Another plus of the Ace/Five system is its simplicity. The first card counting system ever, was introduced in the sixties when blackjack gained more popularity. The advantage of Thorps system is that its easy. 5-10% and you will experience a slightly lower standard deviation because your advantage is more accurate at each true count. Similarly to the Knock Out system, neutral 8s and 9s are marked by a zero. Avoid doubling or placing higher bets when the number is in the negative do it when your final count is about +15, there is a good chance to win the round. per round per unit:1.105 This message will no longer be displayed after Because of its relative complexity, I typically limit my playing sessions to one hour or less, although thats a good playing tactic to use, regardless. Nevertheless, it can give you an edge on the casino. The Ace/Five Count can also come handy to blackjack players, especially when they're beginners and new to counting cards. The higher the positive number, the more high-value cards are in the remaining deck. The basic strategy may vary, depending on the number of decks that are used in the game. But seriously, theres really very little excuse for not at least giving one of these a try. I suggest spreading your bets by five units or more when you have a favorable count of at least +2. Keep reading as I cover three of the easiest blackjack card counting systems for beginners. Knockout (KO) System. Weighed against the mathematical impact of the cards, both assumptions are mistakes, but they more or less cancel each other. We are In our example, we have a running count of -1. Another positive product of card counting is that you can find out when the deck is high in low cards (2 6) and bet less. But he also wanted to make Red Seven more accurate than KO (black 7s being neutral). Youre on a computer right now, so you can certainly learn one of these. The reason is twofold: 1 You have a better chance of getting a natural blackjack payout. Here are the guidelines for spreading your wagers with the Hi-Lo: 2 Figure out your true count (e.g., +4). Read More. Then determine the true count by dividing the running count to the number of decks, remaining in the shoe. sometimes, for example, players may not be allowed to split pairs in which case they should resort to another, more suitable basic strategy which complies with the game's specifications. Av. Obviously if you keep sitting out games and appear to be choosing the games in which to be involved then you will certainly arouse suspicion amongst the pit bosses and be asked to leave. But with every card counting system, the concept is the same: 10s count as -2. But the gist is that you must raise your wagers when the deck is in your favor, so you earn more money. First of all, it is a level III (level 3) type of advanced system. This is a probability game, however using an adequate strategy, greatly increases the player's chances of winning against the house. But according to this chart: I can speak for KO because that's what I've usedand that was after using Hi-Lo for a while. You observe each hand as it is played, noting the value of each dealt card. Instead, you simply count low cards and subtract the number of players/dealer at the start of each hand. It's the precursor to KO in that it's unbalanced and very easy. When the final count is higher, chances of winning the hand increase and the player should bet higher. Good books are available on both of these systems and theres a lot of additional information available besides that out on the Net. 3) An Introduction to Card-Counting. It's actually quite similar to what Thorp proposed as each card's value is assigned with a specific number. It involves observing the dealt cards, ideally without making it obvious that this is what you are doing, and then keeping track of a running total as they are dealt. aslan Well But just about anybody can successfully count cards with enough practice. Comments on Simulation # 3:While there is not a big gain in the Initial Bet Advantage from doing all the work thats associated with this count, there is a substantial increase in the SCORE and an overall lowering of your risk, as is shown by the standard deviation calculation for 100,000 hands of play. Always split AcesNever split tensAlways split 8sSplit 9s if the dealer has 2-9, but you should stand on 7Split 3s, 2s, and 7s if the dealer has 2-7, otherwise hitSplit 6s if the dealer has 2-6, otherwise hitSplit 5s if they have 2-9, otherwise hitSplit 4s if the dealer has 5 and 6, otherwise hit As I mentioned earlier, nearly anybody can learn to count cards especially with the systems covered above. ; Twin Wilds Symbols: There are two special wild symbols on Gemini Joker. Good luck. Hi-Lo System. A unique feature of our trainer is the comparison of different card counting systems for the same status of the deck, making you able to compare the results of various systems. This system works similar to KO and Hi-Lo, except that theres a special distinction made for red and black 7s. Lets look how do these systems work on this one. You can quickly learn one of the systems that I discussed above and use it to give yourself an advantage. Im also going to use the same 1-5 bet spread that the reader uses because its a spread one can usually get away with in the Reno area without attracting undue attention. When thats the