There are a number of different counting systems. Twos, threes, sixes and sevens are scored +1, fours and fives get the value of +2, eights, nines and Aces are neutral and get point value of "0", and 10-valued cards get the value of -2. But its still a balanced systemif you count through an entire deck using this system, youll still wind up at 0 at the end. The most common technique, employed by advanced players is card counting but it requires a good amount of time and concentration to master. sometimes, for example, players may not be allowed to split pairs in which case they should resort to another, more suitable basic strategy which complies with the game's specifications. On the other hand, the greater the number of players participating in the game, the more difficult it is to keep track of the dealt cards. Spending more than an hour or two at a game while using a complicated counting system is mentally taxing and, inevitably, mistakes are made. This sequence of cards corresponds to +1, +1, -1, 0, +1, -1. A popular misconception is that card counting is illegal. per round per unit:1.105 The SBA software gives us a lot of good information in that regard. I want to poke at the question of standard deviations one more time. If his hand is equal or less than 21, and the dealer gets busted, the player wins. Once you get used to counting the red 7s but not the black, it becomes second nature and won't slow you down at all. Similarly to the Knock Out system, neutral 8s and 9s are marked by a zero. It's advisable to start practicing with a single deck, turning one card at a time. This is the reason that casinos look out for players who practice the technique and ban them when found. Payoff per 100,000 rounds played is $10,253.40, with an estimated standard deviation of $4,301.40. Thanks for the replies kewlj. One example is Kevin Blackwood, who practiced talking while counting until he could keep the running count in a standard deck of fifty-two cards in less than 14 seconds. I'm trying to graduate from hi-lo and wanted to get an idea of what I should move on to. But Ten Count is still relatively easy for beginners to use. If you play shoe games KO is best. Of course, we have to first define the word effective and throughout this series Ive quoted a lot of statistics for Playing Efficiency, Betting Correlation and so forth.How the unbalanced systems stack up against all the others will be covered in each individual counts section, but effective as it relates to unbalanced counts has to also be defined as ease of use. When an Ace is dealt, subtract 1 from the sum. If it's black, however, the 7 is considered neutral and as such is again noted with a zero. But with every card counting system, the concept is the same: But before you start earning big profits like these blackjack legends, you must first choose a counting system. According to the Omega II system, the cards 2,3 and 7 have a value of +1, while other low cards such as 4, 5 and 6 are worth +2. If the 7 is red in color, it is treated as a low-value card and is thus marked as +1. Red 7 System. Learn which are best for novice and expert These systems are a great start, as theyre easy and quick to learn, and they can help you improve your chances of winning when used correctly. How big of an edge you gain depends upon the exact strategy you choose. Blackjack counting systems are tools used to improve your game. This is a balanced count but for it to be at its most effective, one must keep a separate count of the Aces, especially for betting purposes. Average bet per round:$9.64. But I'm in no hurry to complicate my life and am enjoying the benefits of what I already know. Some players camouflage their counting efforts through the following ways: It also helps to research casinos to find out how tolerant they are towards card counters. For example, moving from a $10 minimum bet to $500 later in the shoe looks very suspicious. Using a card counting is not the only way to win at blackjack but it is by far the best way. Card counting is the gold standard when were talking about winning at blackjack. But some blackjack experts claim you can win without counting. Blackjack is a casino game. That means that the house has an inherent mathematical advantage over the player. Estim. The advantage is approx. (For some tips on how that can be improved, see my articleThe Rule Of Rule, which is archived on this page. You may also want to read the article calledReally Beat the Dealer, which is archived on the GameMasters Secrets page here.) So, *when you place your big bets*, you're more likely to be placing them at a point when you have an advantage. You only have to track two card groups and use two numbers for the count. Initial Bet Advantage:1.18% For what its worth, I do not use the Hi/Lo nor the K-O count when playing a single-deck game, but instead use a count called Hi-Opt 1 where the Ace and 2 have a point count of 0, 3-6 are counted as 1 and 10s are counted as -1. Avoid doubling or placing higher bets when the number is in the negative do it when your final count is about +15, there is a good chance to win the round. The primary benefit of the K-O count, that of not computing a True Count, loses a little of its impact at single deck games, mainly because the True Count, as calculated in the Hi/Lo and Hi-Opt 1 games is almost always either equal to or very close to whatever the running count is. Got It! Could you shed some light on this subject? These are marked as -1,+1,-1 ,+1, -1, so the total is -1. Unbalanced counts are easy to use for long periods of time because they dont require a lot of memorization or mathematics to be effective. Also known as twenty-one, blackjack is a game between players and the dealer which basically means they do not play against each other but compete against the dealer. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison - Top Online Slots Casinos for 2022 #1 guide to playing real money slots online. 3) An Introduction to Card-Counting. With a counting system offering 67% efficiency, the gain would be 0.95 X 67% = 0.64% whereas the best single-level count (without a side-count of Aces) would produce an edge of 0.95 X 62.3% = 0.59%. Comments on Simulation # 3:While there is not a big gain in the Initial Bet Advantage from doing all the work thats associated with this count, there is a substantial increase in the SCORE and an overall lowering of your risk, as is shown by the standard deviation calculation for 100,000 hands of play. One system of staking is to bet one unit plus the current count. This number is then divided by the number of decks remaining in the shoe to calculate what is called a true count. Legendary blackjack professional Ken Uston pioneered this system, which is largely identical to the high-low count, except that deuces are treated as neutral and sevens as dealer-favourable. However, it's suitable for beginners who wish to practice and improve their skills. But it doesnt apply to the modern blackjack world. Face cards such as kings, queens and jacks are of a 10-point value; the Ace, on the other hand, is a special case as its value can be either 1 or 11, so respectively the Ace