Gambling Zone explores different card counting methods, explains how to use them in blackjack, and whether it is still a skill worth learning or not.

When you are learning how to play blackjack, the phrase ‘card counting’ is likely to come up time and time again. It is a highly debated issue in online blackjack and other card games, with the technique almost having a mythical status among gamblers. Card counting is a skill players can use to determine the value of a deck and make more educated guesses depending on what cards are left to be dealt. In this card-counting guide, we will explore this blackjack strategy in full and determine whether or not it is worth learning.

Card Counting is a popular blackjack strategy where players use maths to work out what cards are left in the deck and their probability of hitting certain hands. The aim of card counting is to keep track of all of the high and low-value cards that have come out of the deck, thereby reducing the housing edge. You can find out more about card counting and other techniques by checking out our blackjack tips page. Card counting is a skill that appears simple, but can take years to perfect.. To card count, players assign a negative, positive, or zero value to face and number cards. They then keep a ‘running value’ as cards come out of the deck, waiting for the blackjack odds to swing for them. Players can then adjust their bets accordingly; with the higher the value, the better the situation for the player. This can take years to practise and requires a lot of patience, as well as trial and error.

Hi-Lo

Hi-Lo is the most popular method of card counting. For this, players assign a value to all low and high cards in the deck and keep a running value as they play. The idea is that the more high-value cards left in the deck, the more favourable the game is for the player, and vice versa. During the game, the higher the running value is, the safer you are to play bigger bets.

Red Seven

With Red Seven, players assign values as follows: 1-6 is +1, ten, and the face cards are -1 and eight and nine are zero. As the name might suggest, the number seven is important here. A red seven is a +1, and a black seven is zero. This counting system is particularly useful for newcomers and has become more popular in recent years.

K-O

K-O is a card counting system that once again assigns values to cards. In K-O, the biggest difference from the Hi-Lo is that the number 7 is assigned a +1 point. Two through seven have one point, eight and nine have zero, and ten and above are given -1. This is one of the easiest card-counting systems to learn.

KISS

There are multiple versions of the KISS system that are used by players. In its simplest form though, the system values four through six as +1, ten through King as minus one, and every other number as zero. This system is popular because it counts half of the deck as zero, making it much easier to count through.

Omega II

Omega II is considered a more complex strategy than the ones previously mentioned. It values cards as follows: two, three and seven are counted as +1, four, five and six are +2, eight and ace are zero, nine is -1, and ten are -2, as are the suits.

Hi-Opt

Hi-Opt card counting are strategies that are considered to be highly optimal. These require a lot of skill. In the system, Two, three, six and seven are considered +1, eight, nine and Ace are zero, four and five are +2 and the rest of the cards are -2.

Zen Count

The Zen Count system is similar to Hi-Opt and Omega II. In the system, four through six count as +2, two, three and seven are +1, eight and nine are zero, Ace is -1, and 10 through King are -2.

Wong Halves

Wong Halves is an extremely complex card-counting system. Due to its complexity, it has been rated as one of the most successful blackjack card-counting strategies. In the system, five is worth +1.5, three, four and six are +1, two and seven are +0.5, eight is zero, nine is -0.5, and ten through Ace are -1.

Illustrious 18

The Illustrious 18 is a string of eight variations on the traditional basic blackjack strategy. To utilise this technique, you will need a thorough understanding of what basic blackjack strategy is and how it is applied. This gives you an indication of how to play each hand depending on what has already left the deck and your running value.

Single-deck

Single-deck card counting is the easiest, as it requires only keeping track of 52 cards throughout the game. Unfortunately, most blackjack games are multi-deck, which makes things more difficult.

Multi-deck

In Multi-Deck card counting, players will need to make sure they understand the game’s full count. To work this out, players must divide the running value by the number of decks in play if they want to be as accurate as possible. Needless to say, this can be extremely difficult and takes a lot of skill.

Card counting online, while possible, is extremely difficult. Live casino games use several techniques to counteract potential card counting. This includes things like deck penetration, which replaces decks halfway through a round, or continuous shuffling machines, which mix decks and make card counting impossible. There are also variations of blackjack which can swing the house edge so much that card counting is virtually ineffective over the long run. 9.4 / 10

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CLAIM OFFERRead Review 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Automatically credited upon deposit. Cancellation can be requested. First Deposit Only. Min. deposit: £10. Max Bonus £100. WR of 30x Deposit Plus Bonus amount (Slots count 100% and any other game 10%) within 30 days. Spins Game: Big Bass Bonanza. WR 60x free spin winnings amount (only Slots count) within 30 days. Spin value: £0.10. Max bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the Bonus amount or £5 (lowest amount applies).Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds. Bonuses do not prevent withdrawing deposit balance. First Deposit Bonus can only be claimed once every 72 hours across all Casinos. Bonus Policy applies. Card counting is famous for being one of the few blackjack strategies that can reduce the house edge if utilised correctly. If done correctly, players will have the ability to make more effective bets and, when used in conjunction with other techniques like Blackjack Basic Strategy, can really help a player make more long-term gains.

No system is perfect, though, and the biggest disadvantage of card counting is that it is extremely difficult to use and get right. It also involves a lot of tracking and can go horribly wrong with the slightest hint of human error. As well as this, it is now basically impossible to use it in any online blackjack game, whether live or virtual.

One of the first bits of advice we should give when talking about card counting is to make sure you do it discreetly. While card counting is not illegal, it is still frowned upon, and if you are caught, you could be asked to leave a table or a casino. Of course, we would also recommend practising as much as you can away from casinos; card counting is an extremely difficult skill to master, and it is best to try to do so in a less high-pressure environment first. We would also recommend trying out different strategies, as some of them may not work for you or could be more difficult. Card counting, when done correctly, can be an effective blackjack strategy. Of course, it can still never reduce the house edge, and it is also extremely difficult to learn, so there is a lot to weigh up before you start learning. We also want to remind our readers to gamble responsibly. Card counting is extremely difficult, and you should be careful when attempting to use it.

Use these Blackjack Strategy Charts to learn the correct decision for every hand. Basic Strategy is the first step to beating blackjack with card counting

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