case, say a $10,000 expected win with a less-than $3000 one standard deviation value, youre virtually assured that youll be ahead by some amount after 100,000 hands of play. Hi folks, do any of you know of any good resources that compare the relative advantages/disadvantages of different card counting systems? This is a balanced count but for it to be at its most effective, one must keep a separate count of the Aces, especially for betting purposes. Average bet per round:$9.64. Those rules dont apply to the single-deck games at every casino in Reno, but it does cover most of them and the house edge is 0.44%. Estim. This is easier than calculating a final count, based on several dealt decks of cards. The Book to Buy: Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder (1998 edition) $19.95, Point Values 2-7 = +1; 8,9 = 0; 10, A = -1, Most Effective:When used in 6-deck games where a 1-10 bet spread can be achieved. But casinos may ban you from their establishment if they think youre a successful counter. The reader who started this whole thing said that s/he plays fairly long sessions and thats where the K-O count shines; its easy to learn and easy to use, so its much less mentally fatiguing than either Hi/Lo or Hi-Opt 1. Colour here also plays a role, in relation to 7s. That's why you do not need to rush when you are on these charts and explanations. On the other hand, the 10, the Ace and the other face cards (King, Queen and Jack) are assigned with the number -1 and go by the name of high cards, due to their higher value. But I'm in no hurry to complicate my life and am enjoying the benefits of what I already know. Another thing to take into account is that the Red Seven system is unbalanced too. I play mostly double deck, with $10 to 25 mins, spreading to $75- $150. In the case of a six-deck blackjack, players should multiply the number of decks by -2 and respectively start with a running count of -12. You can find these strategies in each of our reviews. There are two ways to even the imbalance out, depending on the number of decks dealt in the game. Reasoning: with a level-two count system, your knowledge of the remaining deck composition is more nuanced. Card counting is an exciting prospect because you can win lots of money. Here are the basics of this strategy: This is noticeably different from the three systems that I covered above. The system is easy to memorize and convenient to use, but unfortunately less accurate than more advanced card counting methods like those that follow. Bad Points: Not very effective in single- and double-deck games. Act like they increase and lower bets based on superstitions. This advantage-play technique has only gained further popularity over the years thanks to the MIT Blackjack Teams efforts. You only have to track two card groups and use two numbers for the count. Low cards being dealt works to your advantage, because this means there are fewer cards thatll help the dealer. It helps neutralize, though only partially, the advantage the house has over players. At the beginning of the first deck, starting from 0, add the number 1 for each dealt 5-value card you notice. The most common technique, employed by advanced players is card counting but it requires a good amount of time and concentration to master. The Uston SS (Strongest and Simplest) Blackjack Card Counting System. Please find the user instructions below. A good way to summarize all this is to say that these calculations show us what lies in the future the long run that we all talk about. Av. If your average bet is $200, its a dime. then how important do indexes and all those other insignificant things become? The best card counters keep the count with the slightest glance at the deal and act like a normal player, occasionally moving games and cursing their luck when the game appears to go against them. The higher-value cards such as tens and Aces, that are more advantageous to players, are assigned as -1, as after each hit fewer of those are left in the remaining deck. Thanks again for the replies Romes and kewlj. Some casinos dont sweat counters as badly as others. This means the cards should be counted as follows 4, 4, 4, -9, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, -9. Card counting strategy system book 5) A Comparison to Other System. Usually, two to eight standard decks, containing 52 cards are used. I begin with the OPP card counting system since its extremely easy to use. You must log in or register to reply here. I play long sessions, about 4-6 hours at a time. Obviously, you dont want to jump into the most difficult system if youre new to card counting. Of course, there is a number of other blackjack counting systems, not mentioned here. This is a balanced card counting system. Players are advised to calculate their true counts after each deck has been dealt. Blackjack Card Counting Systems. Otherwise the player may be added to the casino's blacklist and a complete ban from the casino is also a possible outcome. Given that Ace/Five only requires you to track two card values, its similar to OPP in terms of simplicity. Numbers are used to express the ease of use, where 10 is being the easiest possible card counting system and 1 is the hardest. I want to poke at the question of standard deviations one more time. The strategy is suitable for beginners as well as for intermediate players. Kevin estimates that he has played over half a million games of Blackjack all over the world in his professional career. Let's do the math now 44= +32, 32-18= +14, the positive number is relatively high, which means the player can place a higher bet as his chances of winning are better. