When counting in groups, it does not matter how the cards are arranged into groups. When counting in threes, take any three of your cards, then any other three and so on. Some people count them in the order they lie in the pile, but it can be easier to rearrange them to make the addition easier. The only way to keep a handle on the running count is to see each card that is dealt from the shoe. This means that the card counter has to look at the hands of other players at the table. Lingering too long when looking at other player’s blackjack hands can tip off the casino. There's a lot more to counting cards in Blackjack than meets the eye. Mike Aponte, former member of the infamous MIT Blackjack Team, takes us through the com.

MeanCard counting systems for Blackjack are compared here, along with theirCard Values, Betting Correlation, Playing Efficiency, Insurance Correlation,Ease of Use and Type. These terms are defined at the bottom of the pageand are used to estimate the effectiveness of a Blackjack card countingstrategy. Ease of use is rated from 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest) and is basedstrictly on my own opinions (and a few phone calls from authors since Ifirst published this pageJ). Brief descriptionsof Blackjack software can be found at BlackjackSoftware Roadmap. Click on the CountingBlackjack button on the left formore info on counting cards.

CardCounting Strategy Summary

Click on a card counting strategy name in the table for more information.

Strategy

A

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

T

BC

PE

IC

Ease

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

0

1

1

2

2

1

1

0

0

-2

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

0

0/1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

-1

0/1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0/1

0

0

-1

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

-1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

-2

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

-4

2

3

3

4

3

2

0

-1

-3

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

0

2

2

3

4

2

1

0

-2

-3

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

-1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

0

1

2

2

3

2

2

1

-1

-3

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

-2

2

2

2

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

-1

.5

1

1

1.5

1

.5

0

-.5

-1

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

-1

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.96

.63

.85

4

B2


Strategy

BC

PE

IC

Ease

Type

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

.96

.63

.85

4

B2

For a detailed description of the aspects of strategies for counting cards,see How to Create a Card Counting Strategy

BlackjackCard Counting System Sources

The sources for system comparison above can be found at CardCounting Strategy Sources. Full counting tables for most strategiescan be found in free downloads of CV softwareproducts by permission of the various authors. They are not included heredue to copyright concerns.

Card CountingDefinitions

Card counting techniques include the following measurements:
  • Playing Efficiency– PE indicateshow well a counting system handles changes in playing strategy. Playingefficiency is particularly important in hand-held games (one or twodecks.)
  • Betting Correlation– BCis defined as the correlation between card point values and the effectof removal of cards. It is used to predict how well a counting systempredicts good betting situations and can approach 1.00 (100% correlation.)BC is particularly important in shoe games (six or eight decks.)
  • Insurance Correlation– IC isdefined as the correlation between card point values and the value ofcards in Insurance situation. A point value of -9 for tens and +4 forall other cards would be perfect for predicting if an Insurance betshould be placed.
  • Level– The level of a strategyrefers to the number of different values assigned to cards. Level 2and 3 counting strategies are more efficient, but quite a bit more difficultfor most people. Level 4 & 5 counting strategies also exist. Butthis is overkill.
  • Side Counts– There are severalmethods of side counting used to increase strategy efficiency. For anoutline of five side counting techniques, see SideCounting Techniques.

  • Type– The TYPE column keyfollows:

    • B – Balanced count requiring the calculation of aTrue Count
    • U – Unbalanced count with no True Count
    • S – Suit Aware count requiring different counts forred and black cards
    • C – Compromise indexes used for greater ease
    • 1, 2, 3, 4 – Level. That is the highest tag value

Note: Playing Efficiency (as defined by Griffin) is not relevant to unbalancedcounting systems and is only an estimate. PE & BC stated here do notinclude side counts.

A list of the card counting index tables that can be found in CV productscan be found at CV Blackjack IndexTables.

For Blackjack training see Blackjackcard counting software.

DoesCard counting systems for Blackjack are compared here, along with theirCard Values, Betting Correlation, Playing Efficiency, Insurance Correlation,Ease of Use and Type. These terms are defined at the bottom of the pageand are used to estimate the effectiveness of a Blackjack card countingstrategy. Ease of use is rated from 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest) and is basedstrictly on my own opinions (and a few phone calls from authors since Ifirst published this pageJCounting). Brief descriptionsof Blackjack software can be found at BlackjackSoftware Roadmap. Click on the Blackjack button on the left formore info on counting cards.

