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Card Counting Systems Explained

• Best Blackjack Card Counting Method
• Blackjack Counting Cards
• Best Blackjack Card Counting System

• There is no such thing as a 'best' card counting system unless you are a robot, in which case you would be keeping track of each and every card. Blackjack Review Search.
• Blackjack Card Counting Systems. There are several different card counting systems but the most popular ones are – KO Count, Hi-Lo Count, Hi-Opt I Count, and Hi-Opt II Count; and beginners often wonder which card counting system is the best for them.

The system itself. As we said, the Hi-Lo counting system is the best choice for a beginner card counter. It is a single level counting system that excels through its simplicity as it replaces all the different percentages listed in the previous article's table with three numbers – 1, 0 and -1.

All blackjack card counting systems have the same basic idea: They track the amount of high and low cards already dealt. The purpose of card counting systems is to tell players when to bet big and when to bet small. When the count reaches a certain point, it's either time to start betting more or start betting less, depending on the score and the system.

Best System for Counting Cards in Blackjack

But what is the best card counting system for you?

The best blackjack card counting system for you the one that makes you the most money. And yes, it is different individually because which blackjack counting system is the best for you depends on your skills as a card counter.

Using a system that has the biggest edge on the house is meaningless if you're unable to play perfectly according to the system. The more complicated a system is, the harder it is to play perfectly. If you can play perfectly, then the more complicated a system is, the more money you'll make.

Your ability to handle different aspects of card counting should be considered when determining the best card counting systems. Some of these aspects are following:

• How well can you keep up with running count?
• How well can you convert running count to true count?
• How well can you keep up with side counts?
• How seriously can you take card counting?
• How many decks do you prefer to play with?

The best blackjack counting system for beginners is the Hi/Lo Count. It's the easiest card counting method and allows you to start counting as mistake-free as possible. I recommend avoiding other systems until you can use the Hi/Lo Count perfectly. Only then it would be time to move on to more advanced and profitable systems for counting cards in blackjack.

Many card counters agree that simple systems, which are easy-to-use but not as profitable in theory as the more complicated ones, actually make them more money in the long run. Complex card counting systems are more prone to player errors.

On the flipside, the casino staff will have more difficulties recognizing a complicated counting method, which definitely adds value to more difficult systems.

Regardless, the general idea of all successful blackjack card counting methods remains the same: Track the ratio of high-to-low cards, so even if they don't know exactly how you're counting, they might understand that you're betting more when there are loads of high cards left.

Single-level and multi-level systems

Single-level card counting systems have +1, 0 or -1 values on all of the cards which makes them easier to use. Multi-level card counting systems have different kinds of values such as +4 and -2 which makes them more challenging (although in theory, more profitable too).

The Hi/Lo Count and the KO Count are popular single-level card counting systems, whereas Hi Opt 2 is a popular multi-level card counting systems.

Balanced and Unbalanced Systems

The difference between balanced and unbalanced card counting systems is very simple: the sum of all card values in balanced card counting systems is zero whereas in unbalanced systems the sum isn't zero. Unbalanced systems are more difficult to use in general and therefore more profitable in general when executed perfectly.

You never need to worry about running count vs. true count when dealing with unbalanced counting systems since the system already takes the amount of decks into account. With balanced counting systems, on the other hand, you have to convert running count into true count. (The K-O Count is an example of an unbalanced system and the Hi/Lo Count is an example of a balanced system.)

We ended the previous article with explaining the change in player expectations discarding a certain card has.

The greater the number of low cards in the deck is, the higher the chance is for both players and the dealer to get a stiff hand, which is bad for both, but worse for players. This is because:

– the higher the low card count, the larger the chance is for a player to not get a blackjack and miss on the all-important 3:2 payoff;

– a stiff hand is equally risky for both players and dealers, but it also reduces the possibility for a successful split or double down.

Best Blackjack Card Counting Method

The greater the number of high cards means an improved chance for both players and the dealer to get a blackjack. However, players draw bigger advantage because they are usually paid a 3:2 payout, whereas the dealer receives only even money for his blackjack.