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. It's a three-level card counting method, introduced and developed by Stanford Wong. In some cases, the up card of the dealer may help players decide what their next step should be. K-O Results: Given that Hi-Lo is balanced, you also have to account for the number of decks remaining in the shoe. Comments on Simulation # 2:You can see that the K-O count compares very favorably with the Hi/Lo, at least in overall player advantage, which was a surprise to me. Your first stake is therefore 8 units (1 plus the running count of 7). There are many different ways to "side count" in each strategy. If youve been discouraged by all the adding and dividing and memorization that it takes to fully utilize these counts in a casino, take heart. This is the reason that casinos look out for players who practice the technique and ban them when found. The reason why Hi-Lo is balanced and KO isnt is due to the 7 being neutral. The big difference between the two is that the K-O count needed a higher average bet ($11.29 versus $9.64) to achieve approximately the same return and that means your risk is increased. Initial Bet Advantage:1.18% But the two key differences are that 7 is neutral, and you need to differentiate between a running and true count. Your next round will begin at +5 (minus number of players in the hand). per round:$13.60 One measure of risk is standard deviation, which Ive written about many times. Simulation #1 Basic Strategy for the play of the hands, players bet 1-5 according to the Hi/Lo count (1 at a TC of 1 or lower; 2 at a TC of 1; 3 at a TC of 2; 4 at a TC of 3; 5 at 4 or higher), never left the table regardless of how low the count got (play all). Today, his system is used in specific cases as it was originally created for a single-deck blackjack games while at the present moment most casinos employ more than one deck to decrease the probability of players counting the cards correctly. Inexperienced card counters can use it to develop their skills before they switch to more elaborate options like the Hi-Lo. If the 7 is red in color, it is treated as a low-value card and is thus marked as +1. Comments on Simulation # 1:Because I think you should play only when a 1% or larger edge can be gained, this game is barely acceptable. 2s, 3s, and 7s are counted as +1 each. With a counting system offering 67% efficiency, the gain would be 0.95 X 67% = 0.64% whereas the best single-level count (without a side-count of Aces) would produce an edge of 0.95 X 62.3% = 0.59%. The aim is to collect a higher total point than the dealer but it should not go over 21. But first, lets look at the basics behind counting cards. But if youre just a casual blackjack player who wants to gain a bit more of an edge, then I recommend trying Ace/Five. Spending more than an hour or two at a game while using a complicated counting system is mentally taxing and, inevitably, mistakes are made. If you're playing a single-deck blackjack (which is unlikely in a casino but still can be used as a method of practicing one's counting skills), you should begin your running count from -2. This requires a balancing act because wagering too much will attract the suspicion of casino staff members and potentially get you banned. Once you get used to counting the red 7s but not the black, it becomes second nature and won't slow you down at all. Maybe later if I have the leisure time, I'll learn another system, and if I perfect it in practice, I'll give it a try on the tables. Lets see how it works with an example. JavaScript is disabled. The downside to this strategy is that its almost as complicated as the Hi-Lo, yet you only get 80% of the same accuracy. If a card is six or less then it is given a value of +1. Heres how you assign values to each group of cards: The Hi-Lo is whats known as a balanced system, because the count will always reach zero by the end of the shoe. Yet, these are still quite Flat Betting - Simple, effective and a great starting point for anyone just starting out in the blackjack world. Up and Pull - Similar to the parlay system, this positive progression method is great if you have a small starting stake. Not sure what kewlj wrote, but I agree with whatever it is that he did write. For example: There are a number of professional card counters who are good enough to make a living at the game. Another great thing about the OPP system is that you dont have to track high cards (A to 10) or neutral cards (7 to 9). In case, the player collects a point which exceeds that number, they're busted or in other words lose. per round:$15.29 Blackjack is one of the most frequently-played casino banking games in the world, which gained paramount popularity in the sixties and since then has become the target of many players, looking to win big. I was told K-O is bad for SD in comparison to Hi/Lo but how much worse, I dont know. Techniques of Blackjack Card Counting. There are a number of different counting systems. The following systems of counting cards are arranged in accordance with their level of complexity, starting from the more simpler ones and proceeding with those that are more elaborate. You came to this site, I assume, to learn how to win at the casinos, so if youre a Blackjack player whos been losing for years, you can change that now. 4) The Unbalanced Knock-Out System. I have posted a link, which may or may not be permissible and may be removed..I don't know. If you're thinking about switching to lessen the fluctuations, I wouldn't switch Just my opinion. Average bet per round:$11.29. 