Blackjack

Card counting is a procedure whereby a player keeps track of what cards have been dealt out of the deck (or shoe). The counter uses this information to assist them in making playing decisions. Before the reader develops any preconceived notions on what card counting really entails, let us dispel a couple of misconceptions.

Card counting does not give you psychic-like powers to predict the next card out of the deck. What card counting will do is give you a good indication of whether a deck is favorable or unfavorable and the extent of this favorableness or unfavorableness.

Card counting does not involve memorizing every card that comes out of the deck. When you count cards, you are not keeping track of individual cards. All you are doing is keeping a relative score of high-value cards (10s and aces) to low cards (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6).

Card Counting: Basic Premise

The game of blackjack is focused around 10-value cards (10s and face cards) and aces. Why? Because combined, they are the most plentiful cards in the deck. The most basic premise of card counting strategy is that decks rich in 10-value cards are advantageous to the player and decks short on 10-value cards are advantageous to the casino.

Why are decks rich in 10-value cards favorable?

There are three main reasons:

The higher the proportion of 10-value cards remaining in the deck or shoe, the greater the likelihood of drawing a blackjack (an ace and a 10-value card). The dealer has the same increased chance of getting a blackjack under such circumstances and will therefore get more blackjacks also. While that is true, when the dealer draws a blackjack, you will lose your entire bet (unless you also have a blackjack). When you draw a blackjack, however, you will not only win your entire bet, but you will also win 50% more. Remember, blackjack pays 3 to 2. You will therefore win not 100% of your bet, but 150% of your bet. Therefore, although both the odds of you and the dealer drawing a blackjack increase during favorable conditions, you will win 150% of your bet when you draw the blackjack while the dealer will only take 100% of your bet when they draw a blackjack. Therefore, you will be more than happy trading blackjacks with the dealer under these favorable conditions.

The dealer must draw when they have 16 or less. They have no choice. When the deck is favorable, they run a greater risk of busting. You, on the other hand, can alter your strategy to take advantage of favorable conditions. You don't have to take a card when the odds of busting are great because of a favorable deck.

Doubling down. You have the option of doubling your wager. During favorable conditions, this can be extremely valuable.