Card Counting in Blackjack

Card Counting does two big things for you. First, it tells you when to increase your bet. For example, if you know the next round of a deck will produce a lot of big cards, you’ll want to make a larger bet than normal, with the expectation of getting a 20. Second, when you count cards you can adjust your basic strategy to compensate for what cards you expect to receive as the hand is played. These two things – adjusting your bet and adjusting how you play your hand are what make card counting such a powerful tool in blackjack.

Card counting can be very serious, both mentally and physically. Limit your playing to 45 minutes to 1 hour, and then take a 30-minute break. This will prevent you from becoming too tired and possibly making mistakes with the count.

You might be wondering about all the specific variations to basic strategy; there are many. First, you have to know how many decks are in play: one, two, four, or six. How about rules? Does the dealer stand or hit on a soft 17. What about double on any two cards and double after split? There are so many variations.
To be a successful card counter you must practice. Use a deck of cards, use a computer or flash cards – but practice, and practice regularly, especially in the beginning.

BESIDES CARD COUNTING, there are many other techniques to use to help make you a winning blackjack player Each of these techniques will help reduce the house odds and increase your chance of winning.

Deck penetration

How far down into the deck does the dealer go before reaching the cut card and shuffling? Knowing this is important to you, the card counter, because with this knowledge your advantage can get very high, particularly toward the end of the deck. If most of the little cards are gone, the odds, with the big cards left, increase substantially in your favor. If the dealer never gets to these favorable situations, your win rate can suffer. Years ago, dealers would go to the end of the deck, which was very good for the card counter, but this isn't the case today. You should look for a 65 to 70 percent or better deck penetration in any game you play. If you don't see good penetration, move to another table, pit, or casino.

By being the last to play, the dealer or house will always have the advantage over all the players at the blackjack table. Consider this: if all the players bust, the house still wins, regardless of the dealer's total hand. Playing last is really the only advantage the house has over you, the player. Note that because many European dealers do not take their second card until all the players finish their hands, you want to double down and split less when the dealer is showing an ace or 10; This is because the dealer will take both bets if he turns up a blackjack. Conversely, in United States, the dealer returns your double or split wager and only takes the original bet if he gets a blackjack.

Card counting is not illegal. However, many casinos have the right to refuse service and can ask you to leave and bar you from playing. In the US, if you fail to leave when you are asked to, you are subject to arrest under the trespassing law - but not for being a skilled card counter. Therefore, knowing how to prevent casino management from identifying you as a skilled card counter and barring you from playing is very important.

There are literally dozens of techniques you can use to camouflage your play so as not to get barred. Maintaining anonymity and a low profile is your objective. So try to fit in, and try to look and act like a typical casino-resort tourist. Remember, you can be the best blackjack player around, but you must be able to play in a casino, or else all that expertise is wasted.