1 You have a better chance of getting a natural blackjack payout. This system works as follows: Each systems assigns card values that are counted. Developed in 1975, the Wong Halves system requires a good amount of persistence and practice. The catch, though, is that Ten Count is designed specifically for single-deck blackjack games. In reality, though, nothing is What makes the 7s' values easier to remember is the name of the system itself. This number is then divided by the number of decks remaining in the shoe to calculate what is called a true count. However, it's suitable for beginners who wish to practice and improve their skills. per round per unit:1.111 Simply counting cards is only part of the equation to making money. The cards are counted throughout the game and special attention is paid to their value. The lack of a true count makes KO simpler than the Hi-Lo system that Ill cover next. per round per unit:1.1104 The value of knowing the standard deviation for a certain game and bet spread can keep you from playing in an unbeatable situation, thus saving you a lot of time and frustration. Name Email Website. If his hand is equal or less than 21, and the dealer gets busted, the player wins. Top Gambling Destinations for Newlywed Couples. One way to count cards would be to memorize which cards have been Estim. If you go to a casino only once or twice a month, you probably play for quite a few hours at a time, but I live half-an-hour from 6 casinos, so its easy for me to play for an hour at one particular place and move on. This requires practice and above all composure. Average bet per round:$9.65. There are four decks remaining in the shoe. Basically the term advantage play refers to a number of practices the player can use to increase the mathematical probability of collecting a good hand and thus winning against the house. Legendary blackjack professional Ken Uston pioneered this system, which is largely identical to the high-low count, except that deuces are treated as neutral and sevens as dealer-favourable. Blackjack counting systems are tools used to improve your game. It's advisable to practice with a single deck of cards and master the Hi-Lo system of Dubner, prior to proceeding with more complex blackjack counting systems. Low cards improve the dealers odds of winning. Such methods are known as advantage play and are perfectly legal and safe as long as the player does not gain a considerable advantage over the house's edge. For our purposes here, its an effective way of comparing the value of each game or bet schedule or whatever that will be examined: the higher the SCORE, the more $$$ youll make. The downside is that this strategy is poor for multi-deck games. And unfortunately, quality single-deck blackjack with 3:2 natural payouts are a rarity today. All four of the systems tested are described below. Once the player has been dealt a two-card hand, he is faced with the option of getting a hit again and can request an additional card. These strategies differ based on what kind of advantage they give you and how complicated they are. The only difference will be the count that is used to size the bet. Discover the best slot machine games, types, jackpots, FREE This means that an equal number of cards are high (5) and low (5) with the Hi-Lo strategy. Other balanced systems that begin and end at 0: Recognize that card counting is efficient but it won't do without a sufficient amount of practice, concentration and patience. Despite his obvious high skills at the game, he has also been ejected over two hundred times. Thorp systematized the so-called Ten Count system in his book Beat the Dealer. Caution vs future unexpected/uncertain results. Other ways to practice include dealing shoes to yourself while counting cards, or having a friend deal to you. Unbalanced counts are easy to use for long periods of time because they dont require a lot of memorization or mathematics to be effective. This combination is what is actually known as a blackjack or a natural 21 which automatically earns a win for the player, unless of course, the dealer has also collected a blackjack. Level 2 and 3 strategies could be used by some people but levels 4 and 5 are really difficult and only few people in the world can handle them. The Uston SS Blackjack Card Counting System is more advanced but more accurate with a Betting Correlation of 99%. Griffin Card Counting Going further, you dont have to account for how many decks are in the shoe with an unbalanced system. Think of it: grandma, the kids, the significant other; all can become counters. Furthermore, card counting may be essential for skilled blackjack players as their chances of winning greatly depend on the value of the cards obviously. Generally, it's advisable to start raising one's bet if the count is +2, so in the case, this would not be a good idea. This card counting strategy is similar to