Card Counting in the Game of Blackjack
Cluster Counting

The basic principle behind Card Counting as a Blackjack Strategy for Winning, is that a deck of cards rich is Tens (Ten's, Jack's, Queen's or King's) and Aces is favorable to the player, while on the other hand, a deck rich in small cards is favorable to the Blackjack Dealer. The logic behind this assumption is that a deck of cards rich in Tens and Aces is proportionately More Likely to Bust the Dealer, and bust the dealer more often.

Cluster Card Counting

One Basic Card Counting Strategy that can be used when Playing the Game of Blackjack is called Cluster Counting. Cluster Counting, like the other Card Counting Strategies outlined here at Blackjack Help, helps determine the probability of a higher than normal percentage of Ten-value cards and Aces being dealt, thus giving the Blackjack Card Game Player an edge. Cluster Counting in Blackjack is also referred to as "Shuffle Tracking".

The Cluster Counting method of Blackjack Card Counting is based on the observation that cards tend to "cluster" in certain parts of a "multi deck shoe", and that the shuffling of the cards at the conclusion of a shoe can be tracked by the Blackjack Player so that he or she can determine which portions of the next shoe will have a proportionately high percentage of Ten-value cards and Aces.

How to Cluster Count in Blackjack

During your initial Blackjack shoe, make mental notes as to the flow of cards being dealt while dividing the shoe into single deck sections. Then observe which portions of each section that are high in Aces and Ten-point cards.

Rate each section as being rich or poor in high cards and note how the cards are placed in the discard box.

At the end of each shoe, watch how the dealer shuffles the new shoe. Keep track of where the clusters of high cards are located, and where they will surface in the dealing of the next shoe.

When playing the next shoe, increase your wager when you reach those sections of the shoe that are rich in high point cards, and decrease your wager when the deck is rich in low point cards.

Cluster Counting in Blackjack, "shuffle tracking" is a very difficult Card Counting Technique to master, and casinos have taken measures to defeat its effectiveness. Some casinos use two discard racks and change the shuffle style or use automated shuffling machines. You can still find Blackjack tables where Cluster Counting can be used, and if you take the time to master the technique, it can give you an edge!

Blackjack Card Game Strategy

Understand that a Blackjack Player's decision to hit, stand, or double down, is still based on good Basic Blackjack Strategy. You have to master the Basic Strategy to Winning Blackjack before you can be successful at Card Counting, regardless of the style of Card Counting you choose to persue.

There are situations where alterations in Basic Blackjack Game Play Strategy is recommended based on the current running card count for the game..

If you have a hard 16 against a dealers up card of ten, and the running count is +2 or greater... stand!

This is against basic blackjack strategy, but when you consider that the deck or shoe is rich in face cards you are more likely to bust, thus you ignore basic strategy and stand.