Blackjack Card Counting

Blackjack card counting determines the ratio of high cards left in a deck.  This is done by assigning a value to every card that enters play and keeping a tally.  This blackjack card counting total allows the player to adjust his or her bets, maximizing profits and minimizing losses. This blackjack card counting guide explains different ways to calculate the probable values of the rest of the deck.

While card counting, the player must pay close attention to all visible cards, including those of the blackjack dealer and those of other players.  The player assigns every card a positive or negative score based on the card counting method’s scale, adds the values, and uses the result to determine how much to bet.  Assume that a player is using the Hi-Lo blackjack card counting method and is dealt a 2 and a 5 versus the dealer’s ace.  The Hi-Lo blackjack card counting system assigns the 2 a value of 1, the 5 a value of 1, and the ace a -1.  This adds up to 1.  This low positive score indicates that it is wise to wager only slightly higher than the player’s base bet.

The safest way to hit blackjack is to draw a ten or face card equivalent and an ace. Blackjack card counting keeps track of whether more low cards or aces and tens have passed into play, allowing the player to calculate the probable values of the rest of the deck.

A negative blackjack card counting value indicates that more high cards than low cards have already been played, meaning that the deck now contains more low cards.  A positive value shows a higher chance of drawing an ace or ten and achieving blackjack without breaking 21. Online blackjack card counting is complicated by the fact that online blackjack games “shuffle” frequently.  This resets the online blackjack card counting score, meaning that the online blackjack game involves much recalculating.

Different methods to Blackjack Card Counting

The Hi-Lo strategy of blackjack card counting is the simplest.  Aces and tens (including face cards, which count as tens) are valued at -1.  2 through 6 are valued at 1.  8 and 9 are 0.

The K.O. blackjack card method is similar, and assigns aces and tens -1, 2 to 7 are 1, and 8 and 9 are 0.

The Wizard Ace or Five Count method of blackjack card counting is also simple and provides a set bet ramp.  The player starts at 0, betting at their base amount.  A 5 is valued at 1 and an ace at -1.  If the total is positive, the player’s next bet is the total times double the base betting amount. If the base bet is $2 and the total is 1, the new bet is 4.  If the total is 2, the new bet is 8, and so on.

The Revere Point Count is one of the most effective strategies of blackjack card counting.   Tens and aces are -2, 2 is 1, 3 to 6 are 2, 7 is 1, and 8 or 9 is 0.

The Wong Halves blackjack card counting strategy is difficult but effective, as it weights the numbers more precisely.  Aces and tens are -1, 2 is .5, 3 and 4 are 1, 5 is 1.5, 6 is 1, 7 is .5, 8 is 0, and 9 is -.5.

Zen Count is currently seen as the most accurate means of card counting.  Ace is -1, ten is -2, 2 and 3 are 1, 4 through 6 are 2, 7 is 1, and 8 and 9 are 0.