KO, because you need to track low, neutral, and high cards. There are four players, plus the dealer (subtract 5 = count at +1). In general, using a level 2 counting system is more accurate than a level 1 system but more error prone. But before you start earning big profits like these blackjack legends, you must first choose a counting system. The probabilities of winning for each sequence of cards and running totals has been examined in detail and many studies over the years have produced recommended strategies and actions for any given event. The easiest way for casinos to root out a card counter is by their betting patterns. You can actually switch the counts for the red and black seven it makes no difference. Also, all playing strategy variations are still determined by the running count, however you can be more accurate in determining your bet by using the "true index" method, which according to Arnold Snyder is an even more accurate method of determining your percent advantage than the true count conversion of hi-lo or other balanced counts. But you only need to keep a running tally of the card values to give yourself an edge. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison - Gemini Joker Online Slot Features. But from an overall perspective, Hi-Lo is relatively easy when compared to the dozens of other counting systems available. Going further, you must convert your running count into a true count. Instead, your count begins as soon as the first card of a shoe is dealt. Another positive product of card counting SCORE:53.69 The full version isn't really that much harder to learn and with that, you can customize it to the wazoo. Using a card counting is not the only way to win at blackjack but it is by far the best way. Card counting is the gold standard when were talking about winning at blackjack. But some blackjack experts claim you can win without counting. Blackjack is a casino game. That means that the house has an inherent mathematical advantage over the player. This helps players decide when to bet and how high their stakes should be. This has been fueled by Hollywood movies like 21, where card counters act like their lives depend on not being detected by the casino. If you count all the pieces in a 52-card deck, your final count won't be a zero but +2. There are simpler card 4 Multiply this number by your unit size (25 x 3 = 75). Throw enough mistakes into the equation and the result may be that youre not gaining any edge over the casino for all your effort. One of the simplest counting systems is called the High-Low system. 8s and 9s on the other hand are marked as 0 here. I'm not an expert at the math, but intuitively I would think a level-two count system would help smooth out bankroll fluctuations. The basic strategy is suitable for recreational players who partake in the game just for fun. I've stuck with KO and am happy I did. Page 172 of Norm Wattenberger's Modern Black (available free at his website) appears to be just what you are looking for. The reason that card counting works in blackjack is because the cards dealt and the cards left are changing the probability of the game while youre playing. The Ace/Five system is influenced by blackjack rules variations. With this method, it's best to double your bet only after a win to make your card counting less conspicuous. In other words, big-bet losses are less likely with a higher count system. They are called unbalanced because, while they still assign point values to the cards, when you add all the point values up in a deck or decks, it doesnt result in zero. Another benefit of KO is that its more accurate than OPP. Av. Let's proceed with an intermediate level system, developed by Bruce Carlson, namely the Omega II which Carlson first introduced in his book Blackjack for Blood in 2001. One is much easier than the other, but is there much difference in performance? When an Ace is dealt, subtract 1 from the sum. All blackjack tables featured single-deck games in Thorps early blackjack days. Its easy to see how this works. SCORE:56.82 Penetration was 31/52. The nice thing about card counting is that its not as difficult as most players think. What really matters is how these counts ultimately perform and I may be able to provide some insight through the use of simulations. Card Counting Systems. Instead, a beginner-friendly strategy will help you learn this process with the minimum degree of difficulty. The reason is because the dealers score must reach 17, and they have less chance of busting when there are more low cards available. Some systems have their own method for how you spread wagers during a favorable count. This differs from the Hi-Lo strategy (discussed next), where you must factor in the remaining decks to determine your true count.. Cards are dealt until 17 or more points are reached. Moving the lips as the cards are dealt, even subconsciously, Constantly sitting out games and then suddenly joining specific games, Avoiding taking the free alcohol on offer, preferring soft drinks. The Book to Buy: Knock-Out Blackjack by Vancura & Fuchs (2nd edition) $17.95. Which Blackjack Counting System Should I Use. Well, I have it narrowed down to 2 counts: K-O or Hi/Lo. From a sheer money-making point of view, the Hi-Opt 1 count isnt all that impressive when compared to the other counts, but when risk is compared to reward it shows its