Blackjack Card Counting Systems

  1. Easiest Card Counting Systems
  2. Simple Card Counting System
  3. Learn Card Counting
  4. Card Counting Systems For Blackjack
Blackjack

Blackjack Card Counting Systems. There are multiple counting systems, with the easiest and most popular being the Hi-Lo System. Cards are assigned a value as follows: cards with a rank of 2 – 6 are counted a a +1; Cards ranking 7 – 9 receive a count of zero; and tens and aces are assigned a count of -1. But with every card counting system, the concept is the same: by keeping a ratio of small cards to high cards, it gives the player a better indication of when the advantage shifts from the casino to the player. When the casino has the advantage, you bet less; when you have the advantage, you should bet more. The most profitable skill you can develop as a gambler is using your mind. Your mind is all you need to count cards to win in blackjack.

CountingCard counting systems for Blackjack are compared here, along with theirCard Values, Betting Correlation, Playing Efficiency, Insurance Correlation,Ease of Use and Type. These terms are defined at the bottom of the pageand are used to estimate the effectiveness of a Blackjack card countingstrategy. Ease of use is rated from 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest) and is basedstrictly on my own opinions (and a few phone calls from authors since Ifirst published this pageJ). Brief descriptionsof Blackjack software can be found at BlackjackSoftware Roadmap. Click on the Blackjack

Easiest Card Counting Systems

button on the left formore info on counting cards.

CardCounting Strategy Summary

Simple Card Counting System

Click on a card counting strategy name in the table for more information.

Strategy

A

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

T

BC

PE

IC

Ease

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

0

1

1

2

2

1

1

0

0

-2

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

0

0/1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

-1

0/1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0/1

0

0

-1

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

-1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

-2

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

-4

2

3

3

4

3

2

0

-1

-3

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

0

2

2

3

4

2

1

0

-2

-3

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

-1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

0

1

2

2

3

2

2

1

-1

-3

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

-2

2

2

2

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

-1

.5

1

1

1.5

1

.5

0

-.5

-1

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

-1

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.96

.63

.85

4

B2


Strategy

BC

PE

IC

Ease

Type

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

.96

.63

.85

4

B2

For a detailed description of the aspects of strategies for counting cards,see How to Create a Card Counting Strategy

BlackjackCard Counting System Sources

Method

The sources for system comparison above can be found at CardCounting Strategy Sources. Full counting tables for most strategiescan be found in free downloads of CV softwareproducts by permission of the various authors. They are not included heredue to copyright concerns.

Card CountingDefinitions

Card counting techniques include the following measurements:

Learn Card Counting

  • Playing Efficiency– PE indicateshow well a counting system handles changes in playing strategy. Playingefficiency is particularly important in hand-held games (one or twodecks.)
  • Betting Correlation– BCis defined as the correlation between card point values and the effectof removal of cards. It is used to predict how well a counting systempredicts good betting situations and can approach 1.00 (100% correlation.)BC is particularly important in shoe games (six or eight decks.)
  • Insurance Correlation– IC isdefined as the correlation between card point values and the value ofcards in Insurance situation. A point value of -9 for tens and +4 forall other cards would be perfect for predicting if an Insurance betshould be placed.
  • Level– The level of a strategyrefers to the number of different values assigned to cards. Level 2and 3 counting strategies are more efficient, but quite a bit more difficultfor most people. Level 4 & 5 counting strategies also exist. Butthis is overkill.
  • Side Counts– There are severalmethods of side counting used to increase strategy efficiency. For anoutline of five side counting techniques, see SideCounting Techniques.

  • Type– The TYPE column keyfollows:

    • B – Balanced count requiring the calculation of aTrue Count
    • U – Unbalanced count with no True Count
    • S – Suit Aware count requiring different counts forred and black cards
    • C – Compromise indexes used for greater ease
    • 1, 2, 3, 4 – Level. That is the highest tag value

Note: Playing Efficiency (as defined by Griffin) is not relevant to unbalancedcounting systems and is only an estimate. PE & BC stated here do notinclude side counts.

A list of the card counting index tables that can be found in CV productscan be found at CV Blackjack IndexTables.

Card Counting Systems For Blackjack

For Blackjack training see Blackjackcard counting software.