can also be a high-value card. There are simpler counting systems When you compare the different card counting systems, you are interested in the following things: And many others. You still have some work to do if you want to make any $$$ using an unbalanced count, but not nearly as much as it takes to master one of the balanced counts. Good books are available on both of these systems and theres a lot of additional information available besides that out on the Net. Because of its relative complexity, I typically limit my playing sessions to one hour or less, although thats a good playing tactic to use, regardless. This helps players decide when to bet and how high their stakes should be. This is particularly important features for games, where only one or two decks are used. Now let's illustrate this with the following example: assume the player has tracked these cards King, 6, 10, 2, Jack. First of all, it is a level III (level 3) type of advanced system. This system works similar to KO and Hi-Lo, except that theres a special distinction made for red and black 7s. But this also leads to downsides, including that KO is more complicated than OPP and less accurate than Hi-Lo. Red Seven is built on the principle of high versus low cards. Once mastered, it can prove to be very accurate. The final calculation of this count is +1. Some systems have their own method for how you spread wagers during a favorable count. For example: There are a number of professional card counters who are good enough to make a living at the game. The best card counters keep the count with the slightest glance at the deal and act like a normal player, occasionally moving games and cursing their luck when the game appears to go against them. But you may ultimately choose a system like OPP, KO, or Ace/Five because you just want an easy way to count cards. Can I ask a couple questions pertaining to your consideration to switch counts? Level - Each strategy has different level. I have posted a link, which may or may not be permissible and may be removed..I don't know. The aim is to collect a higher total point than the dealer but it should not go over 21. A unique feature of our trainer is the comparison of different card counting systems for the same status of the deck, making you able to compare the results of various systems. Techniques of Blackjack Card Counting. Payoff per 100,000 rounds played is $10,799.55, with an estimated standard deviation of $4,057.55. On the other hand, the 10, the Ace and the other face cards (King, Queen and Jack) are assigned with the number -1 and go by the name of high cards, due to their higher value. This message will no longer be displayed after 2 Your odds of quality double-down opportunities also improve. SCORE:53.69 They, to a great extent, rely on their practice, memory and other so-called honest skills. This technique of gaining an advantage over the house's edge does not end with memorizing the values of the cards. Like so many other games, penetration is really important because the more cards a counter sees before the shuffle, the bigger advantage you can get when counting. Blackjack Card Counting Trainer. std. It's a three-level card counting method, introduced and developed by Stanford Wong. The Hi-Opt 1 count has a lot going for it, but it takes a lot of practice to use it correctly, what with the side-count of Aces and so on. Although not as accurate as modern strategies like Hi-Lo, the Ten Count gets the job done in certain situations. Similarly to the Hi-Lo method, 10s, Aces, Queens, Jacks and King go by the value of -1, while those from 2 to 7 are assigned as +1. You want to increase your wager when the count reaches +12 or +14. I count down a deck in 14 seconds usually. zg, Skilled Play - Card Counting, Advanced Strategies. And you can easily practice by using card counting trainers on websites. Lets look how do these systems work on this one. Red Seven was developed by blackjack legend and card counter extraordinaire Arnold Snyder. The Hi-Lo system was proposed in 1963 by Harvey Dubner and is based on Thorp's Ten-Count. Because of this keeping an accurate track of dealt cards is only one aspect of the card counting strategy, what's also important is to do it as inconspicuously as possible. The trainer is very self-explanatory, these are the basics. Naturally, youre giving something up, but in a typical 6-deck, the dealer hits soft 17, double after split allowed-type game, its not much. The Book to Buy: Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder (1998 edition) $19.95, Point Values 2-7 = +1; 8,9 = 0; 10, A = -1, Most Effective:When used in 6-deck games where a 1-10 bet spread can be achieved. aslan Well You double your bets at this point, while only wagering the table minimum when the count is +1 or lower. In fact, learning and practicing the basic strategy is essential in this game and it's even advisable to memorize it. Keep reading as I cover three of the easiest blackjack card counting systems for beginners. It's most effective when the dealer doesn't frequently reshuffle the remaining cards in the shoe. Generally, it's advisable to start raising one's bet if the count is +2, so in the case, this would not be a good idea. per round:$15.29 2s, 3s, and 7s are counted as +1 each. There are simpler counting systems that are more suitable for beginners, as well as more complex ones that can be employed effectively only by expert players. This is yet another card counting system suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Instead, Thorp leaves it up to players to decide how much to increase or lower their bets by. The one exception to this is Blackjack, where it is possible to tip the odds in your favor and beat the house consistently by using a technique called card counting. Heres how you assign values to each group of cards: The Hi-Lo is whats known as a balanced system, because the count will always reach zero by the end of the shoe. If youve been discouraged by all the adding and dividing and memorization that it takes to fully utilize these counts in a casino, take heart. KO is sometimes called "rookie" because that is a slimmed-down version of the complete system. The advantage of Thorps system is that its easy. Furthermore, you dont need to be a genius to keep an accurate count. But if youre just a casual blackjack player who wants to gain a bit more of an edge, then I recommend trying Ace/Five. Another difference is that the low card category includes 7. The truth is that counting cards isnt illegal. This is an intermediate system, which makes it more complicated than the more simple Ace-Five and Hi-Lo; as it uses a different technique for card counting. By doing this, these counts allow you to play without a true count conversion that many people find to be the hardest part of balanced counting systems to learn. Please find the user instructions below. Blackjack Counting Systems. I like the latter method because it simulates your friend being the dealer and you as the player. Here are the guidelines for spreading your wagers with the Hi-Lo: 2 Figure out your true count (e.g., +4). It's the precursor to KO in that it's