strength, which is identifying the right time to make the right bet. Here's how Thorp counted the cards: the Ace with a value of 1 and cards from 1 through 9 are counted as + 4; the 10, Jack, Queen and King are counted as -9, so basically +4 and -9 are the only values the player should remember which makes keeping track of the dealt cards easier. This gives you the perfect blend of simplicity and accuracy. Simulation #3 Basic Strategy variations from -6 to +6 used for the play of the hands, players bet 1-5 according to the Hi-Opt 1 count with a side-count of Aces (1 at a TC of 1 or lower; 2 at a TC of 1; 3 at a TC of 2; 4 at a TC of 3; 5 at 4 or higher), never left the table regardless of how low the count got (play all). https://www.qfit.com/book/ModernBlackjackPage172.htm. The idea is to start at the table minimum, then increase your wager as the count goes in your favor. (1) Blackjack - A Card counters Historical Perspective. The players and the dealer take turns until all cards have been dealt. If the running total becomes significantly positive then the dealt cards must have been predominantly low. Estim. Four low cards come out during the hand (Add 4 = count at +5). Penetration was 31/52. The probability of either a two or three standard deviation event is admittedly very small, but it can happen and its best avoided by playing games where the indicated standard deviation is a small fraction of the expected win. This is an intermediate system, which makes it more complicated than the more simple Ace-Five and Hi-Lo; as it uses a different technique for card counting. The final calculation of this count is +1. But as you may have gathered from these simple systems we covered above, this isnt accurate. These systems are a great start, as theyre easy and quick to learn, and they can help you improve your chances of winning when used correctly. This is referred to as spreading bets in card counting. is included. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If it's black, however, the 7 is considered neutral and as such is again noted with a zero. Both of these counts have been analyzed to death, each has its loyal followers and each will get the $$$ if properly used, so I dont really have a favorite. For instance, if the up card's value of the dealer is from 2 to 6 the player may hit. In fact, it's one of the most frequently used blackjack counting systems in the world because it's relatively simple and easy to memorize. Calculating fractions in one's head may prove to be rather taxing to some players. You can see I make the statement that these counts arent at their peak of effectiveness in a single- or double-deck game, but I wasnt the first, so I dont know if thats where the reader got this idea. Save my 2 Your odds of quality double-down opportunities also improve. Comment. Gamblers have been fascinated by card counting ever since Edward Thorp shared his secrets through the 1962 book Beat the Dealer. Comprehensive list of the different blackjack card counting techniques, methods, and systems. Blackjack card counting is often portrayed as a mysterious technique that only math geniuses can pull off. Therefore, he didnt account for the effect of removing aces from a six-deck shoe. There are simpler counting systems It is used to describe the number of all the different values, which are assigned to the cards in the deck. Snyder did this so he could create an imbalanced system that was easy to use with no true count involved. The Zen Count is another great card counting systems that was thought up and created by Arnold Snyder. Playing Efficiency - this estimates how well the system is able to adapt to changes in the game. An example of the Red Seven system: 3, 4, Jack, 7 Red, 9, 6, 8 are the cards the player has been keeping a running count of. Even though it helps players gain an advantage, their edge is relatively small typically consisting of only 1%. It may get a bit more difficult to calculate as the dealer gets deeper into the deck, but with 50% or 60% penetration, the division thats needed is never too complicated. To avoid fractions, players can double the values of . For what its worth, I do not use the Hi/Lo nor the K-O count when playing a single-deck game, but instead use a count called Hi-Opt 1 where the Ace and 2 have a point count of 0, 3-6 are counted as 1 and 10s are counted as -1. The man behind it is Edward Thorp, a professor of mathematics with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It's the precursor to KO in that it's unbalanced and very easy. per round:$12.83 The Hi-Lo is definitely tougher than KO and OPP due to the added steps. Check the I want to poke at the question of standard deviations one more time. According to the Omega II system, the cards 2,3 and 7 have a value of +1, while other low cards such as 4, 5 and 6 are worth +2. Choosing suitable blackjack counting systems largely depends on the degree of skill and experience of the players. COUNT COUNT C A R D T A G S RANKS BET PLAY. If you ask me (which no one did) Red 7's the way to go. Got It! This is where card counting comes into play, because this strategy gives you the advantage and can lead to long-term profits. I'm hoping one way to smooth out the fluctuations is by using a more accurate counting method. My favorite is the Hi-Lo, due to its combination of simplicity and accuracy. Stacked Reel Respin: When