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The rules of blackjack are straightforward. While there are a number of
blackjack variants most follow the same basic rules. The objective of the game
is to achieve a card total greater than the dealer without busting out (going
above 21). Blackjack is a game between the payer and the dealer - you are not
playing against anyone else at the table.
Blackjack can be played with between one and eight decks of cards. Numbered
cards are worth their face value (two - ten). All face cards (jack, queen or
king) are given a numerical value of ten. Ace is semi-wild because it can be
valued at either one or eleven. The highest score in the game of blackjack is 21
(also called blackjack) and occurs when an ace and a face card are dealt. This
results in an automatic win (unless the dealer also gets blackjack which results
in a push or neutral score).
In blackjack, before cards are dealt out by the dealer, each player must place
his bet. Bets are placed in the form of chips with various cash values. After
every player has placed their bet the dealer will start dealing out two cards
face up to each player starting with the individual to the dealers left (first
base). The dealer will deal himself two cards, one face-up (the up card) and
another face-down (the hole card).
In blackjack the players at the table act before the dealer. It is important to
have a good understanding of basic strategy before playing blackjack because
once the cards have been dealt you will be expected to know how to play the
hand. It is this point where the player has a number of options, the most common
being to hit, to stand, to double-down or to split. Some casinos also offer the
option to [surrender] or to [take insurance].
Hit: means you would like another card from the dealer. You can
continue to hit until you wither bust (go above a total of 21) or decide to
stand.
Stand: means you do not want any additional cards.
Double-down: this is where you decide to double your bet and take just
one more card. You may not hit after receiving this card.
Split: If you are dealt two cards with matching point values you have the
option to split these into two hands but you will also have to add another bet
of the same value of your original bet. When splitting the two original cards
become the first cards of a new hand and the dealer will issue one card to each
hand. From here you can hit, stand, double (or re-split) as above on each hand.
Re-splitting aces is often not allowed however.
Once all the players at the table have played their hand the dealer will play
his. If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust will automatically win.
Likewise, if the dealer gets blackjack all players will automatically lose
(unless they also got blackjack resulting in a [push]).
While players can generally play their hand however they wish (within the limits
of the rules) dealers have far more restrictions on how they play. While these
rules are generally similar between casinos there can be some variations which
give the house a better statistical advantage over the player. E.g. blackjack
generally pays 3-2 however some casinos pay out at 2-1 or even 6-5. Likewise
dealers will generally stand on a soft 17 but in some games the dealer will hit.
It is important to know the rules of the casino because it will affect payout
percentages as well as the strategy that you should follow.
For new blackjack players the thought of memorizing basic strategy rules or tables may seem daunting. For this reason we have outlined simplified basic strategy rules below. While these rules are ideal for those beginning in the game or for casual players, more prolific players will be disadvantaged by 0.35% following these rules as opposed to generic basic strategy.
Even following these simplified rules, in a 6 deck game you will have reduced
the house edge to less than 1%. So for every $100 you wager, it is expected that
you will lose only $1. Not too shabby. Especially if you are getting free
drinks, comp points or other benefits. Online, if this strategy is used with
some kind of bonus offer it is feasible (depending on wagering requirement) that
you could still make a sizable profit.
The simplified rules are below, remember, a hard hand is one which does not
include an ace, or where ace is counted as one. Soft hands include an ace at one
or eleven. Pairs are two cards of the same value e.g. 8,8 or A,A.
Never take insurance.
For hard hands:
With 17 or more, always stand.
With 12 to 16, stand against if the dealer has 6 or less, otherwise hit.
With 11 or less, always hit (unless doubling).
For soft hands:
With soft 18 or more, always stand.
With soft 17 or less, always hit.
For splitting pairs:
Always split pairs of aces, 8s or 9s.
For doubling down:
With 10 or 11, double down if the dealer has an up-card of 2-9.
Double attack is another blackjack variant with a number of rule differences
from the standard game. The biggest difference is the player’s ability to double
their bet after seeing the dealer’s up-card (but before any player cards have
been dealt). Around half of the casinos in Atlantic City offer this variant, as
well as several online casinos using WagerWorks software.
Game rules:
Eight ‘Spanish decks’ are used. This means that the four 10 cards have been
removed from each deck in use
Dealer stands on all 17s
Dealer peeks for blackjack
Players can double after splitting
Aces can only be split once and receive only one additional card
Blackjack pays even money, rather than the usual 3:2
Players may double or surrender at any time
Insurance pays 5:2 or 3:1 depending on house rules
Dealer’s up-card is the first to be dealt to allow for the ‘double attack’ rule.