unbalanced and very easy. The Omega II count system is another one of the most powerful card counting strategies in blackjack. More so because their main objective is not gaining experience or playing recreationally but winning against the house and thus benefiting financially from the blackjack game. Choosing suitable blackjack counting systems largely depends on the degree of skill and experience of the players. He's probably (actually no, he IS definitely) the go-to guy around here when it comes to card counting in BJ. One is much easier than the other, but is there much difference in performance? Then determine the true count by dividing the running count to the number of decks, remaining in the shoe. Players are advised to calculate their true counts after each deck has been dealt. Wizard of Vegas uses cookies, this enables us to provide you with a personalised experienceGot It! Playing it correctly means you've already won. 5-10% and you will experience a Developed in 1975, the Wong Halves system requires a good amount of persistence and practice. The Aces and the eights are counted as 0. If your running count is -1 and there are three decks to be dealt in the shoe, your true count is -0,33 or so. Caution vs future unexpected/uncertain results. Comprehensive list of the different blackjack card counting techniques, methods, and systems. The 1988 film Rain Man created the perception that you need to be a mathematical genius to successfully count cards. 4 Multiply this number by your unit size (25 x 3 = 75). The first card counting system ever, was introduced in the sixties when blackjack gained more popularity. At the beginning of the first deck, starting from 0, add the number 1 for each dealt 5-value card you notice. Subscribe today to receive weekly breaking news stories and industry updates! I want to poke at the question of standard deviations one more time. Going further, you must convert your running count into a true count. You may or may not know that the K-O (Knock-Out) count is whats known as an unbalanced count, which does not require a True Count conversion. In general, using a level 2 counting system is more accurate than a level 1 system but more error prone. Another positive product of card counting One way to count cards would be to memorize which cards have been 5 Your bet should be three units, or $75. The bet spread occurs between your smallest and largest bets. When thats the case, say a $10,000 expected win with a less-than $3000 one standard deviation value, youre virtually assured that youll be ahead by some amount after 100,000 hands of play. This means the cards should be counted as follows 4, 4, 4, -9, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, -9. then how important do indexes and all those other insignificant things become? Think of it: grandma, the kids, the significant other; all can become counters. Depending on the rules, you can lower the blackjack house edge to under 1% with good strategy. This is easier than calculating a final count, based on several dealt decks of cards. The Ace/Five system is influenced by blackjack rules variations. Low cards being dealt works to your advantage, because this means there are fewer cards thatll help the dealer. In reality, though, nothing is Four low cards come out during the hand (Add 4 = count at +5). The standard comparisons of Betting, Playing and Insurance Efficiencies dont really apply here because of how these work, but when used in simulations against the Hi/Lo and other single-level systems in 4+ deck games, the win rates are similar. The Zen Count is another great card counting systems that was thought up and created by Arnold Snyder. This is what I said about unbalanced counts in the series I did called Counting Systems that is archived right here on this page: Almost all the counting systems weve examined up to this point are difficult to learn. Calculating fractions in one's head may prove to be rather taxing to some players. Simulation #1 Basic Strategy for the play of the hands, players bet 1-5 according to the Hi/Lo count (1 at a TC of 1 or lower; 2 at a TC of 1; 3 at a TC of 2; 4 at a TC of 3; 5 at 4 or higher), never left the table regardless of how low the count got (play all). 9s count as -1. More info Average st. dev. There are 5 different levels, where level 1 is the easiest and level five is the hardest. If that seems a little more complicated, its because it IS a little more complicated. As youll see, simulations based upon this data show a barely-acceptable (1%) overall advantage for the counter. When the final count is higher, chances of winning the hand increase and the player should bet higher. Once all cards in the deck have been dealt, the final result of your calculations should amount to zero. But where the idea came from doesnt matter either way. This book was published in 2001 so it was not too long ago. You must log in or register to reply here. The reader who started this whole thing said that s/he plays fairly long sessions and thats where the K-O count shines; its easy to learn and easy to use, so its much less mentally fatiguing than either Hi/Lo or Hi-Opt 1. This system works as follows: Each systems assigns card values that are counted. Also, all playing strategy variations are still determined by the running count, however you can be more accurate in determining your bet by using the "true index" method, which according to Arnold Snyder is an even more accurate method of determining your percent advantage than the true count conversion of hi-lo or other balanced counts. Therefore, he didnt account for the effect of removing aces from a six-deck shoe. is included. This card counting strategy is similar to KO, because you need to track low, neutral, and high cards. Copyright 100BestCasinoSites.com, 2014-2019 |. For instance, if the player has been dealt an Ace, a 6 and a 10, they should count the Ace as 1 because otherwise the total value of the hand will go over 21, resulting in a loss for the player. The downside is that this strategy is poor for multi-deck games. Keep reading to learn more about each of the following card counting system and how you can begin today. It helps neutralize, though only partially, the advantage the house has over players. 3 Subtract one from the true count (4 1 = 3). Card Counting Card counting systems for Blackjack are compared here, along with their Card Values, Betting Correlation, Playing Efficiency, Insurance Correlation, Ease of Use and Type. This running total provides a simple approximation to the probability of winning future hands and you can therefore bet more on hands where the count shows the odds are more in your favor. The basic strategy may vary, depending on the number of decks that are used in the game. What really matters is how these counts ultimately perform and I may be able to provide some insight through the use of simulations. The cards are counted throughout the game and special attention is paid to their value. Average bet per round:$9.65. Weighed against the mathematical impact of the cards, both assumptions are mistakes, but they more or less cancel each other. Ace/Five is a simple strategy that only requires keeping track of 5-value cards and aces. I was preparing to switch to Zen or UBZ, but the guys here talked some sense into me. Such players employ other techniques which allow them to gain advantage over the house. But according to this chart: I can speak for KO because that's what I've usedand that was after using Hi-Lo for a while. COUNT COUNT C A R D T A G S RANKS BET PLAY. If the number is in the negative, this means most face cards with a value of 10 have already been dealt. 