- Description: 'Blackjack: Play Like The Pros' is endorsed by 9-time WSOP winner Phil Hellmuth, Jr. This book teaches players the basics of the game but also instructs the reader in basic strategy and card counting. A great place to start if you are new to the game of blackjack! Click here to read more about Blackjack.
- How to Read the Charts Decoding Table Values Blackjack Basic Strategy Best Blackjack Betting Strategies Card counting in blackjack Blackjack is one of the most entertaining casino games.
Blackjack is one of the most popular gambling games because of its minimum casino advantage and higher chances to win for the players. It is also rather simple to play. You have to count the point values of cards in your hand and the hand of the dealer while keeping track of what comes out of the deck. Throughout the years, gamblers have invented systems that make it easy to keep track of cards during the blackjack gameplay, without having to remember each of them. If you want to learn how to do it, check out our detailed guide!
What Is Card Counting in Blackjack?
Blackjack Card Values. The part of the card that matters when playing Blackjack is its number value. For the actual numbered cards, you can gather that their card value is equal to the actual number they represent. Cards 2 through 10, no matter the suit, represent that number. Face cards, whether it's a King, Queen, or a Jack, have a card.
You might be wondering why you need blackjack card counting. Can't you just rely on luck? Not if you would like to have an advantage. Counting cards will give you an idea of what cards can come into your hands. And this, consequently, will allow you to make predictions on what combinations you can collect and how many points you can get.
Counting every blackjack card is possible only for players with an exceptional photographic memory. Remembering every card that came out of up to eight decks is beyond the power of an ordinary person. However, you can keep score of blackjack cards by using a few simple techniques.
Card Counting Trainer
If you are a complete beginner in gambling and just starting to learn to count cards, a training software is an excellent option for you. This is a tool that will familiarize you with the process of keeping track of cards in blackjack and, as a bonus, will help you realize that you don't have to memorize every single card in the game.
An online gambling setting may be more relaxed for some people than a land-based casino. However, even in a virtual casino, you have to be sure when placing your bets. You can start practising with the card counting software in one-deck mode and increase the complexity as you gain confidence. This way, you will acquire blackjack card counting experience in no time.
Ways to Count Cards in Blackjack
Let's briefly go through the rules of the game. You need to beat the dealer, collecting more points than them, but less than 21.
According to the rules, cards have the following point values in blackjack:
- 2-10: value according to number
- K, Q, J: equals 10
- A: counts as 1 or 11
While the round is going on, it is crucial to know when to stop or, conversely, continue to take cards. This way, counting cards gives the player an advantage by informing them about the cards that are left in the deck. Here is the most popular way of counting cards in blackjack.
High-Low Count
The high-low or the basic count for blackjack appeared in 1962. It has become fundamental for all other systems, having received some improvements.
To start counting cards using the plus-minus system, you need to assign them values:
- Low: 2 to 6: +1
- Neutral: 7 to 9: 0
- High: 10 to A: -1
Then, you need to count all the cards that come out of the deck. If we combine the values of all 52 cards from the deck, the result will equal to 0. By counting the cards that you receive, you can make an estimate and predict what type of card will be next.
Here is how you can interpret the results of counting:
- Positive score: low cards came out, so the probability of a high card coming out increased
- Negative score: increased likelihood of low card output
Having certain cards on hand and a positive or negative score in your head makes it easier to decide what to do next to win.
More Blackjack Counting Methods
Blackjack is among the most played casino games globally. So, it's no wonder that there is more than one gambling strategy for it.
There are dozens of counting systems, but the simpler they are, the less accurate the result. And more complex systems that have high accuracy are quite challenging to learn. Experienced gamblers recommend starting the learning process of how to count cards in blackjack from the high-low count. However, as you progress, you may find it exciting to discover other methods, such as:
- Hi-Opt 1, 2
- Omega
- Red 7
- Zen
Whether you are planning to play blackjack online or at a land-based casino, knowing the basic counting strategies will give you an advantage and increase your chances of winning.
Quick and accurate blackjack card counting is not as simple as it might seem. The game is dynamic and full of adrenaline, especially when playing for real money. You need to read the cards on your hands and at the dealer. At the same time, you need to track how many cards are out of the deck and manage to keep counting.
Even to play according to the simplest high-low system, you will need training. The first steps may be confusing, but remember that it is fine to make mistakes. With practice, you will notice that the process is becoming easy and smooth.
Once you are confident with your newfound blackjack skills, come try them out at Bob Casino. We have a wide variety of blackjack games, including ones with live dealers. Come sign up for an account and begin your blackjack journey today!
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Blackjack combines random chance with a low house edge and player skill. Players love the game because it is both challenging and – if you wish – relatively low risk.
Some people can play blackjack for hours. For some the game is a chance to be social. For some the game is an intellectual challenge.
No matter your style of play or why you're at the table, you only have 1 opponent: the dealer.
A common mistake I myself used to make was believing that other players' choices affected my own chances of winning or losing. The number of cards left to play dwindles regardless of where you sit at the table. If you're counting cards then you just count what has been played.
When it's your turn you need to focus on what is in the dealer's hand. The up card should play a bigger role in your next decision than how many face cards you've counted since the last shuffle.
If you want to win blackjack more often than anyone else then get a job as a dealer. Blackjack dealers are there to handle the cards and enforce the rules. They don't have to worry about strategy because the rules decide their strategy.
If you count cards you should also know what counter measures the casino is using.
The tips that follow assume you're playing a table with 4 to 8 decks in the shoe. The goal here is to simplify your decision-making, so it's easier to see which strategy you want to use.
You should be able to apply these principles to any variation on blackjack. The less time you spend second-guessing yourself the better. Learn from your mistakes and take advantage of online blackjack games to practice simplified strategy.
