Players in online casinos and traditional ones are used to hearing of viable strategies to help them win. Counting cards is one of these highly popular strategies used in blackjack games. But does it work? Players need a lot of time to master this strategy and use it seamlessly during their games.
Many players use this strategy to beat the system and increase their winning odds. However, it’s next to impossible to play this strategy and win. Below is a detailed look at the card counting strategy: Its myths, facts, and viability.
What is Card Counting?
Players seeking to use this strategy must be good in mathematics, probability, and statistics. The strategy aims to determine whether the next dealt hand benefits a player or the dealer. For this reason, the player needs to have a running count indicating the high and low-value cards being dealt in the game. The ultimate aim is to get an edge over the house.
This strategy also requires a good memory to get an accurate idea of the remaining cards as the game continues. With this information, players can decide to continue with the online blackjack game and the best way to increase their chances of success.
Ideally, players add the assigned number or subtract from the running total whenever the dealer lays a card down. If a zero is laid down, nothing changes to the total count.
An increase in low-value cards increases high-value cards remaining in a set, and vice versa. If a player plans to use this strategy, they must keep practicing to assess when they can land a big win during their casino games.
How to Count Cards in Blackjack
There are two strategies that players should know when using the card-counting blackjack strategy. These are the ace/five and high/low methods.
High/Low Counting Method
This online blackjack method is the most simplistic for players. It can also be applied in brick-and-mortar casinos. For this strategy, players assign a value to each card the dealer places on the deck based on its rank—low-count cards as +1 and high-value cards as -1. The middle counts as 0.
Players should begin the count of each new shoe with zero and increase the count or reduce it based on the cards dealt. In theory, this strategy is easy.
Once the game progresses deep enough, at least 1 full deck, a player needs to get the true count. They do so by dividing the running total with the remaining decks to be dealt. It may be a difficult skill to learn as a player needs to know how to eyeball the remaining cards left in the shoe.
For the blackjack card counting strategy to be termed successful for the player, many high cards and aces must be left on the deck. Players can look for ways to increase their bets if a true count has +4 or more.
If it is -4 or lower, a player can sit out the bets or move to another table.
Ace/Five Counting Method
The high/low method is the most common. However, the ace/five-card counting method is the new online blackjack strategy. It focuses on counting aces and fives, ensuring one gets an accurate count to make better decisions when playing in online casinos.
For this strategy, each shoe starts with zero count, and players count every ace or five dealt. This method makes it easier to keep up the count.
If a five a dealt, players add +1, and for each ace, they subtract -1. A player can double their bets if the count gets to +2 or more, as the deck is in their favor. A player can also maximize their chances with a +10 or higher count as they can win more money.
Keep Practising
When playing casino games, players need to keep playing and practicing to build their skills. The card-counting strategy for online blackjack requires a lot of practice. Players can do this at home to boost their confidence and ability to use this strategy effectively. They should eliminate any possibility of a wrong count, as it can be costly.
Is Card Counting Worth It?
Online casino games are about luck. However, players can improve their chances of winning by trying different strategies. Card counting as a strategy for winning may be limiting.
Various factors affect this strategy from being perfect. First, it is a challenging skill to learn, and new players need time to master the art. There are also several card counting systems, and keeping a perfect count throughout a game is hard. Additionally, casinos do not condone this strategy and can kick out a player.
Moreover, the deck can change. Once a dealer knows what the player is doing, they can switch up the deck affecting the game.
Conclusion
A player can spend time learning this strategy, but it has several systems and methods. Card counting can help players get ahead and increase their winnings. However, casinos dislike this practice, and players can get banned. That said, a player can master all these blackjack strategies for a chance to increase their winnings in online casinos.