Blackjack card counting is gaining in popularity, and given that it has the potential to tip the balance (in terms of edge) towards players, it’s no surprise we’ve seen an uptick in the number of people interested in learning how it works. Counting cards isn’t a walk in the park, though. It requires determination, patience and mathematical precision to pull off successfully. In this Go Spin blog, we’ll look at everything from the basics of card counting to the countermeasures casinos slap in place to prevent you from doing it.
Understanding the Basics of Blackjack Card Counting
Understanding blackjack card counting basics is more than just keeping count of which cards come out of the shoe. Firstly, you need to understand the deck composition of your game. How many decks are there? The more decks that feature in a game, the more difficult it is to count cards.
Naturally, to win in blackjack, you must beat the dealer’s hand. Therefore, the more high cards remain in a deck, the better it is for you. It is this notion that is behind the basics of card counting, as we’ll explain below.
The Hi-Lo Counting System
The most common type of blackjack card counting is the Hi-Lo Counting System. This involves giving cards a number and counting the number to gauge whether the deck has an edge favouring the house or the player.
Generally speaking, the higher the count (positive numbers), the more favourable the game is to you. If you start getting into negative numbers, the edge is clearly with the casino. How does it work, though? Allow us to explain:
- Assigning Values: First, you must assign values to specific types of cards, as detailed below.
- High Cards: You will count all cards ranked 10 to Ace as -1.
- Low Cards: You will count all cards ranked 2 to 6 as +1.
- Neutral Cards: Finally, you’ll count 7s, 8s and 9s as 0.
- The Running Count: As each card emerges from the deck, you’ll adjust your count. This number is the Running Count. Again, if it’s negative, that’s bad news for you. You want a positive figure, as it means there are more high cards remaining in the deck.
- The True Count: To get around card counting, casinos use multiple decks. Fortunately, there’s a solution for this, too. You must convert your Running Count into a True Count. To do that, simply divide the Running Count by the number of decks remaining. Naturally, you must know how many decks feature in the game and how many drawn cards to exclude to work this out.
How to Practice Blackjack Card Counting
Now that you know the easy way to count cards in blackjack, it’s time to put it into practice. Fortunately, there are different disciplines and practices for you to work on. Below, we’ll go through five key steps to mastering basic card counting in blackjack.
- Practice: Whether you use RNG blackjack games as free demos or prefer a simple deck of cards at home is your decision. The key thing is to practice and then practice some more.
- Single-Deck Practice: Start by practising counting cards with a single deck, as this is a simpler way to get started and learn the ropes.
- Multi-Deck Drills: Once you understand single-deck card counting, it’s time to up the ante. Start doing multi-deck drills and practice calculating the true count. Be sure to check that your count is correct by examining the remaining cards in the decks if you play at home.
- Improve Your Speed: You can’t take all day to count cards, especially not in land-based casinos. The next thing you must do is improve how long it takes you to count cards. The quicker you can count cards, the better.
- Disguise Your Skills: Finally, you must ensure that your casino doesn’t catch you card counting – it is something they look for. Learn to disguise how you count cards to ensure you remain undetected when playing.
Advanced Strategies for Blackjack Card Counters
Even after you learn all the above, there are still things you should do to improve your skills. These are so-called advanced strategies for blackjack card counting. We won’t go into these strategies here, as they are considerably advanced, and this guide is for beginners. However, we’re happy to point you in the right direction. If you require further reading and more advanced blackjack strategies, we encourage you to learn about the KO Counting System, the Omega II System, the Wong Halves System, and the Red 7 Count.
Casino Countermeasures You Need to Know
As touched on, blackjack card counting is immensely popular with players. For decades, players have sought to undo the house’s edge. Casinos are wise to it and have deployed countermeasures to prevent you from card counting. Here are just a few of the things used to stop you counting cards in blackjack:
Spotting Blackjack Card Counters
While this is mainly an issue for those in land-based casinos, there are definitely algorithms at online casinos that look for card counting patterns. Of course, they can’t prove you’re counting cards. They could ask you to leave if they catch you in a brick-and-mortar casino.
Continuous Shuffling Machines
The simplest and most effective way casinos stop you from card counting is continuous shuffling. Automated shufflers ensure that several decks in a shoe are continually mixed up. Similarly, algorithms in online blackjack games prevent you from card counting. This means we’re left looking for human errors to count cards, as it’s very difficult to get around this countermeasure.
User Database Sharing
If you play in land-based casinos, you should know that many casinos have a user database-sharing policy. This impacts you if they catch you counting cards. Brick-and-mortar casinos will likely share your details with neighbouring casinos, limiting your chances of counting cards elsewhere. Thankfully, this isn’t something to worry about online.
Increasing Deck Sizes
Finally, casino software providers may increase the number of decks featured in games. While this makes card counting tricky, it isn’t impossible if you convert your Running Count to a True Count. That said, if casinos increase deck sizes and implement continuous shuffling algorithms, you’re in for a rough ride.
FAQ
Is it possible to count cards in online blackjack games?
To a degree, yes. It all depends on what sort of card shuffling algorithms and programming are in place. It’s trickier in RNG games than those with live dealers, as the latter may offer up the hope of human error.
How many decks are too many for card counting?
There isn’t a defined figure. It’s tricky enough with eight decks, so the general rule is the fewer the decks, the easier it is to count cards.
Can I practice online card counting for free?
Yes. Go Spin recommends trying free-to-play blackjack demos. These permit gameplay in a risk-free environment without risks to your real money balance.
How long does it take to learn to count cards?
You never stop learning – there’s always something you can do to improve your skills. Learning the basics may take hours, days, weeks or months, based on how determined you are.
Can online casinos detect card counting?
That’s up for debate. There are algorithms that detect card counting, but casinos can’t prove anything. We’d say at this point that unless you’re a seasoned pro, you won’t attract enough attention to yourself to warrant any action.
