Blackjack card counting: our easy trick to winning your games

Card counting remains something that fascinates gamers and casino fans alike. Often assimilated to mathematicians or smart players, blackjack card counting is actually not just a strategy for the best. These solutions have enabled many to become unparalleled users.

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The basics to know how to properly count blackjack cards

Anyone can learn to count the cards dealt and increase their chances of winning a game of blackjack. Besides, it's not cheating! If a casino player learns this system, it is simply to give themselves a better chance of winning real money..

However, this strategy does not reveal all of its secrets to you in the blink of an eye. Indeed, you will have to learn a whole theoretical part, before moving on to practice during a real game. Rest assured, we are here to guide you and guide you towards simple learning.

It is still very important to know the rules of this game. And practice on a few games on tables in real mode or in free version to perform a test, will allow you to better understand the rules.

The games free blackjack have an interesting function, even if you cannot win real money, as they can also be used to train you on the different techniques.

Much like the MIT student team in the movie Las Vegas 21, you'll be able to count blackjack cards to determine when the best time to place a specific bet is. Or the film Rain Man by Barry Levinson where we can see the practice with an actor who will use the talents of mathematicians to make his counter in the casinos of Las Vegas.

In other words, you will have to focus on the values ​​of the cards that will be drawn by the software or the dealer.. The objective will be to determine the value of the cards which are still in the hoof.

From the number 0, you will be able to give a certain value to the cards when they are drawn at random. As a result, you will be able to know at what point in the game your chances of hitting the best cards are higher. And if your chances are increased, those of the croupier will be, therefore, lower !

Is blackjack card counting legal or not ?

Casinos have tried different ways to avoid blackjack card counting. In USA, the law does not stipulate the prohibition of this practice. However, the casino can make you understand that you are spotted and even reserve the right to ban a player using this solution from the casino, this after several warnings of course..

Remember to find out if you go to a casino elsewhere than in USA because the regulations are not the same everywhere. As in Monaco, for example, where this practice is prohibited by law.

The most stingy with calculations will say that this strategy will always be considered one of the most reliable to increase his earnings.

Counting applications are not prohibited in casinos, as this remains an authorized technique during your games..

What is the classic way to find out how to count cards in blackjack ?

Now that you know the basics of the game, the classic counting system is all about how to count blackjack cards that have already come out of the machine to determine what are the probabilities that the croupier does not draw such or such card afterwards and predict whether or not you're going to have an advantage over others. A strategy must be made over several turns, because the machine for shuffling the cards does not contain only one deck !

This is the advantage of blackjack (unlike poker) and therefore a chance for users: each card is placed on the tables face up, except the dealer's cards for which only one of the two cards is visible. All players as well as the croupier can know their values.

The most important thing in winning and anticipating cards is knowing the game. The most important point in determining your advantage over the game. Determine which cards that have been dealt to deduct the dealer's hand and the remaining cards in the machines.

When you start your counting, you will need to start from 0 after a shuffle of cards. Its purpose is to determine the house edge. Because the users play together against the casino:

• Count +1 : for cards 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6;
• Count 0 : for cards 7, 8 and 9;
• Count -1 : for cards 10, J, Q, K, and A.

If the total value is close to 0, we say then that the hoof is neutral : neither the house (the croupier) nor a player has the advantage.

If the total is negative, is that 'no player has an advantage on the game. It is advisable to leave the table or to bet very small.

If, on the contrary, your total is high, this means that the strong cards (10, J, Q, K and A) are not out yet of the hoof.

Our most important tip is to spot the value of each card at a glance and figure the total very quickly in your head. In this way, you reduce the risk of someone mistaking you for a meter.

The purpose of this solution is to give a value by assigning points to each card to determine how to bet. The count value can be changed if you prefer to calculate the probabilities in another way.

The Hi-Low: a famous variant for blackjack counting cards

Who says techniques and strategies also says variants. Indeed, if the most mathematical have set up a method for counting cards, there is bound to be an alternative that may be more suitable for you. Besides, there are other alternatives for blackjack counting cards that can be found on the net such as the Omega II system, KO or Wong Halves. For our part, we have instead bet on the Hi-Low solution for its reliability..

This strategy consists of supplementing your classic card counting with more precision. Indeed, you are going to have to mentally determine the value of the remaining cards in the shoe during your game. Thanks to a system of points higher or lower than 0, this technique is more balanced and more reliable..

The different card counting methods

We mentioned it above, there is various methods of counting cards in blackjack. We will present them to you in this paragraph, but know that to better retain them, you can use certain tools.

Indeed, in addition to the various stratagems related to mental arithmetic, it is also possible to find some applications available on your mobile to help you. Be careful though, as the use of these phone apps is prohibited in land-based establishments..

The Hi Opt 1

Here, when the count is going to be high (between +2 and +4 for example) your answer should be to increase your bets because your chances of winning will be higher. When the count drops, however, say between -1 and -3, then you will know that you will need to limit your investments..

The Hi Opt 2

This alternative is a little more complex than the previous one and introduces two new values ​​that we will also find in the following solutions, the +2 and the -2. The calculation is therefore more complicated and therefore only suitable for experienced users.