10s, Jacks, Kings, Queens and Aces are given a value of -1; 8s are valued -1/2, 9s have the neutral value of 0; 5s are 1 , 3s, 4s and 6s are valued 1 and 2s and 7s are given the value of . Going further, you dont have to account for how many decks are in the shoe with an unbalanced system. Moving the lips as the cards are dealt, even subconsciously, Constantly sitting out games and then suddenly joining specific games, Avoiding taking the free alcohol on offer, preferring soft drinks. Again, Ten Count is fine for practicing card counting. Today, his system is used in specific cases as it was originally created for a single-deck blackjack games while at the present moment most casinos employ more than one deck to decrease the probability of players counting the cards correctly. You can find these strategies in each of our reviews. It is used to describe the number of all the different values, which are assigned to the cards in the deck. Blackjack card counting is often portrayed as a mysterious technique that only math geniuses can pull off. Therefore, when the higher-count method tells you that you have an advantage, it's more likely to be accurate. But you only need to keep a running tally of the card values to give yourself an edge. Otherwise the player may be added to the casino's blacklist and a complete ban from the casino is also a possible outcome. Top Gambling Destinations for Newlywed Couples. If the player can correctly track, he or she will arrive at zero when all cards have been dealt. Gamblers have been fascinated by card counting ever since Edward Thorp shared his secrets through the 1962 book Beat the Dealer. But the two key differences are that 7 is neutral, and you need to differentiate between a running and true count. Either way the system you play with the most accuracy and least fatigue will best serve your purpose. With this method, it's best to double your bet only after a win to make your card counting less conspicuous. You add one for every 5 thats dealt, and subtract one for every ace. You also have to bet more when the count is in your favor to reap profits. If you are serious about taking on the casinos using this technique then you must develop the right behaviors as well as the mechanical counting skills. (1) Blackjack - A Card counters Historical Perspective. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. Omega II is a multi-level system making it more complex than previous systems. How to Properly Use Casino Fibonacci System, Bet Spreads for the Wonging Style of Play, Bet Spreads for the Semi-Wonging Style of Play, Ball Bouncing, Switching, Aiming and Speed, Real Dealer Studios Adds Blackjack to Vinnie Jones Series, Pragmatic Adds Blackjack and Baccarat Tables, On Air Entertainment Debuts Live Blackjack, Evolution Adds New Game: Lightning Blackjack. Read More. Heres an example of how you can implement the strategy: Unlike some systems, Ten Count doesnt have a defined amount where you begin increasing your bet by X amount. Hard to say, but at least now you and the reader who initially asked the question have some information that will help you make your choice. In other words, big-bet losses are less likely with a higher count system. Numbers are used to express the ease of use, where 10 is being the easiest possible card Kevin estimates that he has played over half a million games of Blackjack all over the world in his professional career. Check the review of particular systems to see how does the system work along with history, recommendations and rating. As I mentioned earlier, nearly anybody can learn to count cards especially with the systems covered above. If you ask me (which no one did) Red 7's the way to go. You can see I make the statement that these counts arent at their peak of effectiveness in a single- or double-deck game, but I wasnt the first, so I dont know if thats where the reader got this idea. But first, lets look at the basics behind counting cards. Given that Ace/Five only requires you to track two card values, its similar to OPP in terms of simplicity. Here are the basics of this strategy: This is noticeably different from the three systems that I covered above. Hi-Lo System. These strategies differ based on what kind of advantage they give you and how complicated they are. Bad Points: Not very effective in single- and double-deck games. The only downside to OPPs simplicity is that its less accurate than the other systems Im going to cover. In addition, Ill be using only the proper Basic Strategy to play each hand in order to keep the comparisons as simple as possible. This is by far the most elaborate of blackjack counting systems on the list. Aces and 8s count as 0. The system is easy to memorize and convenient to use, but unfortunately less accurate than more advanced card counting methods like those that follow. I count down a deck in 14 seconds usually. Good Points: Easy to learn, yet can also be enhanced by an advanced version. If the final result is equal to two or surpasses it, you can double the amount you've bet. you add at least one widget to one of the Sidebar Widget Areas using the Appearance Widgets control panel. A good way to summarize all this is to say that these calculations show us what lies in the future the long run that we all talk about. As the title suggests it's rather advanced, so card-counting beginners will hardly make heads or tails of it. You can quickly learn one of the systems that I discussed above and use it to give yourself an advantage. The Red Seven is another card counting system, beginners can easily master, as it too is one-level. You came to this site, I assume, to learn how to win at the casinos, so if youre a Blackjack player whos been losing for years, you can change that now. In general, using a level 2 counting system is more accurate than a level 1 system but more error prone. My favorite is the Hi-Lo, due to its combination of simplicity and accuracy. Well, I have it narrowed down to 2 counts: K-O or Hi/Lo. Comments on Simulation # 2:You can see that the K-O count compares very favorably with the Hi/Lo, at least in overall player advantage, which was a surprise to me. I suggest spreading your bets by five units or more when you have a favorable count of at least +2. But like OPP, this strategy isnt as effective as some of the other systems discussed here. The strategy is suitable for beginners as well as for intermediate players. Save my Good luck. Also known as the K-O, it was first introduced in a book called Knock Out Blackjack the Easiest Card Counting System Ever Devised, written by Fuchs and Vancura. The lack of a true count makes KO simpler than the Hi-Lo system that Ill cover