Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Getting to know the game
• Method 2 of 4: Using the Hi-Lo strategy
• Method 3 of 4: Learn a different way to count cards
• Method 4 of 4: Camouflage your strategy
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Card counting is used in Blackjack to give a player an advantage over the casino. Contrary to popular belief, card counting does not require "Rain Man" -like qualities, nor is it illegal ... it is simply viewed with great disapproval. That's why when you start counting cards, you have to be incredibly careful ... Anyone can learn to count with a little practice.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Getting to know the game

1. Learn the basic strategy. First of all, you will never become an effective card counter if you don't know the ins and outs of basic blackjack strategy. Sure, you can start counting cards, but it won't bring you any profit. Learn to walk before trying to run.
   • It is to your advantage to practice in casinos if you plan to count cards in the casino. Unlike at the kitchen table, in the casino there are countless other factors to consider - such as being able to hide from fooling everyone.
   • When you play Blackjack with a well-practiced strategy, you can reduce the house edge to about zero. All casino games are in the house's favor, so zero is pretty good!
2. Try to get so good at Blackjack that it becomes second nature. You have to be a machine when it comes to this game so you know what to do in a split second. You don't have to grab a manual, you don't have to think about it and you should be able to do this with one eye closed and both arms tied behind your back.
   • Knowing this game through and through is the only way to make money with it. Counting cards gives you an advantage one percent. If you bet € 100, you win € 1 per hand. The only way this 1% will make you millions is if you've turned it into a true art.
3. Familiarize yourself with the concept of card counting. A common card counting strategy uses the Hi-Lo strategy. High cards are given a specific value (-1) and low cards are given a specific value (+1). Once added, this is the total of the running count. That's all. The simpler you keep it, the less your brain will explode - so consider this simplicity a good thing.
   • Understand why card counting works. It works because high cards (tens) increase a player's odds of hitting Blackjack, with a 3: 2 payout. They also increase the odds that the dealer will "bust" (the number of points in the player's hand exceeds 21). Low cards, on the other hand, are bad for the player (who wants to beat a blackjack and the house) but good for the dealer / croupier (they avoid going bust at 16 or lower).

Method 2 of 4: Using the Hi-Lo strategy

1. To understand how It works. If the ratio of high cards to low cards is higher than normal (that is, there are many high cards left in the shoe or shoe), the player can bet higher to increase the amount he / she can win when the deck is favorable. The player keeps a number in mind that indicates when to bet and how much - if at all not to bet!
   • A deck with a positive number is good. The higher the number, the more you can bet. The higher the number, the more high cards remain to play.
2. Learn the values. To find out the ratio of high cards to low cards (i.e. knowing whether the deck is in your favor or not), you need to assign a value to the cards. Start at zero and add one to your total count for each card that passes.
   • The 2-6 have a value of +1.
   • The 7-9 have no value.
   • The 10 has a value of -1.
   • The Ace also has a value of -1.
3. Learn how to bet accordingly. Increase your bet when the count turns positive (that is, about +2 and above). The higher the count, the more you have to bet, but keep in mind that varying your bets too much can draw unwanted attention from the casino.
   • In general, you increase your bet by one unit for every point the count goes up. If you vary this drastically more, those eyes in the sky will pounce on you like hawks.
4. Test yourself. Grab a complete deck (without the jokers) and go through it quickly while keeping the cards. You must finish on a very round zero if you have counted the cards accurately. Try to count the deck in less than 25 seconds. That way, even Dealer McSpeedy won't notice you.
   • Start timing yourself when you can move through the deck and get to zero every time. While the math is very simple, it is easy to make a mistake. Don't be surprised if you consistently end up with a different number at first.
   • Take a card and place it face down. Go through the deck and count the cards - what is the face down card?
5. Count in pairs. If you see a jack and a four, your thought process should not be "-1 + 1 = 0". It should be simple, "0". When you see a low card and a high card, then they cancel each other out. Taking this into account will make counting much easier as the cards fly by at lightning speed.
   • Counting cards is about remembering a count. Good counting is all about accuracy and speed. To become a good ticket counter, you have to approach this like cycling - you can do that on autopilot. Counting in pairs gives you fewer things to worry about, making it easier for you to be accurate.
6. Make sure you have counted the real total. Long gone are the days when casinos worked with only one deck (usually at least). It's much more common to end up in a game with five or six decks (in what the shoe or shoe hot). This will cause you running count may not be the real count to be.
   • To find the true count, divide the running count by the number of decks remaining to be dealt. If your running count is +4 and there are 4 decks left, the true count is actually +1.
     • To know how many decks are left, you will need to sneak a peek at the discard pile or "discard tray" (where the cards that are out of play are placed). Do this between hands out when you have some extra time.
   • If you're working with one deck, you can flip and multiply. Suppose you have 3/4 of a deck left and the count is +4. You do 4 x 4 = 16 and divide this by three (slightly more than five). Some people choose to work with the running count in one deck, but know that the true number is always a bit different (always higher).
7. Practice distraction. It's all well and good when you can count cards at home with the door locked, the curtains drawn and the phone off the hook. But what happens in a casino? There are a thousand and one distractions happening at the same time. It doesn't matter how simple the math is - if you get even one off, you're hurting yourself.
   • Start by turning on the TV. Then also the radio. Add a dog and a few kids, and you'll be close to the level you need in any busy casino. Remember, there are several eyes watching you constantly - you have to be careful and be inconspicuous.

