Card Counting SystemCard counting is one of the most infamous blackjack
strategies. It is often portrayed in gambling movies and television shows as an
underhanded and illegal strategy used by professional gamblers and casino swindlers.
However, in reality card counting is not illegal (though not surprisingly, many
casinos dislike the practice) and can be a fantastic way to maximize your blackjack
wins. Card counting is more advanced than basic blackjack strategies, and
takes a bit of practice. But when you can learn to count cards correctly you can
greatly decrease the house edge, almost taking away the house edge completely.
The practice of card counting entails keeping a running tally of the ratio of
high cards to low cards left in the deck. When there are more high cards left
in the deck this is better for the player so you should place higher bets; when
there are more low cards in the deck this is better for the house so you should
place minimum bets. There are a number of card counting systems, some are
simpler than others and are better for beginners. Others take more practice but
are much more effective. If you are new to card counting then it is worthwhile
to start out with some Level 1 card counting systems. The Hi-Lo card counting
method is one of the most popular beginning card counting methods. High Cards
and low cards are assigned values and as cards are dealt you simply add and subtract
the values in your head. The Hi-Lo system is known as a "balanced" system,
which means that if you counted down an entire deck you would end up with a value
of 0. Therefore, when the count is negative this means there are more low cards
remaining in the deck and when the count is positive there are more high cards.
The higher the count, the higher bet you should place. Red Seven, Knock Out Blackjack
and KISS are other popular Level 1 counting systems, though these are slightly
more complicated than the Hi-Lo system because they are balanced, meaning that
if you counted down an entire deck you are end up with a value not equal to 0.
As you become better at counting cards, you can work your way up to more advanced
card counting systems. Omega II is a very popular Level 2 balanced card counting
method. Most Level I systems assign values of -1, 0 and 1 to cards. Omega II takes
it up a notch by assigning values of -2 and 2 as well, making the count a little
more difficult but a lot more accurate. If you are ready for the big time,
then you can give Wong Halves a try. One of the most effective card counting methods,
the Wong Halves system uses fractions, so it is a lot more difficult than the
simpler methods. However, if you can master this method then you can beat the
odds in blackjack. Whether you are just starting out or are a more advanced
blackjack strategist, learning to count cards is one of the best ways to improve
your blackjack game and win big when you play blackjack against a live dealer. |
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