{"id":41913,"date":"2024-09-10T04:07:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T09:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/?p=41913"},"modified":"2024-09-10T08:53:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T13:53:45","slug":"blackjack-card-counting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/blackjack-card-counting\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Your Blackjack Strategy: How to Count Cards Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A key to unlocking constant blackjack wins, a hockey system not worth trying, or just plain cheating? There is no doubt that card counting divides opinion, and there are a lot of myths around this technique. But exactly how do you count cards in blackjack? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this page, we will break down those myths to bring you the truth about counting cards. Learn how to count cards and understand how this strategy can boost your blackjack gameplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Card counting in blackjack is a technique that can give the player an advantage by tracking high and low-value cards during a game. When you know how to count cards in blackjack, you essentially have a mental map of which cards have already been used and which remain. At its core, blackjack card counting gives players an extra advantage against the casino’s house edge<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blackjack is a game of luck<\/a>, even if it does have elements of skill. However, if you become good enough at counting cards, the game becomes beatable. Sounds great, but what\u2019s the catch? Well, blackjack card counting is incredibly difficult and requires a lot of training and skill, and even then, you may not be able to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing how to count cards in blackjack allows you to control your betting based on which cards you perceive as remaining. It is a deceiving system because the logic of card counting is easy to understand, but doing it in practice is very difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All card counting starts with assigning cards with a zero, positive, and negative value, all of which contribute to the Effect of Removal (EOR). As the name suggests, this provides an estimate of what impact removing a specific card will have on the house edge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most interesting things about card counting is that it is not illegal. In the US, no law says you cannot count cards when playing blackjack. Other countries view it similarly, making it technically \u201clegal\u201d around the world. It is interesting that counting cards is not cheating, as you are not unfairly influencing the outcome of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even so, you are not going to be greeted with open arms by land-based casinos if they know you are card counting. In fact, you are likely to be thrown out<\/a> if the casinos suspect you are counting. You\u2019re free to try, but most casinos frown upon it and will ban you if you are caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image credit: Kitreel\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The fundamental knowledge you need to start card counting is understanding the card values in blackjack. If you are unfamiliar with blackjack, it is a casino card game where you play against the dealer. The objective is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. You get two initial cards and can \u201cStand\u201d with those two or \u201cHit<\/a>\u201d to receive more cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each card in blackjack has a value that you add together to get a hand total. For numbers 2 through 10, the value is the number. Picture cards all have a value of 10, while the Ace counts either as 11 or 1:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Learn Card Counting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Legality of Card Counting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Basic Concepts of Card Counting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Card<\/strong><\/td> Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> 2<\/td> 2<\/td><\/tr> 3<\/td> 3<\/td><\/tr> 4<\/td> 4<\/td><\/tr> 5<\/td> 5<\/td><\/tr> 6<\/td> 6<\/td><\/tr> 7<\/td> 7<\/td><\/tr> 8<\/td> 8<\/td><\/tr> 9<\/td> 9<\/td><\/tr> 10<\/td> 10<\/td><\/tr> Jack<\/td> 10<\/td><\/tr> Queen<\/td> 10<\/td><\/tr> King<\/td> 10<\/td><\/tr> Ace<\/td> 1 or 11<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n