An optional side bet is available for the player which states the dealer will
bust with exactly three cards. This ‘bust it’ side bet is placed after the
player has seen the dealer’s up-card. Payouts vary depending on which
combination of cards caused the dealer to bust.
Payouts for successful “bust it” side bets are as follows:
Third card is a ten. Pays off 3 to 1.
Third card is a nine. Pays off 6 to 1.
Third card is an eight. Pays off 8 to 1.
Third card is a seven. Pays off 10 to 1.
Third card is a six. Pays off 15 to 1.
In order to gain the optimum advantage from the game players should double
their initial bet whenever the dealer has an up-card of 2-8. Similarly, bets
should not be doubled if the dealer has 9-A. This means that players should
double their initial steak 58.3% of the time.
Because insurance pays at 5:2/3:1, insurance is a more favorable proposition for
the player. Unlike traditional blackjack where insurance should always be
declined, when playing double attack players should buy insurance unless a 10
value card is on the table. For instance in a heads-up game, players should buy
insurance with a 9,9 against an Ace but not a K,8 against an Ace.
The doubles shown below are in addition to the doubles that should be made
based on the dealer's up-card. Remember, players should double if the dealer has
an up-card of 2-8. This double is made before the player’s cards have been
dealt. You then follow the table below.
After doubling-down, surrender if:
You have 16 or less vs. 8-Ace
Your hand is 17 against the dealer's Ace.
Below is the strategy card for European blackjack rules. The dealer gets one
card face up then draws their hole card after all players have made their
playing decisions. If the dealer gets blackjack players will lose their total
bet including doubles and splits unless they push blackjack.
Typically 6 decks are used, dealers stand on soft 17, players can double hard
totals of 9-11 only, and double after split (DAS) is allowed. These rules give
the house a 0.62% advantage over a player using perfect basic strategy play.
Note, in some UK casinos players are not permitted to split fours, fives or
tens. In this case the only variation to the rules below is that pairs of fours
should always be hit.
Pontoon is a British variant of standard blackjack. When played with 8 decks,
the house edge is only 0.38%, lower than almost any other blackjack variant. As
with traditional blackjack the object of the game is to get a total as close to
21 without busting. The main difference between pontoon and blackjack is that
the dealer’s cards are dealt face down. This means that playing strategy is
based on your hand alone and cannot be altered based on the dealer’s card.
Getting 21 is called ‘pontoon’ rather than blackjack and pays at 2:1.
Additionally the game has the additional benefit of the ‘five card Charlie’.
This means that if a player gets five cards without busting they beat any other
hand (except pontoon) and are also paid at 2:1.
The basic game rules are as follows:
Generally played with eight decks
Pontoon pays 2 to 1
5 card trick/Charlie pays 2 to 1
Dealer wins ties (no ‘push’)
Dealer’s cards dealt face down
Dealer must hit on soft 17
Player must hit any total of 14 or less
Player can double once in the hand after being dealt any number of cards
Hit after double allowed
Hands can be split twice.
As well as having different rules, pontoon also has its own game terms. As
mentioned above, an ace and ten is called ‘pontoon’ rather than ‘blackjack’. If
a player wants another card they ‘twist’ rather than ‘hit’. The term to stand is
‘stick’. Rather than ‘doubling down’ the player ‘buys’. As with blackjack when
buying the player doubles their original bet and is dealt just one more card.
Since the rules differ quite substantially from blackjack the player will see
advantages and disadvantages of playing pontoon. Clearly the biggest
disadvantage is that the dealer’s cards are dealt face down, meaning the player
has no idea what the dealer has. Also the dealer wins any ties between them and
the player (no pushes).
On the other hand there are a number of advantageous rules for the player. Being
paid 2:1 on pontoons and five card Charlie’s is the biggest advantage. Also the
ability to double after any number of hands means a player with a soft 19 can
always double and be assured a sizable win without busting (provided the dealer
does not also make a five card hand). Clearly then pontoon is no better or worse
than blackjack. Individual player preference will dictate which they prefer to
play.
Pontoon has a different basic strategy to blackjack because of the five card
rule. The strategy card is based on the number of cards that the player has,
rather than what the dealer holds. For example with a total of 17 over two or
three cards, pontoon strategy says to stick. The same total over four hands
dictates that you should twist because the chance of being paid 2:1 on a five
card Charlie outweighs the risk of busting.
