Counting Cards Explained

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The counting cards betting system can be used whilst playing blackjack or poker. It is generally believed that this system can’t be applied to any other casino game. Is this assumption true? Guess you have to read to find out.

Counting card betting system appears simple. It can only be simple if the dealer shuffles the card only once. Does shuffling affect the outcome of your result? Maybe!

Cards between 2-6 get a value of +1. Cards between 7-9 get a value of 0. Finally, cards between 10-A get a value of -1. Start counting cards after the deck has been shuffled, and you are.

Learn basic blackjack strategy. This is the single most important thing you need to do. Card counting can give the player an edge of up to 2% over the house.: 5. Card counting is most rewarding near the end of a complete shoe when as few as possible cards remain. Single-deck games are therefore particularly advantageous to the card counting player.

This guide is formulated to help you win your games in flying colours. We shall be looking at the various rules, advantages and disadvantages, and so on.

Counting Cards Blackjack Explained

How do the cards counting work?

Explained

Card counting is a betting strategy used mainly while playing card games like the popular blackjack. If you are good at it, you will gain an advantage over the shuffler and other players on the table.

Most experts have won millions using these card counting techniques. Let’s take a look at how to apply this technique.

Rule one – select a value to every card in deck

Allocate a value to all your cards. This is the first step every good counting cards expert takes. Hi-Lo is a popular card counting system and the values are as follows;

  • 2-6 = +1
  • 7-9 = 0
  • 10-Ace= -1

As each card is dealt, the counter is expected to add 1 or subtract 1 or take no action at all.

Rule two – Keep a running count

Apply the running count strategy. Here you are expected to keep a running count by simply adding or subtracting any card. You are supposed to do this for any card that leaves the shoe.

This should be done card after card and every round until the card is shuffled by the dealer. As the running count increases, the player will have more advantage. On the other hand, if it reduces, the house advantage will increase.

Rule three – Calculate a true count

Always calculate a true count. Most casinos have realized that card counters take advantage of single decks. To eliminate this advantage, casinos are making use of multiple decks.

To apply the running count technique on a multiple deck game, we decided to come up with the “True count” technique. For example, if you have more than 5 running counts with 6 decks left, it’s entirely different from a 5 running with just a deck left.

From the first illustration, the extra high card on each deck will be less than 1. This means that the dealer has the advantage at this point. What should be of interest to the player are the concentrations in pari passu with the low cards.

So assuming you have the running count of 5 with just one deck left, then it means that there are 5 additional 10’s and aces in the 52 cards left. This simply will put you at advantage.

How To Counting Cards

Assuming your running count is 10 and 5 decks are left, the True count is 2. That is 10 divided by 5. On the other hand, if your running count is -7 and 2 decks are left, your True count will be-3, i.e. -7 divided by 2.

What

Rule four – Do not hesitate to increase your bet

When the true count rises, change your bet. This is also applicable when the true count falls.

The running count and a true count will help you know when you are at an advantage.

What Does Counting Cards Mean

As soon as you have the advantage, don’t hesitate to increase your bet.

Does counting cards system work?

This strategy is a very popular technique used by poker and blackjack players.

There is a lot of misconception about this strategy that has to be cleared. The biggest of them is the aforementioned question above.

The counting cards system has to do with keeping a mental record of the cards that are played while the game is on. To win using this strategy, you must have a sharp memory.

Even though a lot of players shy away from this technique because of various reasons, it works when you master it.

Counting cards history

Edward O. Thorp is considered by experts as the father of card counting. He is an American mathematician. In 1962, he published a book called Beat the Dealer where he put together several strategies.

Although before Edward his book, other professional card counters have already been using various counting cards strategies before Edward developed his techniques. Some of Edwards’s card counting techniques will also be discussed here.

Summary

Every blackjack or poker player will love to know the cards that the dealer has. This will automatically put on an edge over the casino. Nevertheless, blackjack card counting appears very easy in theory.