Here is what you need to know about reading the dealer's up card.
1 – It's Your Entire Hand Versus 1 Card
Always count your points first. If you're holding 18 or higher you're done. Stand.
Less experienced blackjack players don't understand why they shouldn't split 10s. They see two 10 cards, not 20 points.
See the points first and the cards second.
All you'll ever see in most versions of blackjack is the dealer's up card. Look at your hand first and recognize either the pair you're holding or the total points you're holding.
In most versions of blackjack if you're holding 4 through 8 points you always hit regardless of what the dealer's up card is. After you hit you're dealing with a soft count, never a hard count.
When thinking about strategy it's easy to confuse the rules for soft or hard 13 but they do make a difference. And the dealer's up card affects that decision, too.
2 – Assume Nothing about the Dealer's Chances
You may have a strategy card you rely on, or you may have memorized every strategy play in the book. Either way you feel confident you know what to do in every situation.
By all means play basic strategy but remember that you're pitting your probabilities against the casino's probabilities. The probabilities always favor the casino.
They won't play a losing game. You have two things going for you: skill and luck. The casino has three things going for it: the game rules, the final play, and the probabilities.
Put another way, you're pitting strategy against rules in a game of luck. The rules have the advantage over blackjack strategy. The game is exciting because the rules give the house such a small advantage players have a real chance of coming out ahead.
Regardless of what the dealer's up card is you don't know what she'll turn up when play returns to her. Frankly, if every player busts it doesn't matter what comes next – unless you're playing No Bust Blackjack, which is not a very common variant.
You may have a strategy card you rely on, or you may have memorized every strategy play in the book. Either way you feel confident you know what to do in every situation.
By all means play basic strategy but remember that you're pitting your probabilities against the casino's probabilities. The probabilities always favor the casino.
They won't play a losing game. You have two things going for you: skill and luck. The casino has three things going for it: the game rules, the final play, and the probabilities.
Put another way, you're pitting strategy against rules in a game of luck. The rules have the advantage over blackjack strategy. The game is exciting because the rules give the house such a small advantage players have a real chance of coming out ahead.
Regardless of what the dealer's up card is you don't know what she'll turn up when play returns to her. Frankly, if every player busts it doesn't matter what comes next – unless you're playing No Bust Blackjack, which is not a very common variant.
Perfect strategy only prevents you from busting when you stand. If you take a card it could be the wrong card.
And by the same token, standing doesn't guarantee you'll win. That's the nature of gambling.
3 – Read the Dealer Card as High or Low
If the dealer up card is 2 through 7 it's low. If it's 8 through ace it's high. Some people split the range differently but you'll see why I do it this way as you read on.
When you look at strategy charts one pattern should stand out quickly. You're going to hit more often when the dealer card is 8 through ace.
That doesn't mean you always hit on a high dealer card, but if the dealer is showing at least an 8 you'll have an easier time remembering when you should not hit.
Assuming you are playing 4-8 decks in a shoe, the strategy is very consistent.
If your hard point count is at least 13 and the dealer's up card is less than 7, you should stand.
If your soft point count you'll need to put a little more thought into what to do. You'll always hit if your soft point count is less than 18. But on some of these plays you'll want to double.
How To Read Blackjack Cards
Knowing you need to hit is the simple part of the strategy. Master the strategies for doubling instead of trying to memorize every possible variant on hitting.
4 – One Split Decision Ignores the Dealer Card
When you're dealt two cards you'll want to think about what you should do. That's usually based on what the dealer's up card is in addition to what your pair is.
One rare exception to this rule is to always split aces. No need to think about it.
5 – The Next Easiest Rules to Remember for Splits
You'll always split 8s if the dealer stands on soft 17 but you won't split 8s if (the dealer hits on soft 17 and holds an ace). I put parentheses around that to make it clear the second decision depends on two conditions.
Technically, when the dealer hits on soft 17 the recommendation is to surrender 8s against an ace if you can, otherwise fight the uphill battle and split.
Printable Blackjack Card
If you're dealt two 8s you need to remember what the table rules are and pay attention to the dealer's up card. That's not a complicated decision but in the heat of the moment some people split 8s on a dealer ace where she hits on soft 17.
That's not the end of the world. You might come out ahead anyway but the odds of that happening are not as good as when the dealer stands on soft 17.
6 – When Not to Split: High Card vs Low Pairs
Regardless of when the dealer stands or hits on soft 17, you should never split when:
- The dealer's up card is 8 or higher
- You're holding a pair of 7s or lower
Blackjack How To Play Video
In other words, it's easy to see splitting is a bad choice if the dealer's card is high and your pair cards are low.
If thinking in negatives is hard for you then always hit according to the above rules.
7 – When to Split: Low Card vs High Pairs
If the dealer's card is less than 7 and your pair cards are at least 7s, you should always split.
Just as there are other times to hit when you've got low pair cards against a high dealer card, there are times to split when you have a low pair against a low dealer card.
If you think of strategies falling into four quadrant then the dealer's up card puts you into 2 of those quadrants and your points or pairs put you into 1 of those 2 quadrants.
Each quadrant has a few exceptions except when your hand totals 18 points or higher.
Conclusion
Reading the dealer's up card helps you decide what kind of strategy you need. If you're lucky your decision is quick and simple.
Blackjack Card Values
Some players struggle to master strategy because they're thinking that every situation is unique. In reality many different situations have the same resolution.
Differences in table rules confuse some people and it's a good idea to practice playing multiple real money blackjack games so you become comfortable switching between the different rule variations. Just as you should teach yourself to look at your own cards first you should look at the table rules before you start playing.
Never ignore the table rules even if their variations are subtle because they are what the house leverages against you. Most of the time when players think the dealer has made a mistake it's really the players who assumed they were playing by a different set of rules.
