Counting Cards
Counting Cards in Blackjack
Counting cards in blackjack is one of the most misunderstood skills used to beat the casinos at their own game. Many people believe that to be a good card counter you have to memorize all of the cards as they are dealt so that you know which cards remain in the dealing shoe. While this would work, I’m not sure I have ever known anyone who could actually do this. And I do know people who can count cards.
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The basic idea is much like the nearly impossible one mentioned above, but it isn’t that hard. You do keep track of cards as they are dealt and by doing this you do have an idea of the mix of cards still left in the shoes. But you don’t have to memorize the cards. There are many different types of counting systems, but most of them work in much the same way. You will start with a count, let’s use zero for an example, and then add or subtract from this count depending on what cards have been dealt. If the count goes one way you should bet more (when there are more big cards left than small ones) and when the count goes the other way you should bet less (when there are fewer big cards left than small ones).
This is not an actual count system, but it is similar to some of the
popular ones. Using the starting count of zero, you subtract one from
your count for every card over seven and add one to your count for every
card dealt below a seven. When your count is at zero or below you are
playing at a disadvantage against the
casino. The higher the count goes
into the positive the better your odds of winning become. There will be
a number where your odds are actually better than the casinos on
average. When you get to this number you need to bet more.
As I mentioned, this is not a true system and I have not investigated any of the percentages if you did use it, but for the sake of argument lets assume something to see what it would mean. When the count is positive two you are playing blackjack for real money at break even against the casino. Because of this, you know that as soon as the count goes above positive two you should bet as much as possible. You may not win all of the time because your edge will be very small, but over time your actual edge will match your actual income.
The other thing that goes hand-in-hand with a good counting system is playing the proper strategy to complement the system. Even if you have the best system in the world, if you don’t follow the proper strategy when playing your cards you will still lose. There is a mathematically correct way to play every hand at the blackjack table. If you are a counter, there will be a few places where it is better for you to play differently than the normal best play. To show this through an extreme example, if you knew for a fact that the dealer was going to bust, you would split any two cards that you could and double down on any hand that you could without busting no matter what. This is the only way you can get more money on the table.
Is Counting Cards Illegal? - Is Counting Cards Legal?
The two most frequent questions I am asked are a variation of the
same question. The two questions are “Is counting cards illegal” and “Is
counting cards legal”. The short answer is that counting cards using
only your mind is legal in any gambling establishment that I am aware
of. You cannot use any type of electronic device to assist you, like a
computer or cell phone though. There is a catch though, and it is a big
one. Most casinos are private businesses so they do not have to allow
you to
play blackjack (or any other game) in their place of business. So
if you get caught counting cards, you may be asked to leave in certain
places. Other places it is accepted and openly discussed.
If you are asked to leave while playing blackjack or any other casino game by a casino employee, just leave. No matter what you do, don’t ever touch a casino employee. You can be charged with a crime if you touch them. You cannot be charged with a crime or detained for counting cards. Simply gather up your chips and leave as quickly as possible. Professional card counters go to great lengths to disguise themselves and their play in order to keep the casinos from catching them. Most books on the subject include a section on camouflaging your play and if you work hard enough to become a good counter you will want to learn many of the tricks to not getting caught. The best games are in the places where they ask counters to leave.
Is Counting Cards Illegal in Las Vegas?
It is not illegal to count cards in Las Vegas, but you can be asked to stop playing and / or leave. You do not want anyone to know that you are counting cards, because the casinos in Las Vegas do not have to allow you to play. While the movies make it out like Vegas is full of thugs who will beat you up or detain you if you are caught counting, this simply isn’t the truth. If the person in the casino making the call to kick out counters is good at their job and you aren’t a very good counter, they may not bother you at all. But if you are good and consistently winning money because of your counting, you will not be welcome.
Is Counting Cards Legal in Atlantic City?
Atlantic City is the most popular destination for gambling in the United States, where it is not only legal to count cards at the blackjack table it is law. You still can’t use a cell phone, computer or other electronic device to help you count, but you don’t have to worry about being kicked out if they catch you counting using only your brain. The down side to this is the casinos do things to make it hard to win even for the best counters in the world. Some of the things they do are reduce the pay out for blackjack, only deal three or four decks deep into an eight deck shoe, use a continuous shuffling machine, not allow any mid shoe entry to the table or make the other rules so stacked against the player that you can’t win in the long run no matter what.
For these reasons, it is always a good idea to keep the casinos or anyone else from knowing that you count cards. You can change up your play in non-critical situations so you play different than a normal counter and disguise your appearance if you play the same place often. You also need to learn how to count cards without staring at them one by one as they are dealt.