Zen

Here is how the count will be done with this solution which can certainly be applied to online games, but is easy enough to be used live around a real table in a land establishment:

• The As = -1;
• The 10, jack, queen and king = -2;
• The 8 and the 9 = 0;
• The 2, 3 and 7 = +1;
• The 4, 5 and 6 = +2.

The Red 7 method

The peculiarity here is that the 7 is assigned a value which will depend on its color. The red 7 (hence its name "Red 7" is worth +1 while the black (the Black7) is worth 0.

The KO

The particularity of this hilow-based alternative is that the 7 becomes a low card, instead of being neutral. When it comes out, you will therefore add +1 to your count. However, the rest of the operation does not change at all.

The Omega 2

This calculation system is one of the most complex in the world of counting on this game of chance. The cards do indeed display different scores which are listed here:

• The 9 is -1;
• The 10's, jack, queen and king are worth -2;
• Ace and 8 are equal to 0;
• The 2, 3 and 7 are worth +1;
• The 5, 6 and 7 are worth +2.

The lower the result, the more careful you will have to be, since the strong cards will already be out..

The REKO

It is a diminutive of the expression Ridiculously Easy KO or else "ridiculously easy knockout". You need to know how many decks are in the deck and multiply that number by -2. If there are 8 packets, the initial score is -16 and the calculation starts there. Indeed, we do not start here at zero as with the other solutions. Note that the REKO is easier to use but on the other hand, the fewer packs there are in the deck, the less powerful it is..

Little bonus info: as we have seen, it is possible to train from applications. Downloads are generally free but not all of the systems listed above are necessarily present..

Knowing how to count cards discreetly

When you want to count cards to influence chance, there are a few tips to follow and a few things not to do on the contrary when counting (or counting), especially when playing live in a land-based casino. These are the elements that we hope will help you to remain discreet.

Keep it simple and don't get noticed

Forget the very eccentric outfits and equally original behaviors. When your goal is to anticipate the draws during games, you have to know how to be very small. Since correct dress is required, stick to simple but classy clothes, remain discreet and friendly.

Don't yo-yo with your bets

The idea is not to draw attention to yourself, to try to keep a balanced pace of play. This means that you will not have to yoyo with your bets, but also that you will have to try to stay at the same table as long as possible..

Do not use an app

In the bonus content that we delivered to you in the previous section, it was about relying on applications to perform the count. If this advice is valid during your training sessions, of course ban it from your live sessions in gambling houses since the use of such apps is strictly prohibited, as it is understood..

Chat with other players

What better way to pass for an average visitor than to do like everyone else, that is, to strike up a conversation with your neighbors. Of course, for that, you will need to have a perfect mastery of the solutions listed on this page, because calculating and discussing at the same time is not given to everyone ... On the other hand, if you manage to do it, you will blend so in the decor wonderfully and the establishment will never spot you.

Never forget that the casino is watching you

And yes, the establishment could spot you. Video cameras are in fact installed everywhere and customers are closely watched, especially those who strangely chain the victories ... So never forget this and remain discreet at all times.

What system do we recommend ?

In the case of blackjack, both systems are particularly effective. The method "Hi-low", remains the flagship option for blackjack counting cards that players can use in classic sessions. The method"True Count", allows you to obtain an almost maximum probability of winning the games.

We can only recommend the second option. Indeed, the first being particularly known by casinos, they may discover your use. As part of the 2nd option, you will have the opportunity to practice by playing in free blackjack games..

Once you understand the principle, as well as how it works, you can then go to an internet casino offering live sessions..

Famous blackjack card counters

As we have seen, there are many solutions to try to increase your victories in this game, and if they have all come down to us today, it is because they have proven their worth through the story. Some individuals or groups of people have even hit the headlines using these options. Here are the main names of the card counters that have marked the annals ...

The American students of M.I.T.

It was in 1996 that students from the famous American University M.I.T. (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) succeeded in setting up schemes which allowed them to systematically beat the dealers of the land-based gambling houses..

The idea was to muddy the waters by attacking establishments on several fronts, that is to say by dividing up specific roles between counters, lookouts, big bettors, etc. A set of very discreet secret codes were also in place to be able to communicate without the knowledge of operators who saw nothing but fire..

Ken Uston: The Originator of Blackjack Card Counting

This is without hesitation the most famous person when it comes to this type of alternative to try to win big on this game of chance. He practiced in Atlantic City in the 1970s and 1980s. With a team divided into counters and big bettors, he used the Hi-opt I and waited until he had a 1.5-2% advantage before jumping..

Al USAsco

This man who started in the 1950s with its revolutionary option "Big Player" was finally banned from entering in the 1960s. His idea was to play in pairs and divide the roles. One individual would bet small and take care of counting the cards, then another customer would arrive at the appropriate time and on the signal bet a large sum. Casinos saw nothing but fire for a long time ...

Tommy hyland

Inspired by the famous Ken Uston quoted above, Tommy hyland has assembled his own team and has managed with them to obtain millions of dollars across the planet, during his 20 years of practice. Although taken to court by many establishments in the USA, he remains a legend for most of the people who play this game in the United States and around the globe..

Answers to frequently asked questions

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