblers Poker Player Profiler Shuffle Tracking UK City Casinos Free Games Casino Payments Online Casinos Casino News Glossary	Card Counting Page 1: Introduction Page 2: High Low System Page 3: Multiple Decks Page 4: Strategy Page 5: Hi Opt I Level 1 Unbalanced Page 6: Summary Page 7: System Characteristics Introduction Don't you have to be some sort of mathematical genius or have a photographic memory to count cards I hear you ask? Not really. Even if the casino is using multiple decks, keeping track of the cards is only a matter of counting. All you really need is a good memory and the ability to count up to plus or minus twelve in increments of one. Card Counting has become synonymous with the name of Edward Thorp. In 1962, Dr. Thorp published the first card-counting thesis on blackjack, the New York Times best-selling Beat the Dealer. In it were the words that would send the casino industry reeling: "In the modern casino game of blackjack, the player can gain a consistent advantage over the house." Dr. Thorp determined through mathematical computation that the card that has the most influence on the deck being in a favorable condition (for the player) was the five. When the deck is low in fives, the player has a higher advantage than if it's sparse in any other card. Logic dictated that for a very simple card counting strategy, simply keep track of the abundance (or lack thereof) of fives. This is the basis of his "Five Count" system which was later improved to include tens and renamed the "Ten Count" system. Today, there are many different card counting systems. Typically, the more complex a system is, the better your advantage should you master it. However, the difference between card counting System X and System Y is usually so small that ease of using the system becomes more important than gaining an additional 0.12 % advantage (or whatever it is). We shall take a look at the most recognized systems in the next few pages. High Low System