Card Counting in the Game of Blackjack
Hi-Low Card 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.

Hi-Low System of Card Counting

Arguably the most popular system of Card Counting in use today, is the Hi-Low Card Counting System. Based on the assigning of a point value to every card dealt, that is all players on the table including the dealer, each card is assigned its own specific point value.

Tens and Aces (High Cards) get a -1
7, 8, and 9's get a 0
2, 3, 4, 5, and 6's get a +1

As the Blackjack Card Game progresses, and the cards dealt, the Hi-Low Card Counting Blackjack Player has to mentally keep a "running count" of the cards as they become exposed. He or she then makes decisions on what to bet based on the current "running count".

Card Counting Strategy

The higher the running count, then the higher the percentage of ten-point cards and aces remain in the deck to be dealt. This gives the advantage to the Blackjack Player and he or she should Increase their Bet Accordingly.

If the running count is around zero, the Blackjack deck or shoe is neutral and neither the player nor the dealer has an advantage.

The higher the minus count, the greater the disadvantage to the Blackjack Player, as a higher than normal number of "stiff cards" remain to be dealt. It's when the Blackjack deck is in this condition that the player should be making minimum wagers or simply leave the table.

As the Blackjack Card Game progresses, and the dealer goes deeper into the deck, the credibility of the running count becomes more accurate. This is when the Blackjack Player's Bet can be Increased or Decreased accordingly, with the best probability of winning more and losing less as a result.

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.

Always take insurance when the count is +3 or greater.

Exceptions aside, you should always stick to Basic Srategy during Blackjack Game Play, even when Counting Cards!

Card Counting and Betting

Simply use Card Counting as an indication of when to increase or decrease the amount of your bet, as that is the whole strategy behind card counting.

If the point count is +2 or greater in a single deck Blackjack Game of Cards, basic Card Counting Strategy says you should increase your initial bet.
In a multiple deck Blackjack Game of Cards, basic card counting strategy says you should increase your wager when the 'TRUE COUNT' is +2 or more.

The difference between a "running count" in a single deck game and the "true count" in a multiple deck game, is that the "true count" in a multiple deck game is based on the actual number of decks left to be played.

"The Blackjack Card Counter simply adds and subtracts points according to the cards played and keeps a running total of the count called "running count". He or she then divides the running count by the "proportion of the size" of the deck of cards left in the Blackjack Game. This providesthe "true count". In a multiple deck game of Blackjack, simply divide the running count by the number of decks of cards left to play. Now the Card Counter knows the relative richness of high cards in the remaining Blackjack Deck."

If during a single deck Blackjack Card Game, the first six cards dealt are small cards, then you have a "running count" total of +6, which is a nice advantage to the player. If on the other hand, you are playing a six deck Blackjack Card Game and the first six cards dealt are all small cards, you also have a "running count" of +6. However, this doesn't add up to the same advantage as in the single deck game, because you have several decks in the shoe left to be dealt.. In reality, you must use a "true count" as your basis of increasing your wager. If you're playing in a six-deck Blackjack Game of Cards, and the first six cards are small ones, the count per remaining deck (the "true count") is actually just a bit over 1, since there is just a bit less than 6 decks remaining to be played.

So there you have it, Card Counting in a Nutshell. It takes practice and concentration, and that may take away some of the enjoyment of playing the game, but whether you choose to use the Hi-Low System of Card Counting, Casual, or Cluster Card Counting, counting cards does give you an advantage so long as you also stick to Good Basic Blackjack Strategy when Playing the Game of Blackjack!