CardCounting Strategy Summary

Click on a card counting strategy name in the table for more information.

What Does Counting Cards Mean In Poker

Strategy

A

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

T

BC

PE

IC

Ease

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

0

1

1

2

2

1

1

0

0

-2

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

0

0/1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

-1

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

-1

0/1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

0

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

-1

-2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

-1

1

1

1

1

1

0/1

0

0

-1

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

-1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

-2

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

-4

2

3

3

4

3

2

0

-1

-3

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

0

2

2

3

4

2

1

0

-2

-3

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

-1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

-1

-1

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

-1

1

2

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

-1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

-1

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

0

1

2

2

3

2

2

1

-1

-3

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

-2

2

2

2

3

2

1

0

-1

-2

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

-1

.5

1

1

1.5

1

.5

0

-.5

-1

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

-1

1

1

2

2

2

1

0

0

-2

.96

.63

.85

4

B2


What Does Counting Cards Mean In Gambling

Strategy

BC

PE

IC

Ease

Type

.87

.63

.76

6

B1

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.97

.51

.76

6

B1

.88

.61

.85

6.5

B1

.91

.67

.91

4

B2

.90

.62

.87

7

US1

.98

.56

.78

7

US1

.98

.55

.78

7.5

UC1

.97

.62

.80

4

B2

.92

.67

.85

4

B2

.98

.54

.78

7

USC1

.98

.55

.78

8

UC1

.89

.59

.76

6

B1

.99

.55

.78

4

B2

1.0

.53

.71

1

B4

.92

.65

.82

1

B4

.96

.53

.69

6

B1

.97

.62

.84

6.5

U2

.95

.55

.76

6.5

B1

.91

.69

.90

2.5

B3

.99

.54

.73

4.5

U3

.99

.56

.72

2.5

B3

.96

.63

.85

4

B2

For a detailed description of the aspects of strategies for counting cards,see How to Create a Card Counting Strategy

BlackjackCard Counting System Sources

The sources for system comparison above can be found at CardCounting Strategy Sources. Full counting tables for most strategiescan be found in free downloads of CV softwareproducts by permission of the various authors. They are not included heredue to copyright concerns.

What Does Counting Cards Mean

Card CountingDefinitions

Card counting techniques include the following measurements:
  • Playing Efficiency– PE indicateshow well a counting system handles changes in playing strategy. Playingefficiency is particularly important in hand-held games (one or twodecks.)
  • Betting Correlation– BCis defined as the correlation between card point values and the effectof removal of cards. It is used to predict how well a counting systempredicts good betting situations and can approach 1.00 (100% correlation.)BC is particularly important in shoe games (six or eight decks.)
  • Insurance Correlation– IC isdefined as the correlation between card point values and the value ofcards in Insurance situation. A point value of -9 for tens and +4 forall other cards would be perfect for predicting if an Insurance betshould be placed.
  • Level– The level of a strategyrefers to the number of different values assigned to cards. Level 2and 3 counting strategies are more efficient, but quite a bit more difficultfor most people. Level 4 & 5 counting strategies also exist. Butthis is overkill.
  • Side Counts– There are severalmethods of side counting used to increase strategy efficiency. For anoutline of five side counting techniques, see SideCounting Techniques.

  • Type– The TYPE column keyfollows:

    • B – Balanced count requiring the calculation of aTrue Count
    • U – Unbalanced count with no True Count
    • S – Suit Aware count requiring different counts forred and black cards
    • C – Compromise indexes used for greater ease
    • 1, 2, 3, 4 – Level. That is the highest tag value

Note: Playing Efficiency (as defined by Griffin) is not relevant to unbalancedcounting systems and is only an estimate. PE & BC stated here do notinclude side counts.

What Is Counting Cards Mean

A list of the card counting index tables that can be found in CV productscan be found at CV Blackjack IndexTables.

For Blackjack training see Blackjackcard counting software.