Counting cards in blackjack is a viable strategy that can help you boost your winning chances of becoming a winning player and help you determine when to place a high-value bet. Here you will learn the steps of how to count cards in blackjack as we’ll cover the top blackjack card counting techniques, and we’ll share some of the best online casinos in India where you can try your card counting knowledge.
Card counting in blackjack is a mathematically provable option to get a playing advantage over the blackjack dealer. If this is a reasonably technical definition, to clear things up, you can look at card counting like a strategy where the low cards benefit the dealer and the high cards benefit the player.
A blackjack card-counting practice can significantly tip the scales in your favor!
The goal in blackjack is to reach a hand of 21 without going bust while having a better score than the dealer. So, it is in your interest to accurately predict when a high or a low card will be drawn. Using card counting helps you determine the best time to raise your stakes, as you can predict when a high card is likely to come up and play this advantage in your favor – it is a basic blackjack strategy that can help you lower the house edge and get a better winning chance!
The idea behind counting cards comes from a simple statistical point. When the blackjack rules are considered, the player can stop taking cards at any time, while the dealer must take an additional card when their score is less than 17. Thus, a high card will likely make the dealer go bust (over 21), benefiting the player.
Counting cards in blackjack is simple – you start with a score of 0 and then add or subtract the relevant values of the drawn cards, keeping the running score. The running score tells you the probability of a high or low card coming up, so you can adjust your bet or double it if the blackjack variety you play permits it. A note: using card counting will not help you win blackjack side bets.
Please note that there are many card counting strategies in blackjack, and the table below outlines the most popular ones that you can use when playing blackjack at 888Casino:
Card Counting Strategy | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10, J, Q, K | A |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hi-Lo | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Hi-Opt I | 0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
Hi-Opt II | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 2 |
Red Sevens | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 (red seven)
0 (black seven) |
0 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Wong Halves | +0.5 | +1 | +1 | +1.5 | +1 | +0.5 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -2 |
Ace-Five | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
Omega II | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | 0 |
Victor | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | 0 | -1 | -3 | 0 |
Zen | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -1 |
The Hi-Lo strategy is the simplest card-counting blackjack practice you can apply because it has straightforward and easy-to-remember card scores. Here is a simple rundown of how to count cards in blackjack using the Hi-Lo system:
High cards: 10, J, Q, K, A: | -1 |
---|---|
Medium cards: 7, 8, 9: | 0 |
Low cards: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: | +1 |
Hi-Lo is one of the most popular balanced card counting systems in blackjack.
Another simple to understand and use blackjack card counting system is the Ace-Five count. Per this strategy of counting cards, you only need to count the 5 and A cards. To use this card counting practice, you must wait for a new card shoe to be brought to the table, and you’ll have to set a low and high stake for yourself. The low stake can be the table minimum, and you can set a high stake to double the low stake, and you can adjust the high stake as the game progresses. Here is how to use the Ace-Five card counting strategy, which you can test out by playing blackjack at 10Cric:
The Ace-Five card counting strategy is simple to apply at online casinos.
You need to learn how to play blackjack before using the above blackjack strategies. Do not get us wrong, they are relatively simple, but here we’ll talk about advanced card counting strategies that need more practice and better attention from you. You can join Betway and try to apply one or more of the advanced online blackjack card counting strategies.
The Omega II card counting system in blackjack is a balanced system that takes a lot to master. Per the Omega II card counting strategy, you get a more precise prediction and better chances of winning. The goal of the Omega II count is to place higher stake bets when the running count is high, which means there are fewer low cards in the shoe. A low running count means more low cards are at play, and the high cards have been used.
Omega II card value scores | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10, J, Q, K | A |
+1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | 0 |
Per Omega II, bet high when the running count is high and low when the running count is low.
The Wong Halves strategy of counting cards in blackjack is one of the most precise card counting systems that, when applied correctly, can raise the accuracy of the predictions up to 99%. However, this is a relatively complex counting strategy because it requires complex calculations, and you have to be very good at math to implement it correctly.
This strategy is often called “Wonging” or back-counting, and many try to use it at land-based casinos. Still, while not illegal, it is frowned upon, and if caught using this strategy, you will surely be banned from the casino. Here is the rundown of the Wong Halves strategy:
Wong Halves card value scores | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10, J, Q, K | A |
+0.5 | +1 | +1 | +1.5 | +1 | +0.5 | 0 | -0.5 | -1 | -1 |
Implementing card counting in an online computer-generated blackjack game is nearly impossible!
Card counting could be effective in online blackjack when used correctly. However, you must note that many online blackjack variations have high-speed rounds and may have difficulties following the drawn cards. The strategy of counting cards uses math and statistics to determine the low and high cards ratio, and it gives you the advantage of placing a relatively high-stakes bet when the odds are in your favor.
Please note that many online casinos have explicit bans on using card counting techniques, and if you break their rules, you risk losing your bankroll and access to the online casino. Luckily for you, we’ve checked, and you can freely try your card-counting abilities at 22Bet’s blackjack tables.
It is easy to bet when counting cards, as the running count is the probability that will “tell” you when placing a high or a low bet is good. When you try counting cards in blackjack, you should be very careful with following every card and memorize the running count as the game progresses and the cards are drawn from the shoe.
If you use the basic or Hi-Lo strategy, you should place a higher-stakes bet when the running count increases, and vice versa – place a low-stakes bet when the running count decreases. It is similar to the other blackjack card counting strategies you can use at your favorite Indian online casino.
Card counting does not guarantee a win, but it dramatically improves your winning chances!
When playing online blackjack, we must be clear that counting cards can be very challenging. It is because most online blackjack games, like the ones at 10Cric, are computer-based games run by RNGs that shuffle the cards after every round of play. The live dealer blackjack games offer a chance to count cards, but these tend to go slowly and have lower stakes. Still, if you wish to try counting cards in online blackjack, here are some helpful tips:
Blackjack card counting is a strategy where you assign each card a specific value and add or subtract these values with every drawn card. It gives you a better winning chance, as if your calculations are correct, you can increase your bet stake and win a bigger payout.
Card counting is not illegal in blackjack, as this is a mental activity that may tip the player’s favor. Still, many land-based casinos frown and ban this activity, as when done correctly, it can bring the winning chances up to 99%.
The basic card counting strategy in blackjack is fairly easy to perform, but complex strategies require significant aptitude toward calculating the running count.
As with every activity, you can get good at counting cards with practice. You can use the free or demo versions of online blackjack to try your card-counting skills.
It depends on your skills and level of knowledge, but you can master this skill in a matter of days if you get enough practice.
Several online apps can help you count cards in blackjack, and you can test these using your smartphone.
Many blackjack dealers count cards to know when it is time to shuffle or change the shoe. Still, they will not reshuffle the deck if they have a good incentive, even when they know the odds are against the casino.
You can win at blackjack without card counting if you learn the rules, play wisely and be diligent with your bankroll.
Online blackjack games prevent card counting by reshuffling the cards after every round. Many live dealer online blackjack games shuffle their cards early, so the players won’t start with a fresh card shoe, making card counting impossible. Pattern recognition software also identifies when a player will make an increased bet when the cards are in their favor.
Players counting cards in blackjack have slightly better-winning odds, as card counting lowers the casino’s edge. For example, most casinos have a 6:5 blackjack payout, with 3:2 for natural blackjack. It increases the house edge by about 1.4%, but counting cards can lower this to about 0.2% and increase RTP to 99.5%.
The easiest way to count cards is to use the basic blackjack card counting strategy, the Hi-Lo system. However, this works best when playing the game with one or two decks.