In pontoon, we double all soft hands and any hard hand with a total of less
than 17 when we have four cards. In fact, the only four card hand that you would
stand with in pontoon is one totalling 18 or more.
For a blackjack player hitting a four-card hard 17, or doubling a four-card hard
16 may seem crazy. It is important to follow the correct basic strategy for the
game. You will quickly learn that the chance of making a five-card hand (and
being paid 2:1) outweighs your gut saying you’ll bust. By doubling soft
four-card hands, as we know they cannot be busted we are guaranteed a 4:1 payout
on our original bet provided the dealer does not also make a five card Charlie.
Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant that offers low house edge, and a change in
game rules for those looking to play something a little different from
traditional blackjack. The game uses Spanish decks of cards (with the ten cards
removed), thus the name, Spanish 21.
Either six or eight Spanish decks of 48 cards can be used for the game. Dealers
can either hit or stand on soft 17 depending upon house rules. In a normal game
of blackjack removing ten value cards benefits the house, rather than the
player. To make up for this the game offers a number of liberal rules that more
than compensate for the missing 10s.
Game rules can differ from casino to casino but the most common rules are
outlined below:
Late surrender is offered
Double after splitting (DAS) is allowed
Aces may be re-split
Player 21s beat house 21s
Player blackjacks beat dealer blackjacks
Players can double once per hand (on any number of cards)
Players can usually hit and double split aces
Players can surrender after doubling ‘rescuing’ the double-down portion of their
bet. This is known as the ‘double down rescue’.
Bonuses are not paid after doubling or splitting
Various bonuses are offered in the game:
Card combination === Pays
Five card 21 === 3:2
Six card 21 === 2:1
Seven plus card 21 === 3:1
6-7-8 or 7-7-7 (mixed suit) === 3:2
6-7-8 or 7-7-7
(same suit) === 2:1
6-7-8 or 7-7-7
(of spades) === 3:1
7-7-7 (same suit)
vs. Dealer 7 === Super bonus: $1000 ($5-$25 bet) or $5000
($25+ bet). Other players at the table each receive a $50 ‘envy bonus’. *
* The odds of hitting the 7-7-7 super bonus is 1 in 668,382 in a six deck game, and 1 in 549,188 in an eight deck game.
This positive progression system was devised by Donald Dahl and published in his book ‘Progression Blackjack’. Since it is a positive progression system, the player will only increase their bet size following wins, losses result in returning to the start of the sequence.
The player only advances to the next bet if they win. If the player receives
blackjack or wins a double-down or split, they can skip the next bet and proceed
to the next highest. If for instance we won the first hand, then won a
double-down on the second, we would skip to the second bet of three (the fourth
bet in the sequence) rather than only advancing to the third bet.
The bankroll is broken down into the number of sessions (or days) you wish to
play. Dahl also advises moving tables if you lose four or five hands in a row.
If the player reaches the end of the sequence they may choose to either
continuing at the maximum level of 10 units, or revert to the start of the
sequence. They may even choose to end the game if their winnings have met or
exceeded their win-limit.
Dahl says that at any point the player is only ever risking one unit of their
own money since the remainder is “the casino’s money”. This seems like a
dangerous scheme to advise. Thinking that your winnings are somehow the property
of the casino means you are more likely to feel that they are entitled to have
your winnings back.
The system is also reliant on the player hitting a ‘winning streak’ in order to extract profits from the casino. Like most other positive progression systems, without knowing when to stop, the player is risking their profits in the aim of winning another hand.
While I think the system is not nearly as effective as Dahl states, his writing style is unlike that of any other blackjack book you may read. He suggests that casinos and card counters are in cahoots and that the casinos are powerless against the might of his progression system. Big words Dahl. He also calls card counters “suckers” and says that card counting is ineffective because of the betting spreads necessary, this when his own system uses a 1-10 spread!
Most blackjack players have two basic goals, to win and to have fun. Since
losing is no fun, players basically just want to win. The best strategy is to
find a game with the least house edge and to learn basic strategy play for that
game. A slightly more advanced strategy is to combine favorable games, basic
strategy and card counting to gain a slight edge over the house. A player using
all of these smart strategies can expect a modest return on their gambling in
the long run.
For some players, these strategies are not enough. They take time to learn and
perfect, can take time to work and returns can be modest. This kind of player is
also interested in betting systems such as the martingale. Where a strategy
dictates how to play any given hand, a system dictates how much to wager
(usually based on previous successes or losses).