Can You Make Money Counting Cards
The answer to the question “Can you make money counting cards?” is yes. But it isn’t easy. There are professional card counters who make a great deal of money but they train and work hard to reach the skill level required to win on a consistent basis. There are also thousands of people who only give card counting a half-hearted effort who do not consistently make money. The difference is almost never how intelligent or smart a person is, but how much they are willing to work at it. The only real skill required to learn how to count cards is the ability to add and subtract. While having additional skills does help, there isn’t much more required.
Counting cards is not for everybody, but if you truly want to make money as a counter and are willing to do the work, you can and will make money. The money is not always consistent, but if you have a large enough bankroll you will be able to work through all of the losing sessions that come between winning ones. It takes many sessions to get a true read on how successful you are, but because every decision a good counter makes is based on math, if you always make the correct decision then you will win in the long run.
You may also hear other players bragging about how much money they make and how great their system is. While this is not a 100% rule, most of these people aren’t making any money at all. The best counters don’t brag because they don’t want to draw any attention to themselves. If the casinos find out they are counters they won’t let them play. You are better off buying a good book about counting and learning a proven system than being taken in by a supposed guru.
Does Counting Cards Work?
When I am asked the question “Does counting cards work?” I am always tempted to give a crappy answer like “Yes, It is hard work.” Deciding whether or not something works depends a great deal on your expectations. If you define work in this case as winning more money than you lose over the long run, then yes it works if you are a good counter. The biggest problem is that just because you learn how to count does not mean you are any good at it. Plenty of people know how to play chess, but most of them are not any good.
If you learn how to count cards, constantly practice and work on your game and have a big enough bankroll to stay afloat in the ups and downs of normal variance you will be a winning blackjack player. But don’t make the mistake of fooling yourself and assume you are a good counter if you are not. It will just cost you money in the long run. If your goal is to simply play the game of 21 as a break-even player, you don’t have to put as much time and effort into counting. You can play almost break even by just playing correct strategy. The thing is, if you are going to put the work into becoming a card counter, why not put enough effort into it to become a good one?
Is Counting Cards Hard?
When people who have tried to count cards and failed are asked “Is counting cards hard?” they may be inclined to say that it is. But if you ask players who are good counters the same question they may very well say that it isn’t hard. There may be a little bit of truth in both answers, even if they aren’t the same. Counting cards is not really hard, but it isn’t real easy to get started either. Once you learn a system, the only thing that you need to do is practice your system until you have it down and can play it without missing anything. This is not easy, but it can be done by just about anyone willing to do the work involved.
It is up to you to decide if learning how to count cards is hard, but I caution you not to make a decision until you have all of the facts. It may be more hard work than you are willing to do, but if you think you want to learn I strongly suggest giving it a try. Some systems are much harder to learn than others, but that isn’t a good enough reason not to try. If one system seems too hard, find a simpler one. The easiest one I have ever seen is the Golden Touch system by Frank Scoblete. While I can’t guarantee how good it is, I can tell you that anyone can learn and use it.
How To Count Cards – Counting Cards System
Learning how to count cards is all about finding a system, learning the system and sticking to the system no matter what. There are dozens of systems, and many of them have been mathematically proven to give you an edge. The main thing you need to decide is which counting cards system you want to learn.
The basic way that most systems work is to add or subtract a small number, usually one, to your running count depending on what card is played. You then use the count to determine whether to bet more or less on the next hand. Many times you will play through an entire shoe without raising your bet because the count will stay against you. Other times you will be able to raise your bet and keep it higher for long periods of time in a shoe. It all depends on which cards are still in the remaining decks in the shoe.
The Math Behind Counting Cards - Counting Cards Math
The math behind counting cards is pretty simple. If most of the small cards in a deck have been played then most of the remaining cards are high cards. When there are higher cards remaining in the deck than low cards you have a better chance to get a natural 21, which pays more than other winning hands, and the dealer also has a greater chance to bust. The dealer has to follow strict rules and will have 12 through 16 often. These hands are likely to bust when the deck is rich with high cards. You do not have to follow any rules for hitting and standing so your advantage when you know the makeup of the remaining cards will help you play to the best mathematically possible decisions.
The actual mathematical percentages depend on the counting system that you are using and most of the popular systems have the math broke down in the same book the system can be found in. The reason the math works out so that a good counter can beat the blackjack tables is because if you play perfect strategy the casino only has a small edge without counting. This edge is around ½ percent. So you only need a small edge from counting to swing the advantage to you.
Counting Cards Strategy
The best counting cards strategy is the one that helps you become a winning overall blackjack player. This will involve a system, but there is not a single system that is best for everyone. You need to study many different counting systems and find not only one that works (there are many that work) but also one that you can learn and use without making any mistakes.
You are better off with a weaker system that you can use perfectly than a more complicated system that you make mistakes with. Mistakes can completely wipe out the profit from any system, no matter how good it is. Here is an example to show you what I mean in a different way.