next. We reviewed most of them and will add reviews of any new discovered ones. I play long sessions, about 4-6 hours at a time. Do you want a simple system that is less effective? Average st. dev. SCORE:70.84 This strategy helps players determine how to approach each situation that ensues on the blackjack table as it is based on mathematical probabilities in the respective situation. I use KO and find it exactly as Chef described. Nevertheless, Ten Count is a good system to use when acclimating yourself to card counting. Point Values 2-6 = +1; red 7s = +1, black 7s,8,9 = 0; 10, A = -1. There are four decks remaining in the shoe. The three unbalanced systems were Snyder's Red 7 Count from his Blackbelt in Blackjack, Fuchs and Vancura's KO Count from their popular Knockout Blackjack and the StageII Black Ace Count from my own Blackjack Bluebook. But from an overall perspective, Hi-Lo is relatively easy when compared to the dozens of other counting systems available. The catch, though, is that Ten Count is designed specifically for single-deck blackjack games. They are called unbalanced because, while they still assign point values to the cards, when you add all the point values up in a deck or decks, it doesnt result in zero. Casino News Daily uses cookies, this enables us to provide you with a more personalised experience. This gives you the perfect blend of simplicity and accuracy. If you're playing a single-deck blackjack (which is unlikely in a casino but still can be used as a method of practicing one's counting skills), you should begin your running count from -2. I was told K-O is bad for SD in comparison to Hi/Lo but how much worse, I dont know. This means that an equal number of cards are high (5) and low (5) with the Hi-Lo strategy. Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman) kept track of every single card while counting in Rain Man. per round per unit:1.111 Snyder did this so he could create an imbalanced system that was easy to use with no true count involved. The Book to Buy: Knock-Out Blackjack by Vancura & Fuchs (2nd edition) $17.95. Obviously, you dont want to jump into the most difficult system if youre new to card counting. I play mostly double deck, with $10 to 25 mins, spreading to $75- $150.The wild swings possible in the game make me pretty nervous (hence the spreads erroring on the conservative side). Your first decision is to stop losing at the casino and the next decision is to pick one of these systems; hell, even the cost of the book is about the same. We're sorry, residents of your region are not accepted by this gambling site! The average bet is almost identical to the Hi/Lo and quite a bit lower than the K-O game, so youll make more $$$ with less risk and thats a good deal. But for purposes of comparison, Im going with a straight 60% penetration in a game where the dealer hits soft 17, you may double only on 10 or 11, no double after splitting pairs and insurance is available, but surrender isnt. In fact, it's one of the most frequently used blackjack counting systems in the world because it's relatively simple and easy to memorize. Let's say the player has kept track of the following cards in the course of a game: 5, 2, Ace, Queen, 3, 4, 8, 9, 7, King. In case, the player collects a point which exceeds that number, they're busted or in other words lose. The in-between cards with values 7,8 and 9 are marked as 0. I'm not an expert at the math, but intuitively I would think a level-two count system would help smooth out bankroll fluctuations. Once the player has been dealt a two-card hand, he is faced with the option of getting a hit again and can request an additional card. Initial Bet Advantage:0.99% As Ive mentioned many times before, I run most of my sims on a fantastic piece of software called Statistical Blackjack Analyzer (SBA), version 5.05. For instance, if the up card's value of the dealer is from 2 to 6 the player may hit. Still, the thing that makes this system more complex and different than most other systems is the fact that you need to count number with decimals. This advantage-play technique has only gained further popularity over the years thanks to the MIT Blackjack Teams efforts. 10s count as -2. per round:$13.60 An experienced player should be able to pay close attention to the cards dealt to other participants in the game as well, which further increases the complexity of this strategy. There are simpler card Some are simple, others less so. Players usually begin with a running count of zero when the cards are first dealt. To keep this as simple as possible, if you can expect to make, say, $10,000 after 100,000 hands of play and the standard deviation is $5000, as an example, then there is a chance that you could be at a loss or break-even point, even if you play the 100,000 hands perfectly. Average st. dev. This is a probability game, however using an adequate strategy, greatly increases the player's chances of winning against the house. Some cards are counted as two-point, others as one-point. The value of knowing the standard deviation for a certain game and bet spread can keep you from playing in an unbeatable situation, thus saving you a lot of time and frustration. It's advisable to practice with a single deck of cards and master the Hi-Lo system of Dubner, prior to proceeding with more complex blackjack counting systems. In our example, we have a running count of -1. In case both have a hand of 21, the player receives their bet back. In case there are 2 decks in the shoe, remaining to be dealt, your total count will be +2, a positive number, though not very high but after all the example consists of only six counted cards. Of course, tracking cards in a bustling casino environment is easier said than done. Another plus of the Ace/Five system is its simplicity. The downside to this strategy is that its almost as complicated as the Hi-Lo, yet you only get 80% of the same accuracy. Lets see how it works with an example. You use your true count to determine how much youll spread your bet by. Act like they increase and lower bets based on superstitions. Check the It is calculated on the basis of the cards a player is dealt, as well as of the card the dealer is shown. How about a mind-boggling system that is more effective? The idea is to start at the table minimum, then increase your wager as the count goes in your favor. The nice thing about card counting is that its not as difficult as most players think. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison : Best Oval: Article Conan Oval Dining Table Tags Decor Kitchen. Penetration was 31/52. 