The martingale system is one of the best known systems in gambling. There are a
few reasons for this: It is very simple to use, can be applied to all kinds of
casino games and it has been used for a long time. The martingale system is
categorised as a ‘negative progression system’ meaning bets are raised after a
loss. The opposite of this would be a positive progression system such as
Parlay, Paroli or Oscar’s grind to name a few.
To use the martingale system, bets begin by wagering one unit. If you win,
wagering returns to this initial point of one unit. If you lose however, the
martingale system dictates that you double your previous bet. Successive losses
mean you have to keep doubling your previous bet. When you eventually win a bet
your losses will be covered by this win, and you will be up by a total of one
unit.
For example starting with a $1 per hand bet: fist bet loses, next bet doubles to
$2. The second bet also loses so the third bet will be $4. The third bet loses
so the fourth bet is $8 which wins. Total losses = 1+2+4=$7. The fourth bet
returns $16, the $8 bet plus $8 profit. Subtract the losses from the profit
$8-$7=$1 up. When you win you will always be up by your initial betting amount.
After a win you return to base bets of $1.
The system works on the presumption that you will win eventually. The problem
with martingale is that within a relatively short string of losses, you will
either not afford to place the required bet size, or will reach the table
maximum bet limit.
To calculate the probability of losing x hands in a row we use the probability
of losing any hand in blackjack which is 52.51%. From this we calculate the odds
of losing x hands in a row as 1/(0.5251^x).
To use martingale in even money bets games (craps or roulette), you need a bank roll 200x greater than your base bet. Using a $1 base requires a bankroll of at least $200 for these games. In blackjack your required bankroll is four times greater because of splits or double downs. This is why table limits can be so problematic (that’s if you can afford the necessary bankroll in the first place).
Remember:
- No betting system will work in the long run.
- You can be risking huge sums of money just to make a profit of your original
one unit bet.
- Table maximums often make martingale unworkable.
- There are other betting systems that put your money at far less risk.
If you absolutely have to try the martingale system, please keep your play as short as possible.
Card counting is a strategy employed by some blackjack players to determine when they have a probability advantage over the house. Almost universally, this means that the player is tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the shoe. The basic premise is that a deck rich in aces and tens is good for the player. A deck rich in small cards is good for the dealer. When the odds are in the players favour bet amounts and playing strategy may be altered from standard basic strategy.
The advantage that an experienced card counter has over the house is between
0.5% and 1.5%. Due to this relatively small advantage, any gains will only be
noticeable over hundreds of hands of play. Even then, financially it is not
likely to be as rewarding as films (like 21) make card counting out to be. It
would be better to see card counting as a strategy to milk casinos for comp
points, hospitality and other offers.
There are a number of different card counting strategies that the player can
employ. However simple or complex the strategy all systems will assign positive,
negative or neutral values to the cards that are dealt in the game. Low cards
are assigned a positive value because they increase the percentage of high cards
remaining in the shoe. High cards are assigned a negative value for the opposite
reason.
All of the various card counting strategies can be classified as either balanced
or unbalanced systems. A balanced system (such as Hi-Lo) requires that the count
(the total of the values from dealt cards) is converted into a ‘true count’ by
dividing by the number of decks remaining in the shoe. For example, in a single
deck game where half the cards have been dealt and the running count is +2, the
true count would be 2/0.5 = 4. This would be considered a very high count in a
single deck game and the bet stake should be increased accordingly. Only a rough
estimate is required for this conversion. In another example if the running
count was +7 with approximately 4 decks left the true count would be 7/4 = 1.74.
This figure is rounded to +2 to keep things simple.
Unbalanced card counting systems do not require this conversion from running
count to true count. Examples of unbalanced systems include the Knockout count
(K-O) and the wizard’s Ace/Five count. Because these counts do not require the
additional conversion step needed in balanced systems they are considered more
suitable for beginners.
Advanced strategies (those that have multiple simultaneous counts or require
frequent conversions) offer a slight statistical advantage over some of the more
simplistic unbalanced systems but in reality gains are small. It is better to
know a ‘simple’ strategy well and to play more hands per hour than to employ a
complex strategy, forcing you to play slower and therefore play fewer hands.
Important note: please be aware that card counting will generally not work
online. This is because most online casinos shuffle the deck after every round
making any counting strategy useless. There are however, a minority of casinos
that shuffle after a set number of cards have been dealt. Please satisfy
yourself of the methods employed by the particular casino before playing.
