Should You Count Cards in Blackjack?
Card counting is one of the best known, but least understood, aspects of blackjack strategy. There are a few different strategies that you can use to count cards, from simple techniques that even the odds between player and dealer, and complex systems that can give you a huge edge when you play.
Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing illegal about card counting! That said, casinos have the right to deny service whenever they like, and live casinos are likely to stop letting you play if they believe you are gaining an advantage through card counting. That’s why avoiding detection is a key part of most systems.
While every card counting technique is slightly different, most systems follow the same basic tenants. You are required to keep track of cards that come out of the shoe, noting cards that are good for you – like aces and ten-point cards – and those that are bad, such as fours, fives, and sixes.
If enough bad cards come out of the deck, you can raise your bets, knowing the remaining shoe is advantageous to you. If a lot of good cards are out of play, you might bet the minimum, or step away until the shoe is reshuffled. Some systems can also advise changes to basic strategy, such as taking insurance in some cases.
Unfortunately, you won’t really be able to count cards in UK casino sites. This is because these strategies rely on many cards coming out of the shoe before it is reshuffled. Online blackjack games typically reshuffle the entire virtual shoe between each hand, meaning the cards that leave the deck in previous hands don’t impact your future odds. This is also a problem at live casinos that use continuous shuffling machines.
If you want to learn how to count cards to upgrade your blackjack play at land-based casinos, then we recommend you check out our expert card counting guide.
