16 May 2025
Card counting is a strategy players employ during blackjack that tracks the number of high and low cards being dealt. The aim is to understand which cards remain in the deck and alter the size of bets based on the remaining cards. Players believe high cards largely benefit them, while low cards benefit the dealer.
It is one of the best-known techniques in the casino world, but what exactly is it? And how does it work? Join Genting Casino in this card-counting guide to find out more.
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The History of Card Counting
Card counting was first introduced in the groundbreaking 1962 book Beat the Dealer by mathematician Edward O. Thorp. However, there are arguments that people practised card counting before the book was published. Jess Marcum and Joe Bernstein have both been cited as successful card counters who terrorised Nevada in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Beat the Dealer features chapters called "The Simple Point-Count" and "The Complete Point-Count System." Compared to techniques used today, these are rudimentary, but they introduced the idea of card counting and allowed players to gain an edge in a game that, up until this time, was dominated by the casino.
Card counting gained wider recognition through popular culture. The technique was featured as a key plot point in the 1988 film Rain Man. Another depiction appears in the 2008 film 21, based on a true story of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) card counting team.
Step By Step Guide To Card Counting
In the simple point-count system detailed in Beat the Dealer, Thorp suggests assigning cards the following values:
- Cards 2-6: +1 point
- Cards 7-9: 0 points
- Cards 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace: -1 point
Card counting at top-tier UK casino sites requires keeping a running total of points by subtracting or adding as different cards are dealt from the shoe.
Follow these steps to employ a card-counting strategy effectively:
Step One: Start at Zero
When you first sit down at a blackjack table or when the dealer starts a new shoe, your count must be at zero.
Step Two: Count Dealt Cards
Based on the points you have assigned to cards, add or subtract depending on the cards dealt. For example, if the first card dealt is a two, add one to your count. If the second card is a King, subtract one, returning the count to 0.
Step Three: Interpret the Count
Carry on counting and adjust your bet based on the total.
If the total is positive, more low cards have been dealt, meaning more high cards are in the shoe.
If the total is negative, more high cards have been dealt, meaning more low cards are in the shoe.
Step Four: Adjust Your Bet Based on the Count
High cards are more beneficial to the player, so when the count is up, you should bet larger amounts. Low cards are more beneficial to the dealer, so when the count is down, you should reduce your stakes.
It should be noted that using the technique when playing online is virtually impossible, with top UK casinos using advanced blackjack tables and different gameplay variants.
How To Learn Card Counting?
Card counting isn’t necessarily difficult, but it is more suited to some people’s skills than others. Some people may have a natural ability, while others require practice. It will take longer for those not good with numbers to pick it up compared to those who are proficient with mental arithmetic.
The best way to learn card counting is through practice. However, top casino sites may not confront you if they feel you are using the technique. The technique requires patience, attention, and holding a number in your head. The following tips can help you on your way:
- Understand Blackjack: Ensure that you have a good understanding of blackjack and basic blackjack strategy. Basic strategy tells you when to hit, stand, split, or double down based on the dealer's upcard. There are pocket-size guides to basic blackjack strategy that you can carry.
- Master the Simple Point-Count First: There are more complicated counting systems, but you should start by mastering the simple one first, and you can move on to different systems in the future.
- Practise on Single Decks: Blackjack tables at casinos tend to use shoes with multiple decks shuffled into one shoe. You should start by practising blackjack games using a single deck.
- Practise Online: You need to be able to count cards under pressure in a casino setting. Practise online first to shake off any rust and prepare yourself for noisier and more distracting environments.
Essentially, card counting is a strategy that people have used for decades to gain an edge in blackjack. It was first documented in 1962 but was probably in use well before it was detailed in Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp. It is a skill anyone can train to do, but it will require practice before you can fully employ the strategy especially in a live casino setting.
FAQs
Can I learn card counting?
Yes. Anyone can learn card counting. However, it takes a lot of skill to practise and can be extremely hard to get right.
Can I win real money card counting in blackjack?
Yes. It is possible to win money using card counting. However, players should remember that there is no way of ever guaranteeing a win using card counting or any other technique.
How do I learn card counting?
Learning card counting is an extremely long and difficult process that involves studying the technique and practising where possible.