Method 3 of 4: Learn a different way to count cards

1. Consider learning other ways to count cards. For the record, Hi-Lo is the most popular and with good reason - it produces great results and is easy to learn. However, there are a number of variations.
   • In KO, the difference is that sevens are worth +1.
   • In Omega II, the four, five, and six are all worth +2. The 10, Jack, Queen and King are worth -2 and the Ace is zero.
   • In Halves, the two and seven are worth +0.5, the five is +1.5, and nine is worth -0.5.
2. Know the statistics of each variant. Statistical analysts have already come up with these numbers and it is not a simple question whether something works or not. There are a number of factors to consider:
   • When it comes to betting correlation, Halves has the highest correlation. This is used to predict betting situations.
   • Hi-Opt II and Omega II have the highest playing efficiency. This determines the decisions and deviations (when you deviate from basic strategy) in the game.
   • Hi-Opt II has the highest insurance correlation (Insurance Correlation). This tells you the best time to take insurance on a bet (because Hi-Opt II has an extra Ace count).
     • As you can see Hi-Lo is not mentioned. This is because it falls in the middle of the possibilities for every factor. Hi-Opt II has an extra Ace count and Halves is just plain annoying (adding extra distraction) and Omega II has a gaming efficiency that doesn't match the betting correlation. Unless you're the best blackjack player this side of the Mississippi, you better stick to Hi-Lo.
3. Learn the concept of "wonging" or counting back. It's called "wonging in" when you don't sit at a table until it's "hot" enough to justify joining. When the table becomes "cold", "wong" you "out". This usually happens on larger decks, otherwise you should get up as soon as you sit down.
   • Many casinos have prohibited sitting at a table halfway through a "shoe" because of this practice. If you are considering this, know that it may seem suspicious even to the untrained eye. How else would you know when you can line up to take your shot if you weren't counting cards?
     • If you manage to avoid suspicion, your chances can change. With wonging, you bet the same exorbitant amount every time.

