Counting Black Jack

Counting Black Jack

Counting Black Jack combines the games history with statistics to beat the house.

First, tracking what cards have been played gives you knowledge about what cards remain to be played. As every card is played it is moved to the discard pile and it is removed from play (at least until a shuffle occurs). You know you will not see that same card again. For example, if you have a Jack, Queen and King face down, you have a 33% percent chance of drawing the king. However, if you turn over the Jack and remove it, you now have only 2 cards and a 50% chance of drawing the king. By tracking the discards, you will know what remains to be played.

Second, when there are more ten values card remaining to be played, the player has the advantage over the dealer. The dealer must hit below 17 and ten value cards will cause the dealer the bust.

The science of card counting uses the games history to recognize a statistical edge and seeks to take advantage of it.

Counting Black Jack - Hi Lo Method

The Hi Lo Method is the original card counting system. Here are the basics of the system.

You must keep a running count. This count is how you track what cards have been played. When the games is started or the cards are shuffled, you reset your running count to zero.

As every card is played, you add it's value to the running count. The card values are as follows...

2 through 6 cards = +1
7 through 9 cards = 0
10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace cards = -1

By keeping an accurate running count, you will know when there are more high cards in the shoe.

The running count must be converted to a true count. The true count is the running count divided by the number of decks left in the shoe. You determine the decks left in the shoe by watching the discards. Estimate how many decks have been discarded, and subtract that value from the the number of decks originally placed in the shoe. That will tell you how many decks remain. This is the tricky part, and you may be more comfortable learning an easier method like red seven

A positive or high true count indicates more low value cards have been played, signaling there are more ten value cards left and the odds are in your favor. Conversely, a negative or low true count signals the house has the advantage.

You bet the table minimum when the house has the edge. When the true count goes positive, you wager ten times the table minimum. You know statistically you will win more hands with the edge in your favor, so you wager more to seize the opportunity.