Blackjack Tournaments - Card Counting

Blackjack Card Counting

One of the most popular casino card games is blackjack. It is fast-paced and action packed. However, it also involves skill, which makes it one of the few games a player can actually beat in the long run.

There is a basic blackjack strategy of what to do in certain situations with each hand. However, the most profitable way to play blackjack is with card counting.

Card counting is not illegal, but it is frowned upon in casinos. Card counting was featured in the popular movie “21” which was based on the MIT Blackjack team, which one thousands of dollars from casinos.

Card counting is a system based on math that was devised to keep track of the number of cards dealt during blackjack. By using this technique, a player gets a sense of what cards are remaining.

A player has to keep track of every card dealt, so they can adjust to the shoe and how it is playing.

In almost every card counting system, the player starts with a count of 0. There are many different types of counting systems, but in almost all of them, the number fluctuates with each card dealt.

Players look for a plus-count and must count every card dealt to the other players. If more smaller cards have been dealt, a player has a better chance to get larger cards and the dealer has a better chance to bust. This is when the player should bet more because he or she has many more advantage.

Casinos combat card counting with devices such as continuous shufflers, which make the count irrelevant. But many casinos still use single decks dealt from a shoe.

A card count in the neutral or low range favors the casino and players should slow down on their betting.

Blackjack card counting has its base in the work of Professor Edward Thorp devised the five-count in the 1960s. It continued to develop, and was immortalized in the book Bringing Down the House, which focused on the work of the MIT Blackjack teams.

Card counting IS illegal if you are using any kind of computer or calculating device. However, just using your brain is perfectly legal. However, casinos have the right to refuse service to anyone, and card counters are generally asked to leave. There are many schools of card counting and many different techniques to use.

The Hi-lo count, the hi-opt I and II counts and the KO counts are among the most popular. All counting essentially tracks the ratio of high cards to low cards specifically in blackjack.

Another method is back counting, where a player will count cards at a table, see a specific advantage and then join that table. This allows a player to only play when the odds are in his or her favor and eliminates a lot of other hands.

The negative is that a player who jumps from table to table will likely be made as a card counter and asked to leave. Casinos are ever watchful. After all, they are in the business to make money. Anyone who threatens that is going to be watched closely.

Casinos don’t mind occasional big wins, because players see that and will think it is common, so they play more. But any player with a built in advantage is frowned upon.

It will be interesting to see what the future of card counting is now that it has been made popular by the movie. Casinos will likely be watching more closely than ever, but a savvy player should be able to find ways around that.

Take some time to learn blackjack card counting and you will be able to make a profit long term.