Card Counting

STEP ONE: Basic Strategy

First you must learn Basic Strategy. Because of computers, basic strategy has been proven to be mathematically valid so there is nothing to "learn", only to memorize. To become a successful card counter, basic Strategy (BS) must become second nature - and if you play enough hands it will.

STEP TWO: Learn the Running Count

Using "Hi/Lo" as an example system, the 2-6 cards are valued at +1, and the 10-value cards and Aces are counted as -1. Note that there are the same amounts in each group: 2, 3,4,5,6 and 10, J, Q, K, A. the 7, 8, 9 is neutral in this count. To learn how to count, get a deck of cards and flip them over one at a time and keep the "running count". If they come out 8,K,3,3,6,2,7,A we would count 0,-1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +3, +2. After you are done with the deck, the running count should be at 0. If it isn't then you are making mistakes. Keep practicing until you do come out even at the end and then you can work on doing it faster. You need to be able to do in within 30 seconds at most.

STEP THREE: Converting the Running Count to the True Count

This "running" count must be converted to a "true" count in order to know what your edge is and to bet accordingly. To do this we divide the running count by the amount of decks not seen. For example, in a 6-deck game, after 1 deck has been dealt and the running count is +10, we take the number of decks undealt (5) and divide that into +10, which gives you +2. If you have trouble keeping the count straight in your head, you can use your chips as a reminder. If the count is 4 then have a stack of 4 chips.

STEP FOUR: The Casino Environment

Casinos offer much in the way of distraction, so we must account for that, too, although online casinos are generally quieter! If you do take these skills out into the real world here are a few tips.

Try counting down a deck of cards while having the TV or music on loud. This will simulate the casino atmosphere which has a lot of distracting sounds in the background. Another thing you need to do is act like a tourist. Pretend you are a player who doesn't know anything about playing blackjack. In order to accomplish this you need to do a few things: get VERY excited every time you hit a big hand, dress either like a tourist or like a bum, have a drink that looks like alcohol (but isn't) at your table.

STEP FIVE: Bet Spreads

In order for you to make money, you need to bet more on hands where you have an edge and less on hands where the casino has the edge. For example, if the odds are in your favor then bet $40, if they are against you then bet $5. The difference between the two amounts is known as the "bet spread". The bigger the bet spread the more money you will make but the bigger the bet spread the more likely you will be caught counting cards. So your bet spread needs to be high enough to make money but low enough not to attract attention because a large bet spread is the biggest indicator that someone is counting cards. A 8-1 spread is good but anything bigger and you'll get some heat.

Generally, as the count goes more in your favor then your bet spread should be bigger. You can use the following chart as a rough guide on how much to increase your bet with the count.

STEP SIX: Game Selection

In order for you to make money you need to satisfy several conditions. Two of the important ones are: the ability to have a decent bet spread and good penetration. "Deck penetration" is how many of the decks in play are actually dealt. The high % of the cards that are dealt the more likely the count is to get high. Therefore, if the casino wants to minimize the probability of the count getting high then they may only deal out 3 out of the 6 decks they are using before shuffling. If there is a game where the conditions are bad then don't play in it. Your profit margin is so thin when card counting that it is very sensitive to the variables involved.

STEP SEVEN: Bankroll

You must have a large enough bankroll to suffer any drawdown. You will need at least a few hundred "units" (your small bets) in order to have a decent probability of surviving. Bankroll swings are more drastic with counting for the same average bet than non-counting. This is because if a non-counter makes 5 bets of £100 then he has an average bet of £100, but if a card counter makes 10 bets of £30, £30, £30, £205, £205 then his average bet will be £100 also but his large bets means he will have higher fluctuations.