Origins of card counting

There are 16 10-valued cards in the deck (4 10s, 4 Js, 4 Qs and 4 Ks), and 36 other cards. Thus, when the ratio of 10-valued cards to non-10-valued cards grows beyond 1:2.25, the advantage moves from the house to the player, and vice versa. This is the basis of all card counting systems, as described by Edward O. Thorp, an MIT mathematics professor, who brought basic strategy and card counting to the public in 1962 with his groundbreaking book “Beat the Dealer”.

He introduced his Ten-Count System which, albeit difficult to use, managed to successfully give a player the advantage in blackjack and provided the basis for players to develop their own systems.

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The Ten-Count System requires to keep a track of the number of 10-valued and non-10-valued cards that have been drawn. The player starts with two numbers in his mind – the number of 10-valued cards, which is 16, and the number of non-10-valued cards, which is 36.

As cards of each group are dealt, the players subtracts their count from the respective number. So, if the player has counted that 5 10-valued cards are out of the deck and 8 non-10-valued ones, the two numbers will now be 11 and 28. Their ratio is 1:2.54, which is higher than the initial 1:2.25 and the player will accordingly reduce his bets or may even decide to stop playing.

However, this system is difficult to implement because it requires players to keep track on both 10-valued and non-10-valued cards, do subtractions from two separate numbers and calculate a ratio between the two. Many find it hard to go through the entire process while trying to remain focused amid all the distractions a crowded casino brings.

Enter Harvey Dubner

Based on Thorp's findings, Harvey Dubner, an engineer and mathematician, developed the High-Low Point Count System, also known as the Hi-Lo System of card counting. Thorp included this system in the second edition of his book “Beat the Dealer” in 1966.

Hi-Lo is the card counting system used by most blackjack counters today because it is the easiest to master and employ, and the one beginners should start with.

Like every other card counting system, Hi-Lo is also based on the premise that some cards bring a greater advantage to the player (and greater disadvantage to the house) and vice versa. However, although different systems share a core of principles, they vary in complexity and potential.

There are simpler systems, like the one we will be speaking about, that require less mental processing and are easier to employ, but are also less accurate and less profitable. Complex systems, on the other hand, incorporate more complicated scoring that yields better results, but are very hard to reproduce in real conditions which involve a lot of distraction and stress.

The system itself

Blackjack Counting Cards

As we said, the Hi-Lo counting system is the best choice for a beginner card counter. It is a single level counting system that excels through its simplicity as it replaces all the different percentages listed in the previous article's table with three numbers – 1, 0 and -1.

The card counter begins the game with a count of 0 and adds or subtracts 1 or -1 with each card drawn out of the deck. Those equal to 0 leave the count unchanged. As the count changes, the player adapts his bets accordingly, as will be discussed in one of the next articles. When the count is positive the player has advantage over the house and should increase his bets, and vice versa. From a clear bankroll point of view, the player should not be betting at all when the count is negative, but that will not go undetected by the casino staff and he will be suspected in counting.

Apart from being a single level counting system based on a simple plus-minus count, the Hi-Lo system is also what you can call a balanced count. This means that the entire quantity of cards adds up to 0 points, meaning that if you go through the entire deck (or decks) and your count is different than 0, you've made an error. This will be discussed in detail in the next articles where we discuss running count.

Apart from the balanced Hi-Lo system, which we will delve into with the next article, there are other balanced systems, but also unbalanced ones, which don't add up to 0. You can also have a level I, level II and level III counts, where the level is indicative of the highest point card value.

For single and double-deck games it is more important to choose a system with high playing efficiency, while a count betting correlation is more important for shoe games. Many players believe that using a common blackjack card counting system increases the chance of getting caught by the casino, but this is not true. Being detected depends on the player's behavior and further on in our guide we will outline several telltales you should avoid showing.

Best Blackjack Card Counting System