Using system A gives the player who makes no mistakes a .65 advantage over the casino. (These numbers are not real, just for illustrative purposes) and system B gives the player a .25 advantage. A player can use system B perfectly and never makes a mistake. The same player can use system A but makes mistakes every once in a while. It does depend on how many mistakes are made and how much each mistake costs, but the player won’t have to make many mistakes to lost the .40 percent advantage system A offers over system B. Also, it may take hundreds of hours of play to see exactly how much the mistakes are costing. The player is better off using system B until he or she masters system A. And unless you are a professional blackjack player there is not a great reason to master system A unless you have the time and determination to do it. Just don’t use it anywhere except low stakes until you have it down pat.
Counting Cards - The Hi Lo System
Most card counting systems are based on a hi lo count. The reason behind this is that the more high cards that are left in the shoe the more advantage you have as a player. On the other hand, if there are more low cards left in the shoe the casino’s advantage is larger. Some systems use all of the cards with the pivot card being a seven while others just concentrate on high or low cards.
Cards are assigned a value that is added or subtracted from the running count. So a high card may add a point to your running count and a low card may subtract one. Each system is unique so just knowing a count without knowing how it relates to your system is not helpful. The most accurate systems appear to be hi lo systems, but they are also the most difficult to learn and use. Some of them even require you to compare your count to how many decks are left in the shoe or how many decks have been dealt.
If you want to learn and use the best possible counting cards system, you need to investigate the hi lo systems that are available. If you want to get an advantage over the casino but want an easier system, then you probably want to learn a non hi lo system.
Practice Counting Cards Online - Counting Cards Practice
There are many places online where you can practice counting cards. Just do a search in Google or Yahoo for “practice counting cards online” or “counting cards practice” and you will find quite a few different options. Some of them are better than others and some include more options than others. The best thing to do is to find one that you can configure to be just like the game you will be playing live.
For example, if you play a six-deck shoe game where the dealer stands on all 17’s and you can split any pair, then practice under the same conditions. Just remember that practicing and playing blackjack online are two different things. (As discussed in the next section.) Everyone learns best differently, but I have never learned as well practicing online as I have by just dealing cards out myself.
Counting Cards Online
No matter how good you are at counting cards at the blackjack tables in a casino, it won’t do you any good to try counting cards online when you're playing real money online blackjack. Online casinos use software to run their games that is close to a continuous shuffle machine. Every new hand dealt in blackjack at an online casino is a fresh hand. Any hands dealt before it has no bearing on the next hand. This is the main reason professional card counters don’t play online. They won’t play in a game where they can’t gain an advantage.
There is one situation where you can get a small advantage when playing at an online casino. Most of them offer bonuses for first time depositors. For example, if you deposit $500 they may give you an additional $500 to play with. If this is the case and you are allowed to play blackjack while clearing the bonus, if you play perfect strategy you will have an edge. Most online casino bonuses will not let you play blackjack while clearing a bonus. (Clearing a bonus means that you have to wager the money so many times before you are allowed to cash it out of your account.) Many of them will only let you play slot machines or other games where the casino has a huge advantage to clear bonuses. The other place you can sometimes take advantage of bonuses is by playing video poker.
Make sure that you read all of the terms and conditions before making a deposit so that you know exactly what games you can play and what you have to do in order to make a withdrawal of your winnings. Remember that online casinos are just like your local ones in they are designed to win money.
Books on Counting Cards - Card Counting Books
By doing a search on Google or Amazon for books on counting cards you will see that there are hundreds of different counting cards books available. Here is a short list of ones I have read and recommend. This is not to say they are the only ones you should read, but they will give you a solid start in your card counting library.
- Beat the Dealer by Edward Thorpe
- Knock Out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura
- Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson
- The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin
- Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong
- Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder
Edward Thorpe's Beat the Dealer – History of Counting Cards
The history of counting cards in blackjack starts with the famous book Beat the Dealer by Edward Thorpe. It was the first widely available system that could be used to gain an actual advantage against the casinos at the blackjack table. It was so effective that the casinos started to get worried and changed the rules on their blackjack tables to make it so counters couldn’t win. The problem was that this made the rules so bad that even people who weren’t counting cards didn’t want to play any more. So the casinos changed most of the rules back and started trying to keep the best counters out of their places of business.
Thorpe’s book is worth reading for anyone who plays blackjack, especially if you have never read anything about counting before. The system in the book is not as good as many of the systems used today, but it will help you understand how, and why, systems work and is a great place to get started.