Method 4 of 4: Camouflage your strategy

1. Pretend you are a tourist. Card counters are notorious for playing Blackjack for hours and hours on end, often without eating or enjoying the amenities available at the resort. Instead, act like a tourist who just wants to have a good time, to avoid suspicion.
   • Try not to stand out. Walking into your three-part Armani isn't helpful when starting your card counting career at the local casino. Leave the Italian suede at home and act like a normal boy.
2. Take it easy with your bet if you need to increase it. Dealers or croupiers are trained to shuffle the cards for an inexplicable bet increase. For this reason, you should make your bet in small increments, and on apparently random points in the game, increase.
   • This seems to go against your desire to make money, but if you get kicked out, you don't earn anything at all. No, card counting is not illegal, but it is something that people are very much against and will be denied access to the casino.
3. Pretend you are interested in other things besides the game. This is why you should practice with the TV, radio and some messy, noisy kids. If you are so busy counting that your lips are about to move, you will fall short. Go ahead, have a drink, have a chat here and there. Enjoy.
   • Card counters have a reputation for being completely immersed in the game. Such a person remains fixated on his cards while everyone looks at a beautiful woman. Do not engage in such behavior.
   • You need to be adept enough to count that you can have a conversation at the same time. Talk to the dealer about how their day is going. When the pit boss comes, have a chat with him.
4. Tip the dealer. Many dealers know how to count cards. A good dealer will be more likely to wait to shuffle a favorable deck and shuffle early on a bad deck.
   • A dealer can help or disadvantage you. Motivate the dealer to be for you. The same goes for the entire pit crew - try to get them on your side and your not-so-heinous crime may well stay under their radar.
5. Know who's watching you. At any given time, there are hundreds of cameras tracking what is going on in the casino, in addition to the eyes of the dealers, including those in the "pit" (behind the tables), and those of the security personnel. If they notice a waitress serving a customer every 18.37 minutes, they will definitely keep an eye on them. That is why it is very important to behave as well as possible.
   • If a casino suspects you're counting, the staff probably won't come to you right away. They may have someone initiate a conversation with you to distract you, assign you a quick dealer, have a spontaneous shuffle, or change the betting rules. If any of these things happen, slow down immediately.
6. Do everything slowly. When you sit down at a table, stay there for a while. Why would you leave? And when you're trying to make your move at this table, take a moment to think about it. Regular blackjack players have not spent the past three months staring at this exact black and white setup. Everything you do should be done casually and casually.
   • Do not move from table to table every time the deck goes against you. This will quickly bring you to the attention of casino staff. Place minimum bets until the deck is richer. Increase your bet casually because you're doing it right - not because you know what's to come.

Tips

• Some players also keep track of how many Aces have passed. Only do this if you have mastered card counting first.
• Starts the count when the deck is restarted. That is, when the dealer shuffles the deck and deals cards from a now six-deep shoe.
• If a pit boss or shift manager asks you to leave because of suspicion that you are counting cards, you should leave. This is a legal requirement in most casinos. The easiest way to leave without suspicion is to just say "OK", take your chips and leave. Trade them in for cash the next day.
• Behave naturally. Talk to the dealer, make fun of your winnings and losses and most importantly, talk about things that have nothing to do with the casino (even if you're just making something up). This is far less suspicious than a nervous person who comes across as quietly looking at everyone's cards and doing mental math equations.
• Remember, the importance of card counting depends on how many cards are left in the shoe. A count of +6 with only two decks left in the shoe is much more beneficial to the player than a count of +10 when only one deck has been used (with five decks remaining).

Warnings

• Do not try to count cards in a casino unless you have practiced enough at home to be able to count cards without moving your lips or act as if you are counting. Card counting is not illegal, but casinos can and will deny you access to Blackjack tables if they think you are counting. You can even be banned from the casino for life.
• While the odds are in your favor, it takes about six hours of play to guarantee that the odds will pay out (even a coin tossed 10 times can end up in the lead seven times). Don't forget that you can always lose money. Counting cards helps you get a slight advantage when playing Blackjack. The system does not play the game for you.
• Do not play with money that you cannot afford to lose, especially when you are still learning this game. Variance can cause losses even if your strategy is perfect. This article is a good introduction to card counting, but it takes more to become a professional card counter.
• Card counting draws attention! Card counting will eventually catch the attention of another player and can result in irritation and aggression.

Necessities

• A complete deck of playing cards