you get a spin with identical symbols in the first two reels and no winning paylines, the third, fourth, and fifth reels respin.This gives you the potential to change a no-win spin into a winning one. These correspond to the following values: +1, +1, -1, +1, 0, +1, 0 and a running count of +4. I'm not an expert at the math, but intuitively I would think a level-two count system would help smooth out bankroll fluctuations. If the final result is equal to two or surpasses it, you can double the amount you've bet. I count down a deck in 14 seconds usually. The real problem here is the relatively shallow (60%) penetration. After each round there are fewer cards left in the remaining deck and a correct count allows players to determine the value of the cards that remain to be dealt. Blackjack Counting Systems Comparison : Best Oval: Article Conan Oval Dining Table Tags Decor Kitchen. Face cards such as kings, queens and jacks are of a 10-point value; the Ace, on the other hand, is a special case as its value can be either 1 or 11, so respectively the Ace can also be a high-value card. By keeping track of card values as theyre dealt, you can boost your chances of winning and potentially making big profits. Founded in 2014, CasinoNewsDaily aims at covering the latest news from the casino industry world. We're sorry, residents of your region are not accepted by this gambling site! 9s count as -1. This strategy helps players determine how to approach each situation that ensues on the blackjack table as it is based on mathematical probabilities in the respective situation. This should continue and you keep the running total updated as the cards are dealt. Casino News Daily uses cookies, this enables us to provide you with a more personalised experience. So Im told Red 7 will have better BC while KO will have better PE, but the difference is small. Like so many other games, penetration is really important because the more cards a counter sees before the shuffle, the bigger advantage you can get when counting. Last Updated: February 26, 2021. Some typical signs of a card counter are: All the above are typical signs of card counters and only the best are able to avoid detection by the dealers and security consultants employed by the house to find them and eject them. Good Points: Easy to learn, yet can also be enhanced by an advanced version. I use KO and find it exactly as Chef described. These things are used to estimate how effective one card counting system is. If at any time the count goes to -1 then the running total is (-1 +1) or zero and you should either sit out the round, if you can do it without arousing suspicion or bet the lowest unit possible. This is yet another card counting system suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Red 7 System. Payoff per 100,000 rounds played is $10,253.40, with an estimated standard deviation of $4,301.40. Of course, tracking cards in a bustling casino environment is easier said than done. There are certain blackjack variations concerning Aces that are not entirely neutral, which only complicates applying the system. Would it be that all we had to do was pick the counting system that would make us the most $$$ in the shortest period of time, but unfortunately, it doesnt work that way. zg, Skilled Play - Card Counting, Advanced Strategies. Hi-Lo or KO not a big dif. If you are able to do all of this accurately, count error free and apply the relevant indices at the correct true count in a casino environment then in theory you should enjoy a slight advantage over a level 1 system in the long run. Learn which are best for novice and expert But like OPP, this strategy isnt as effective as some of the other systems discussed here. i would guess the more you spread, the less important everything else is, but then the opposite would be true that if you are spreading 1-2, indexes and such become a larger % of your advantage, {BROCK'S TKO} I assume that your 'HiLo indices' have each been adjusted for KO count, that you are not using un-adjusted HiLo#s? Penetration was 31/52. Both Thorp and the MIT Blackjack Team are prime examples of this. But Ten Count is still relatively easy for beginners to use. The higher the total sum of the dealt cards is, the more 10-value cards have remained in the deck. It's advisable to start practicing with a single deck, turning one card at a time. Some cards are counted as two-point, others as one-point. i really need to get myself cvcx so i can compare the different versions of KO with hi-lo to find out which system is best for 6 decks if your either betting flat or spreading 1-2.. it just really bothers me that the count in KO can be significantly different depending how many decks have been dealt, which i guess means that all unbalanced counts would bother me.. on the other hand, i have difficulty with the true count, but then again i havent even practiced with it at all.. i seem to be the only one that did very little practice and just went into the casino and started counting, but all i really do is keep a running count with my chips and occasionally check what the TC is to the nearest full deck, and then when i divide i just say "ok its more than 3" or whatever it is, i dont calculate "its 3.75" or something.. the one thing that you always hear is "such and such isnt significant because most of the advantage comes from betting", but what if none