The Ace/Five count developed by Michael Shackleford allowing players to overcome
the house edge without being recognised as a card counter. This strategy is
often used for building up casino comps (or just getting a couple more free
drinks). In my opinion this is the most straightforward of all card counting
strategies.
The strategy is to add one to the count when a five is observed, and to subtract
one from the count every time an ace is dealt. Basic strategy is used at all
times, but betting amount is increased when the count is greater than or equal
to two. If the count is one or less, then the minimum bet should be placed. This
method is used until the shoe is reshuffled and the count resets to zero.
Why track only the ace and five cards? Because the ace is important to the
player because it forms the basis of ‘blackjack’ paying 3 to 2 (don’t play 6 to
5 or other variants). The five is useful to the dealer in turning stiff hands of
12 to 16 into good hands of 17 to 21.
When the count is plus two or greater the player should double their previous
bet up to the maximum bet level. The maximum bet should therefore be established
before sitting at the table. Normally this will be somewhere in the region of
eight to 16 times the minimum bet but any spread can be used. The important part
is establishing the maximum bet and not going above this level.
While this may seem like an aggressive approach statistically while you are
betting more with this structure than flat betting, you should actually lose
less. Plus because of the larger bets, you will accumulate more comp points,
which clearly have a monetary value.
Another ‘trick’ to using the ace/five count is to leave the table if the count
drops to minus three or lower. By taking a bathroom break or stepping out for a
few minutes until the shoe is reshuffled you can gain a significant statistical
advantage. While it is not always possible to leave the table with a low count
without looking suspicious, any time you do will save cash in the long run.
So while players should not expect to be ‘up’ after any length of playing time
using the ace/five strategy, they have essentially made blackjack an even money
game. The comp points which are offered by almost all of the larger casinos can
be exchanged for meals, show tickets or even rooms for the night.
For the biggest advantage the ace/five count should be employed in combination
with a liberal rules game. This means playing with the fewest decks possible in
a game where the dealer stands on a soft 17. In Vegas, these rules are generally
only available on tables with a higher minimum bet so shop around.
We already know that card counting at online casinos doesn’t work.
Essentially the deck(s) are shuffled after every single hand, so there is no
discard pile or opportunity to assess removed cards. Some however have
questioned whether it is possible to card count when playing against a live
dealer in online blackjack.
Rather than playing against a random number generator (RNG) you are playing
against a live human dealer. The dealer has to manually shuffle the deck(s)
every so often, but not after every hand. This raises the question as to whether
a card counting strategy can be effectively utilized against a live dealer
online.
The answer depends on the rules of the casino operator for the game. For
instance, BetFred casino utilizes eight decks of cards, and offers only around
50% penetration. That means that approximately four decks will remain in the
shoe when the dealer reshuffles. This is not adequate penetration with the
number of decks for a counter to be able to accurately assess their advantage at
that point in the game.
The rules of Victor Chandler casino state that cards are shuffled ‘at regular
intervals’. While less specific, you can be sure that they will employ a
cautious shuffle strategy so that penetration never goes to a
counter-advantageous level. Indeed some operations utilize the infamous
‘continuous shuffle machines’ so that cards are shuffled before every hand,
alleviating any possibility of card counting.
Essentially then, the number of decks used and the low penetration level means
that card counting is not an effective strategy against live dealer blackjack
online. If, however anyone can find a game with good rules that would mean a
counter can gain an edge, do please contact me and I will amend this page.
While there are numerous card counting systems available to players, the Hi/Lo
system is undoubtedly the most popular. Hi/Lo is easy to learn and relatively
easy to use in a casino situation. Also known as the plus/minus system, the
strategy is basically a simplified version of Edward Thorps famous ten-count.
Hi/Lo was the counting system employed by the MIT blackjack team, as well as the
movie 21.
Hi/Lo is a balanced level one count. Being a balanced count means that
conversion between running count and true count is required. This is done by
dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining in the shoe. If all
cards from the shoe were dealt the running and true count would be the same,
zero.
We can divide cards into three groups; low, medium and high value cards. In a
standard 52 card deck there are 20 small cards (2-6), 12 medium value cards
(7,8,9) and 20 high value cards (10-Ace).
As will all counting strategies, the more low value cards that have been dealt,
the better the player’s odds of winning any hand. This is because with high
value cards to be dealt your first two cards will be stronger, you will get
blackjack- and the dealer will bust more often.