It has been over 30 years since this happened but the casinos still are fighting the professional card counters. Over the years there have been better and better systems developed and there have been rules changes made in the game of blackjack. What most casinos don’t seem to realize is that the majority of their players are not card counters. Also, many supposed card counters aren’t very good at it and end up losing money in the long run anyway. Though I have never done an in depth study of the mathematics, I am pretty sure that a casino that openly let counters play but narrowed their betting spreads would be just as profitable as any other casino. The card counters biggest advantage is being able to greatly increase their bets when the count is in their favor. If they don’t allow a large spread they would discourage professional counters from playing but reap the positive publicity of openly accepting counters play.
The MIT Blackjack Team
The MIT blackjack team is the most well known card counting story in the world. It has had newspaper and magazine articles written about it, had a book published about it and has even been turned into a movie. There were actually many different MIT teams as well as teams from other places. The book and especially the movie have stretched the truth quite a bit, but they are still entertaining.
A group of people would form a team and all work together out of a common bankroll to beat the casinos. Certain team members would play at minimum stakes and count cards. Once the count was in their favor they would secretly signal another player who would join the table and make large bets. This way the big player wouldn’t even need to know how to count and the actual counter never varied his or her bet. It took the casinos a long time to figure the team approach out, but now they watch for it all of the time. They have also made a rule about no mid shoe entry in many places to combat this. The team counting approach is still being used though, because just like the casinos learning and adapting, smart counters learn and adapt also.
The 21 Movie and Counting Cards
The movie 21 is loosely based on the book about the MIT blackjack team. From m research it is obvious that very little of what is in the movie actually happened, but it is still entertaining. For example, most of the violence depicted in the movie never happened. Casinos (at least modern casinos) aren’t in the habit of physically abusing people. It just opens them up to too much possible liability. They also are much more advanced in using facial and body recognition computer programs to catch counters now. I do recommend the movie if you are interested in card counting. You may learn a few things, but mostly just for entertainment value.
Counting Cards in 21
I have touched on many different areas about counting cards on this page, but there is still a whole world of information available to you. The most important thing is deciding if you really want to be a card counter. If you are dedicated to beating the blackjack and 21 tables then you can do it. All it takes is the proper system combined with your hard work and a bankroll. Counting cards in 21 does not require a genius level IQ, just practice and dedication. Once you have found a system that you like, spend as much time as you need to and make it work for you. Here is a great way to practice your new system once you learn it.
Get eight decks of playing cards with the same back. Shuffle them and start dealing out hands of two, three and four cards while keeping your running count. Deal out the cards as fast as possible. You will get to the point where you can fly through eight decks of cards without any hesitation. Then start doing this while watching television or while talking on the phone. This way you will earn how to always keep the count while being distracted. Remember that in a casino there are hundreds of distractions and you need to be able to count cards without looking like you are a counter. If you can talk to the people sitting next to you and the dealer while maintaining your count it will go a long way toward staying undetected.
Card counters who stare at every card as it is being dealt are easy for the floor personal and the casino cameras to catch. The next time you play blackjack at a local casino keep your eyes open and see if you can tell if anyone is counting. Most card counters are not very smooth and can be easily picked out. The best ones are almost impossible to catch. Though I have never been able to do it, I have often heard stories of the top card counters being able to count cards by their reflections off a drinking glass or pair of sunglasses on the table.
It is not good enough to be a great card counter; you also have to be able to get away with doing it in games that offer favorable rules. Becoming a winning 21 player is a long process, but it can and has been done. Just don’t give up if it is something that is important to you.
Counting Cards Bankroll
The last thing I want to cover here deals with your bankroll. While an in depth discussion needs to include terms like risk of ruin and standard deviations, the important things to know aren’t that hard to learn. If you are a losing blackjack player it will never matter how big your bankroll is. A losing player will continue to lose over time no matter what they do unless they can figure out a way to get an advantage over the casino. Card counters learn how to get this advantage, but even the best ones don’t win every time they play. Also, even average non-counters win sometimes, but lose in the long run.
Professional card counters understand that there will be winning and losing sessions. But they also understand that if they are using a good system and play it correctly that they will win in the long run. So they have to have a large enough bankroll to survive through the times where they lose. All systems go through periods of losing, no matter how good the system is. The advantage that even the best system gives to a player is small so there is no way around the ups and downs.
I do not have a hard and fast rule for the actual size of your bankroll, but you do need to have a large enough one that you won’t ever change the way you are playing your system. Most systems have bankroll recommendations; so see what the author of your system recommends. The mistake many players make is pushing when they are going through a down swing. This means they start making larger and larger bets trying to catch up from their losses. In other words, they stop using their system and starting making poor decisions. When you have a big enough bankroll, it is easier to stick with your system.
This leads to one last piece of advice. Find a system that you can believe in. If you have any doubts about the profitability of a system you will have times when you are tempted to stop using it. This is always a bad idea unless you are switching to a better system. All of the good systems have solid mathematics behind them so if you have any doubts learn the math behind your system. See and understand why it works and you will understand why you need to stick with it in all situations.