Once a game of chance, modern blackjack has become a strategic battle between players and house. In the past, card counting was the only way for players to gain an edge in this game.
Thanks to improved technology, however, that is no longer true. Blackjack card counting is also not easy; it requires intense concentration, memory skills, and calculation abilities. The pros know this and use various techniques to make it harder for the opposing team to keep count of the cards in play.
There are many blackjack card-counting techniques out there but not all of them work in today’s casinos. These are our best recommendations.
The Best Card Counting Techniques
To find the best blackjack card counting techniques, one must first understand the concept behind them. Card counting is the act of keeping a running total of the cards that have been dealt and utilizing that information to bet more or less.
The purpose of doing this is that there are more low cards in a deck than high cards. Once a player has a general idea of how many of each card is left in the deck, they can use that information to increase their bet when the odds are in their favor.
Basic Strategy Card Counting
Basic strategy card counting is one of the most basic strategies out there. It involves keeping track of which cards have been dealt, which is then used to determine which specific hands have the best chance of winning.
This technique begins by assigning a value to each card that has been dealt. Aces are valued as either one or 11, while two through 10 are valued as the number they represent.
Once a card has been dealt, a player will keep track of the number of cards of that suit that have been dealt. For example, if the first card dealt is a king of hearts, the player will keep track of the number of hearts that have been dealt.
Tip-Based Strategies
Tip-based counting strategies are based on the idea that the more the player bets, the less likely it is that the casino will suspect them of playing to win. These strategies take into account the minimum betting amount and the size of the player’s initial bet.
Generally, these strategies will have a player double their bet after the first four cards dealt are 10, J, Q, and K, as these are the most likely high cards in the deck. At this point, the player will keep track of the cards that have been dealt and use the information to determine when to stop playing.
The best strategy to use during blackjack card counting is the one that is best suited to the player’s personality.
Spanish 21 Card Counting
A card counting method that’s particularly effective at the Mirage casino in Las Vegas is Spanish 21. This method is based on the idea that the player should bet as much as possible while keeping the casino from being able to identify them as a player of skill.
The key to Spanish 21 is to only bet when the player has an edge, which can be determined by keeping an accurate count of cards.
The player should always bet more when the deck is rich in 10s and aces, and less when it is rich in low cards. To determine whether to bet high or low using this method, the player must keep a running count of the cards dealt. This is a difficult task to accomplish and requires the player to focus intensely on the cards being dealt.
The Dark Card Count
The dark card count is a card counting technique that is based on the fact that the casino cannot see the cards when dealing, meaning that the players at the table cannot see the cards before they are dealt.
The dealer will turn the next card over before dealing, meaning that it is possible to count cards without being noticed. This method is most effective when playing in a six-deck game, as it is easier to keep track of the cards when there are fewer of them in the deck.
The player should begin the count with 11 and assign a value of one to each card as it is dealt. Once aces or 10s are dealt, the player should continue the count with a two instead of resuming the 11.
The Running Count and Coincidence Counts
The running count and coincidence counts are types of card counting that involve keeping track of the number of 10s and aces that have been dealt in order to determine the best time to increase a player’s bet. The running count keeps track of the number of 10s that have been dealt and resets the count when an ace is dealt.
The coincidence count, on the other hand, is based on the idea that the number of 10s and aces dealt should match the number of decks that have been used. Unfortunately, these types of card counting are not as effective in today’s casinos as they once were, as casinos are now able to detect them using various techniques.
Computer-Based Strategies
Computer-based blackjack card counting strategies are the most advanced of the bunch. These involve computer software that keeps track of the cards that have been dealt and uses that information to suggest when the player should increase or decrease their bet. These programs are not cheap, but they are effective.
They are also designed to be as discreet as possible, so casinos will have a difficult time detecting them. Unfortunately, as technology advances, casinos are improving their ability to detect these strategies.
Bottom line
Blackjack is an easy game to learn, but a difficult one to master. There are many casino professionals out there, even those who play slots online. The key to winning at blackjack is keeping track of the cards that have been dealt, and using that information to determine when to increase or decrease one’s bet.
The best blackjack card counting techniques are those that are most effective at keeping the casino from detecting the player’s strategy.
The more low cards that are left in the deck, the better it is for the player. Blackjack is a game of chance, but only to a certain extent. By keeping track of the cards that have been dealt, a player can increase their chances of winning.