1 You have a better chance of getting a natural blackjack payout. It would be advisable to keep a separate count of the Aces, dealt during the game. The deal continues and the running total quickly becomes +7. I'm not an expert at the math, but intuitively I would think a level-two count system would help smooth out bankroll fluctuations. It's actually quite similar to what Thorp proposed as each card's value is assigned with a specific number. All of them will get the $$$, but Id want a little bigger bankroll than usual ( about 70 maximum bets, rather than the 50 I usually recommend) were I using the K-O count, to lower my risk of ruin. Beginners usually loathe this part but the good news is they don't have to be precise, a rough estimate will suffice to determine one's chances. The underlying goal of card counting is to find out when the shoe is rich in aces and tens. As this system takes into consideration only two card values, it's much easier to keep track of. That's an interesting answer Aslan. Many gamblers like blackjack because it offers a chance to use extensive strategy to improve your winnings. Simulation #2 Basic Strategy for the play of the hands, players bet 1-5 according to the K-O count (1 at a running count of 0 or lower; 2 at 1; 3 at 2; 4 at 3; 5 at 4 or higher), never left the table regardless of how low the count got (play all). Card counting strategy system book 5) A Comparison to Other System. The following systems of counting cards are arranged in accordance with their level of complexity, starting from the more simpler ones and proceeding with those that are more elaborate. I cannot recommend them for single- or double-deck play because they have their limitations in those games, but otherwise the unbalanced counts are pretty good. There are really just two of these and each compares favorably to the other as well as to other single-level systems (which is what these are), at least in multi-deck games. Not sure what kewlj wrote, but I agree with whatever it is that he did write. Heres an example of how to use this strategy: This is referred to as an unbalanced counting system because the count doesnt end at zero when the shoe has been dealt. There are four players, plus the dealer (subtract 5 = count at +1). And I think it's more accurate since 7s are not as detrimental as the lower cards. He views this as an occupational hazard! Playing Efficiency - this estimates how well the system is able to adapt to changes in the game. Of course, there is a number of other blackjack counting systems, not mentioned here. This means that there is an equal number of positive values and negative values. Griffin Card Counting per round per unit:1.1104 I begin with the OPP card counting system since its extremely easy to use. each competing against the dealer. If it is a seven, eight or nine then it assumes a value of zero and all other cards are valued at -1. I think Ill throw in a sim on that as well. The reason that card counting works in blackjack is because the cards dealt and the cards left are changing the probability of the game while youre playing. Both of these counts have been analyzed to death, each has its loyal followers and each will get the $$$ if properly used, so I dont really have a favorite. Their dedication and attention to detail shows just what is required to make it. Estim. These things are used to estimate how effective one card counting system is. In the case of a six-deck blackjack, players should multiply the number of decks by -2 and respectively start with a running count of -12. For our purposes here, its an effective way of comparing the value of each game or bet schedule or whatever that will be examined: the higher the SCORE, the more $$$ youll make. With Single or double-deck games index plays become more significant so might want to stick with high-low or go to a level 2 system. Similarly to the Hi-Lo system of Dubner, the player should keep a running count in the course of the game. These correspond to +1, +2, -2, +2, 0 and a running count of +3. I play single deck (SD) in Reno and spread 1-5. Another benefit of KO is that its more accurate than OPP. Payoff per 100,000 rounds played is $11,177.45, with an estimated standard deviation of $4,823.70. Discover the best slot machine games, types, jackpots, FREE 4) The Unbalanced Knock-Out System. If your average bet is $200, its a dime. You will need to size your bets accurately and ideally bet proportionally to your advantage to maximise your win rate. Penetration was 31/52. This requires practice and above all composure. On the contrary, if the total value of the cards is negative or is close to zero, the player's chances of winning decrease and he/she should place a lower bet. From a sheer money-making point of view, the Hi-Opt 1 count isnt all that impressive when compared to the other counts, but when risk is compared to reward it shows its strength, which is identifying the right time to make the right bet. You can see that as the cards are dealt, the running total changes according to the value given to each dealt card. Cards, lower in value (from 2 to 6) are marked as +1. Choosing the right blackjack card counting systems largely depend on some level of experience and skill. The goal is to get a positive count of +2 or higher. Name Email Website. Instead, a beginner-friendly strategy will help you learn this process with the minimum degree of difficulty. As a side note, a SCORE of 40-50 ought to be the minimum one should look for in the games theyll be playing. We reviewed most of them and will add reviews of any new discovered ones. If you think this is easy then try it for yourself while chatting to your partner! I've stuck with KO and am happy I did. Founded in 2014, CasinoNewsDaily aims at covering the latest news from the casino industry world. The basic strategy is suitable for recreational players who partake in the game just for fun. The big difference between the two is that the K-O count needed a higher average bet ($11.29 versus $9.64) to achieve approximately the same return and that means your risk is increased. Skilled and experienced blackjack players don't have to resort to using the basic strategy chart. Well, if your average bet is $10, its a difference of a half-cent. The 9 is equal to -1 while 10 and the face cards King, Queen, Jack are marked with -2. Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Learning the Basics of Card CountingBet with at least 200 units to avoid going broke at casinos. Assign a blue of +1 or -1 to each card dealt. Prior to the deal, the running count is always 0. Calculate your true count by dividing the running count by the decks. Bet the true count minus 1 betting unit. Raise your bets with the rise of the true count. More items Despite his obvious high skills at the game, he has also been ejected over two hundred times. std. You observe each hand as it is played, noting the value of each dealt card. The Uston SS (Strongest and Simplest) Blackjack Card Counting System. Therefore, you dont need to convert to a true count with KO. You need to remember that this sim is based upon perfect play, which can be attained by a software program, but not a human being. What its trying to tell you is that you may expect to win x $$$ by playing 100,000 hands at that particular game and one standard deviation for that play is shown as a dollar figure. They are equally important. There are a number of different counting systems. Why change a system that is winning for me, that I already have down pat, for one that is more complicated, will be easier to make errors in, and which will not improve my winnings except by a very small percentage? ; Twin Wilds Symbols: There are two special wild symbols on Gemini