Once you have committed the card count values to memory you should practice
counting down a deck at home. Shuffle the pack and turn over the cards one by
one keeping a running count. Don’t worry about the true count conversion at this
point. Focus on accuracy before speed. Check that your count is zero at the end
of the pack every time you count. Once you can accurately count a pack try to
increase speed. A good rule of thumb is to be able to count down a pack in less
than 30 seconds.
Remember that counting at home is very different to counting in a casino
situation. To emulate the distractions of the casino at home, play loud music
while counting, or try to have a conversation. While this will undoubtedly be
difficult, mastering this is absolutely vital for success in the casino where
the dealer or pit boss may be talking to you during the game.
When you can successfully count down one pack, add more and more packs until you
reach casino shoe levels – 6 to 8 decks. With time and practice you will have
good accuracy, speed and you will not be easily distracted.
When converting the running count to true count many players estimate the number
of decks to the nearest half deck. With practice you will become fairly accurate
in estimating the number of remaining decks in the shoe. When starting out with
Hi/Lo it is acceptable to estimate remaining decks to the nearest full deck. You
establish the number of decks remaining by looking at the discard pile. Practice
at home by stacking x number of decks or half decks. Practice until you become
accurate. You then subtract the number of decks on the discard pile from the
number of decks you started with to establish the number of decks remaining in
the shoe.
The card counters real advantage comes from being able to increase their bet
when the count is favorable. The ideal betting spread will depend on the number
of decks but a real advantage can be had in a double deck game using a 1-6
spread, and a six deck game with a 1-12 spread.
Here are a few things to remember when using a counting strategy:
- Keep focused. If you fail to count even just one or two cards your presumed
edge will be inaccurate.
- Casinos do not deal through the entire shoe. Counters have the biggest
advantage towards the end of the shoe and casinos know this. Deck penetration
can be as low as 60%.
- Practice to become more accurate. If you round the dealt cards to whole decks
try to get accurate to half or quarter decks. Also practice to increase counting
speed.
- While the math of counting is easy, many counters simply cannot concentrate
in casino conditions. Noise, other players, security, chatty dealers… practice,
practice and more practice is in order to overcome these issues.
- Never sit down at a table in the middle of a shoe if you plan to count. You
have no idea of the value of the cards that have been dealt and therefore no way
to know what’s remaining.
Probably the most important aspect of card counting is to be confident with whatever strategy you use. Statistical advantages of one system over another are incredibly small.
The knock-out counting system was devised by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura, and
named from their first names K & O. The authors say they devised the system to
dispel the myth that card counting ‘requires a mind like Albert Einstein’s,
together with a memory tantamount to that of a Pentium computer’ (i, 1998). In
blackjack the cards that have already been dealt affect the composition of cards
remaining in the shoe, so tracking dealt cards allows the counter to assess the
favorability of undealt cards.
As with all card counting strategies, knowledge of basic strategy is absolutely
essential. In most cases card counters will still play according to basic
strategy, often only adjusting the amount of their bet.
The knock-out card counting system is known as an unbalanced system. This means
that unlike with say Hi/Lo or another balanced system, counting through an
entire deck of cards would not result in a count of zero. In fact, using the K-O
count you would have a count of +4 after counting a deck.
K-O is a single level count, meaning you only need to add +/-1. The problem as I
see it with more ‘advanced’ card counting strategies is that if they are any
more difficult to use than they need to be, after a long session of play it will
become easy to make mistakes. So although other count methods may offer
statistically greater benefits to the player, if even a single mistake is made,
then these benefits are wiped out. It is for this reason that I recommend the
K-O count to all beginning and casual blackjack players. Once any counting
strategy has been mastered it is easy to move on to another system if you think
this to be necessary.
The best way to learn the values is to test yourself with a single deck of
cards at home. Turn over each card in turn and mentally keep track of the count.
If done correctly a single deck should give a +4 count. Keep trying to increase
the speed until you can count the deck in less than 30 seconds. Although this
sounds difficult with a little practice this is certainly an achievable target.
Once you are proficient try counting two cards at a time or multiple decks. It
is best to avoid bad habits early so make sure that you keep a mental tally and
do not say the count aloud or move your lips. This is a sure fire way to get the
attention of the pit boss in a casino.
In a single deck game we begin with a count of zero and add or subtract the
value of each card dealt from this initial count. For multideck games we start
with an initial count (IC) other than zero. To calculate the IC we use the
following formula:
IC = 4 – (4×number of decks).
No matter what the IC value, counting through the entire shoe would always
give a final count of +4.
Another important value to memorize is the ‘key count’. This is the value at
which the player has the advantage (and should therefore up their bet).
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