They are various theories on the internet about how easy it is to count cards and so on. The simple truth is that counting cards are not easy. Don’t you know that the dealers are also trained? Most of the dealers were professional players.

They also read about these tips and strategy. Remember the casino is not in business to lose.

Lest we forget, card counting in some countries is prohibited. Always check their poker or blackjack rules and regulations for more insight.

Frequently asked questions

Is counting cards illegal?

Beginners always ask this question. No one wants to get into trouble with the law. Card counting is not cheating in most countries. You are keeping a mental record of the cards that have been played and including those with the dealer. It simply involves brain work. You can check out the casino rules if card counting is prohibited.

Is it possible to win always using a counting card strategy?

Yes, it is. Remember this strategy involves a lot of brainwork. Studies have shown that those who perfect this strategy often have high IQ. However, you can perfect this strategy if you practice always.

How much advantage will a counter have over the casino?

The first thing you must note about this strategy is that it doesn’t give players up to 20 per cent over the house. The most a very good card counter may likely get is between 2 to 5 per cent advantage over the house. You can win a lot after perfecting this strategy.

Source:

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_counting
  • https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/how-to-count-cards/

Card Counting Systems > Speed Count

Dan Pronovost, gambling teacher and creator of several gambling tactics, came up with Speed Count as an answer to a friendly question. When asked if there was an easier way for the average gambler to count cards and gain an edge over the casino, Dan came up with Speed Count.

Dan and his friend noticed that most gamblers needed as much as 80 hours of training before learning even the most basic High-Low counting system, and that in reality only a small percentage of gamblers could put a High-Low count into practice effectively. The Speed Count method was Dan’s answer to this problem.

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The Basics of the Speed Count

Blackjack writers tell us that the average hand of blackjack is 2.7 cards, meaning more people take three cards than two. Since there are just 5 “small” cards for every 13 “big” cards in a 52-card deck, we get an average of 1.03 “small” cards for every hand of blackjack played–about one card per hand, regardless of how many people are playing, how many decks are in play, etc.

Using this number, you have all you need to build the Speed Count method. Simply count all the “small” cards on the table as “+1” and at the end of each round, subtract the total number of hands dealt. This includes split hands. As your count gets higher, there are fewer “small” cards in the deck, giving you an advantage.

How Much of an Edge does the Speed Count Offer?

According to an independent audit by the University of Massachusetts, the Speed Count produced a player edge of just over 1% over the course of a billion rounds of blackjack. This is about three times better than the expectation afforded blackjack players who play according to perfect strategy, and the method is even easier to implement than basic blackjack strategy.

Speed Count requires an understanding of basic blackjack strategy so that you know how to properly play most gaming situations, but since casinos allow you to carry your strategy card with you to the blackjack table, the creators of the Speed Count method seem to put little emphasis on learning this strategy. Instead, they encourage people who want to learn Speed Count to shell out hundreds of bucks for a two-day seminar, and if red flags are going up for you, you’re not alone.

The fact that you have to take a seminar to learn the ins and outs of Speed Count mean that most people won’t both. If I have to buy a book or take a high-priced seminar to learn something, I’d rather not learn it at all.

The inventors of Speed Count have done a great job keeping the details of this method secret. But from the presentation of an independent audit and a few details of the counting system, it looks like it would work to some degree. The inventor of the Speed Count has admitted openly that more complex counting systems, like KO, offer a better advantage, but suggests that most people won’t ever be able to learn these more difficult systems, so a system like Speed Count is ideal for people without 80 or 120 hours to learn harder card counting methods.

21 Movie Counting Cards Explained

Speed Count is one of many new card counting methods aimed at people who’ve had trouble memorizing card counting tactics in the past. If you want to learn more about Speed Count, you’ll have to contact the company that owns the license. Be careful paying for any card counting method that doesn’t reveal more details than a few cursory lessons and a mathematical audit–you may serve yourself better learning one of the higher level counting systems that take a little bit of time to perfect.

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