Joker. You add one (+1) for every low card thats dealt. Blackjack card counting is a simple technique to learn but to do it well takes practice. The best combination consists of an ace (which can be counted either as 1 or an 11) and a ten-point card (Queen, Jack, King and a 10). If one standard deviation is $5000, then a two standard deviation losing event could find you at even after all that play and a three standard deviation event to the losing side would put you at a loss after 100,000 hands of play! By keeping track of card values as theyre dealt, you can boost your chances of winning and potentially making big profits. Thus, the player is able to determine whether or not he or she has an advantage over the dealer and act accordingly, for example by placing a larger bet. And many others. Other balanced systems that begin and end at 0: Recognize that card counting is efficient but it won't do without a sufficient amount of practice, concentration and patience. I started with KO and now use TKO with Hi-Lo index numbers. Once you get used to counting the red 7s but not the black, it becomes second nature and won't slow you down at all. Youre on a computer right now, so you can certainly learn one of these. What further increases the difficulty of the system is that some cards are assigned a fraction value. But casinos may ban you from their establishment if they think youre a successful counter. Given that Hi-Lo is balanced, you also have to account for the number of decks remaining in the shoe. But this miscalculation plays a bigger role in the four-, six-, and eight-deck games of today. As this is a multi-level system, certain cards can have a value of +/-1 and +/-2. I'm hoping one way to smooth out the fluctuations is by using a more accurate counting method. However, as keeping track on dealt cards from a single deck is easier, and thus helps players to gain advantage over the house, at present time most casinos resort to using up to eight decks in the shoe. But just about anybody can successfully count cards with enough practice. This combination is what is actually known as a blackjack or a natural 21 which automatically earns a win for the player, unless of course, the dealer has also collected a blackjack. What makes the 7s' values easier to remember is the name of the system itself. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison 888 Casino Play Now Best Online Casinos 2022 Pros: Helpful Customer Support Winnings Paid Within Minutes Range of Bonus Offers No Fees When Using Cash App Search Pros: Best Cash App Bonuses 24/7 Customer Support Range of Poker Tournaments Dozens of Casino Slots Best Slot Casinos Register on BetOnline The KO system is more complicated than OPP because you also need to track high and neutral cards. Yet, these are still quite Initial Bet Advantage:1.06% Let's start from the very beginning. Hi-Opt 1 Results: Imagine you've kept a running count of the following cards 2, 6, Queen, 4, 8. There are many different ways to "side count" in each strategy. If the dealer and the player both have an equal score, the latter neither loses, nor wins. focused on providing our readers with accurate news, reviews and in-depth guides. An unbalanced count can easily be learned by anyone who can operate a computer and guess what? Comments on Simulation # 1:Because I think you should play only when a 1% or larger edge can be gained, this game is barely acceptable. The Wong Halves system is quite a complicated card counting strategy. Good Points: Easy to learn, yet can also be enhanced by an advanced version Bad Points: Not very effective in single- and double-deck games. This is easier said than done, given that there are over one hundred card systems floating around. After each round there are fewer cards left in the remaining deck and a correct count allows players to determine the value of the cards that remain to be dealt. All blackjack tables featured single-deck games in Thorps early blackjack days. As a generalization, the bigger the expected win is, compared to one standard deviation, the better. Game Online. Thanks again for the replies Romes and kewlj. Let's proceed with an intermediate level system, developed by Bruce Carlson, namely the Omega II which Carlson first introduced in his book Blackjack for Blood in 2001. Furthermore, card counting may be essential for skilled blackjack players as their chances of winning greatly depend on the value of the cards obviously. Hi folks, do any of you know of any good resources that compare the relative advantages/disadvantages of different card counting systems? By doing this, these counts allow you to play without a true count conversion that many people find to be the hardest part of balanced counting systems to learn.Yet, these are still quite effective in 4-, 6- or 8-deck games and the fact is, most casual Blackjack players who go to casinos where the games offered are dealt from four or more decks should probably use an unbalanced count. So, which is better? The objective is to collect a hand as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, hence the name twenty-one. The higher the positive number, the more high-value cards are in the remaining deck. It would be a good idea to calculate the final count after each deck is dealt. The main thing you need to do with the OPP strategy is track low cards. In return for just a bit less advantage, you can have the whole family counting! Simply counting cards is only part of the equation to making money. Instead, you simply count low cards and subtract the number of players/dealer at the start of each hand. Card Counting Systems. The Uston SS Blackjack Card Counting System is more advanced but more accurate with a Betting Correlation of 99%. Another positive product of card counting is that you can find out when the deck is high in low cards (2 6) and bet less. But the key is that you do make a distinction between the colors. Its efficiency is much higher but more difficult to master requiring concentration, time and practice. The Hi-Lo is definitely tougher than KO and OPP due to the added steps. An example of the Red Seven system: 3, 4, Jack, 7 Red, 9, 6, 8 are the cards the player has been keeping a running count of. The goal is to bet more when the count goes higher into the positives. The advantage is approx. If you visit various online guides where blackjack card counting is explained, you will be able to find tones of different charts and in-depth explanations about the features regarding the efficacy of the card counting system. Low cards improve the dealers odds of winning. In fact, virtually any new blackjack player can quickly learn and understand this system. If a card is six or less then it is given a value of +1. Level 2 and 3 strategies could be used by some people but levels 4 and 5 are really difficult and only few people in the world can handle them. You add one to your count whenever a low card is dealt and subtract one for every hand in play (including the dealer). Numbers are used to express the ease of use, where 10 is being the easiest possible card counting system and 1 is the hardest. Blackjack Card Counting Systems. Av. Lumping