of your advantage comes from betting, but from wonging? Also known as twenty-one, blackjack is a game between players and the dealer which basically means they do not play against each other but compete against the dealer. But you may ultimately choose a system like OPP, KO, or Ace/Five because you just want an easy way to count cards. The one exception to this is Blackjack, where it is possible to tip the odds in your favor and beat the house consistently by using a technique called card counting. Playing it correctly means you've already won. Point Values 2-6 = +1; red 7s = +1, black 7s,8,9 = 0; 10, A = -1. If the player can correctly track, he or she will arrive at zero when all cards have been dealt. Furthermore, you dont need to be a genius to keep an accurate count. The deal continues and the running total quickly becomes +7. Players usually begin with a running count of zero when the cards are first dealt. Here are the different card groups and how you assign them values: You need to track every card with this system not just the low ones like with OPP. The trainer is very self-explanatory, these are the basics. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. Hi/Lo Results: Why change a system that is winning for me, that I already have down pat, for one that is more complicated, will be easier to make errors in, and which will not improve my winnings except by a very small percentage? SCORE:70.84 Blackjack Counting Systems. This means that there is an equal number of positive values and negative values. The starting count is always zero. If the dealer and the player both have an equal score, the latter neither loses, nor wins. Thanks again for the replies Romes and kewlj. There are 5 different levels, where level 1 is the easiest and level five is the hardest. Average st. dev. You add one for every 5 thats dealt, and subtract one for every ace. 10s, Jacks, Kings, Queens and Aces are given a value of -1; 8s are valued -1/2, 9s have the neutral value of 0; 5s are 1 , 3s, 4s and 6s are valued 1 and 2s and 7s are given the value of . You subtract one (- 1) for every player dealt into the hand, including the dealer. Once mastered, it can prove to be very accurate. I was preparing to switch to Zen or UBZ, but the guys here talked some sense into me. With Single or double-deck games index plays become more significant so might want to stick with high-low or go to a level 2 system. The underlying goal of card counting is to find out when the shoe is rich in aces and tens. std. As a generalization, the bigger the expected win is, compared to one standard deviation, the better. It is calculated on the basis of the cards a player is dealt, as well as of the card the dealer is shown. He's probably (actually no, he IS definitely) the go-to guy around here when it comes to card counting in BJ. Well, if your average bet is $10, its a difference of a half-cent. Many gamblers like blackjack because it offers a chance to use extensive strategy to improve your winnings. So all we have to do now is set up some games, keep all of the rules, conditions, bet spreads, etc., the same and just swap out the counting system used in order to get some sort of comparison of which count is better. When you see one extra small card in the first round of a single-deck game, both the running count and True Count are one. Twos, threes, sixes and sevens are scored +1, fours and fives get the value of +2, eights, nines and Aces are neutral and get point value of "0", and 10-valued cards get the value of -2. Do you want a simple system that is less effective? If one standard deviation is $5000, then a two standard deviation losing event could find you at even after all that play and a three standard deviation event to the losing side would put you at a loss after 100,000 hands of play! I play mostly double deck, with $10 to 25 mins, spreading to $75- $150.The wild swings possible in the game make me pretty nervous (hence the spreads erroring on the conservative side). For instance, if the player has been dealt an Ace, a 6 and a 10, they should count the Ace as 1 because otherwise the total value of the hand will go over 21, resulting in a loss for the player. Aces and 8s count as 0. But the key is that you do make a distinction between the colors. KO is sometimes called "rookie" because that is a slimmed-down version of the complete system. This book was published in 2001 so it was not too long ago. Still, the thing that makes this system more complex and different than most other systems is the fact that you need to count number with decimals. Hard to say, but at least now you and the reader who initially asked the question have some information that will help you make your choice. The goal is to get a positive count of +2 or higher. In case there are 2 decks in the shoe, remaining to be dealt, your total count will be +2, a positive number, though not very high but after all the example consists of only six counted cards. If the number is in the negative, this means most face cards with a value of 10 have already been dealt. The in-between cards with values 7,8 and 9 are marked as 0. For example, moving from a $10 minimum bet to $500 later in the shoe looks very suspicious. Lumping aces into the low card group is fine in single-deck blackjack because it doesnt have as big of an impact. 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