What is Blackjack Card Counting?

Before reading this short introductory, make sure you have mastered the basic blackjack strategy. While the blackjack strategy card is relatively easy to memorize after a few times, when you are card counting you have to memorize everything the first time. There are many card counting systems, although most of them originate from the same source. This is an introduction to basic blackjack card counting strategies.

So what is Blackjack card counting? When you go to the casino and put your chips on number 17 while playing Roulette, you always have the same chance of winning or losing that particular spin because the odds are set. When you play blackjack, things are not exactly the same. Because the deck is not shuffled after every hand the probability of some cards to appear is different in every hand. If 2 aces came out in the first 2 hands the probability of an ace appearing in future hands is lessened (because there are only 2 other aces left) until the deck is reshuffled.

The goal of card counting is to take advantage of that probability in order to make more skillful bets, which consist mainly of changing either your betting amount or your general Blackjack strategy.

This may sound too complicated but it is actually pretty simple. In essence, what you are looking for is to have the deck filled with more good cards for you than bad cards. What are good cards? Mainly aces, face cards (which are worth ten) and the regular 10 cards. These cards are not only good for you because they give you blackjack, but also because they can make the dealer go bust. Remember that the dealer must continue to draw until he reaches 17 or higher. If the ratio of ten cards remaining in the deck is proportionally higher, the dealer is much more prone to busting (you may think that you too have a good chance to bust but remember that you have the option to stand which the dealer does not have).

There are many card counting systems. Some are more complicated than others. The most important thing to do after you have picked your system is to stick with it. Card counting does give you an advantage over the casino but it is not a big advantage. If you didn’t pay attention to which cards came out of the deck or just got mixed up while counting, your advantage over the casino is gone. In the worst case you might even misplay your hand because you are counting the wrong way and cause yourself to lose more than you should. It is highly recommended that you practice at home until you feel that you are proficient enough to do it in a real casino.