aces into the low card group is fine in single-deck blackjack because it doesnt have as big of an impact. Red 7 Count i really need to get myself cvcx so i can compare the different versions of KO with hi-lo to find out which system is best for 6 decks if your either betting flat or spreading 1-2.. it just really bothers me that the count in KO can be significantly different depending how many decks have been dealt, which i guess means that all unbalanced counts would bother me.. on the other hand, i have difficulty with the true count, but then again i havent even practiced with it at all.. i seem to be the only one that did very little practice and just went into the casino and started counting, but all i really do is keep a running count with my chips and occasionally check what the TC is to the nearest full deck, and then when i divide i just say "ok its more than 3" or whatever it is, i dont calculate "its 3.75" or something.. the one thing that you always hear is "such and such isnt significant because most of the advantage comes from betting", but what if none of your advantage comes from betting, but from wonging? For this to work you will need to select the right game, calculate your bankroll requirements so you can survive the downswings and minimise your risk of ruin. This has been fueled by Hollywood movies like 21, where card counters act like their lives depend on not being detected by the casino. Knockout (KO) System. This is an example of the Knock Out System: the player has tracked 4, 3, Jack, 9, 7 and Queen. Whatever the case may be, I highly suggest that you use one of the strategies covered here to give yourself an easy introduction to the card counting world. Is a 0.05% gain worth it? The acronym SCORE means Standardized Comparison Of Risk and Expectation, which was developed by Don Schlesinger and others and is thoroughly explained in his book, Blackjack Attack 2nd edition, which every serious card counter should own. Hi-Lo or KO not a big dif. That's why you do not need to rush when you are on these charts and explanations. This means that there must be a relatively high proportion of high cards, which are still left in the deck to be dealt. Another thing to take into account is that the Red Seven system is unbalanced too. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Red Seven is great if you hate converting your running count to a true count, but still want the accuracy of a balanced system. Basically the term advantage play refers to a number of practices the player can use to increase the mathematical probability of collecting a good hand and thus winning against the house. This minimizes one's loss rates and at least partially eliminates the advantage the house has over less-skilled players. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison - Gemini Joker Online Slot Features. One of the great features of SBA is that it can use a wide variety of counting systems when running your sims and K.O. Side Counts - this increase the strategy's efficacy greatly, if it is carried out properly. You can actually switch the counts for the red and black seven it makes no difference. 8s and 9s on the other hand are marked as 0 here. What I'm starting to realize is that the second system isn't so hard to learn as the first one was. Hi/Lo Results: The man behind it is Edward Thorp, a professor of mathematics with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It may get a bit more difficult to calculate as the dealer gets deeper into the deck, but with 50% or 60% penetration, the division thats needed is never too complicated. These correspond to the following values: +1, +1, -1, +1, 0, +1, 0 and a running count of +4. Av. These things are used to estimate how effective one card counting system is. std. The reason why Hi-Lo is balanced and KO isnt is due to the 7 being neutral. There are two ways to even the imbalance out, depending on the number of decks dealt in the game. Not impossible, but certainly not easy, either. Blackjack is one of the most frequently-played casino banking games in the world, which gained paramount popularity in the sixties and since then has become the target of many players, looking to win big. As mentioned above, Omega II is a balanced card counting method. Here are the different card groups and how you assign them values: You need to track every card with this system not just the low ones like with OPP. In most cases the basic strategy is presented in the form of a chart which indicates when players should stand, hit, double or split a pair, depending on the hand of the dealer but memorizing the scheme is a better idea as most casinos don't allow players to bring the chart in and use it on the table. Inexperienced card counters can use it to develop their skills before they switch to more elaborate options like the Hi-Lo. To avoid fractions, players can double the values of . In case there are two decks, remaining in the shoe, the total count so far is 1,5. Only then you can progress to turning over two cards to count them as a pair. All casino games have an edge in favor of the casino, which makes them impossible to beat in the long run. If you go to a casino only once or twice a month, you probably play for quite a few hours at a time, but I live half-an-hour from 6 casinos, so its easy for me to play for an hour at one particular place and move on. These explanations will contribute to your knowledge greatly. The higher-value cards such as tens and Aces, that are more advantageous to players, are assigned as -1, as after each hit fewer of those are left in the remaining deck. Penetration was 31/52. If you ask me (which no one did) Red 7's the way to go. This is a balanced card counting system. Your first stake is therefore 8 units (1 plus the running count of 7). If at any time the count goes to -1 then the running total is (-1 +1) or zero and you should either sit out the round, if you can do it without arousing suspicion or bet the lowest unit possible. This is referred to as spreading bets in card counting. The easiest way for casinos to root out a card counter is by their betting patterns. When the count is lower they better restrain from placing the high bet. This is important as being dealt higher-value cards, increases players' chance of winning while lower-value cards are more beneficial for the dealer as they decrease the chance of pulling out a face card and going over 21. We are The reader quoted above plays mostly single-deck games in Reno where, for the most part, the rules suck: the dealer hits soft 17, you may double only on 10 or 11 and double after split isnt allowed. The probabilities of winning for each sequence of cards and running totals has been examined in detail and many studies over the years have produced recommended strategies and actions for any given event. The higher the total sum of the dealt cards is, the more 10-value cards have remained in the deck. Obviously if you keep sitting out games and appear to be choosing the games in which to be involved then you will certainly arouse suspicion amongst the pit bosses and be asked to leave. 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