Black jack card counting help?

Question

I have been reading about card counting, the hi-low system. I understand all the counting but how do apply it to my betting? What number do I bet higher and what numbers do I bet lower? Also any tips would be great. Thanks!

Answer 1

You should get a source that gives you that information for the particular system you are using. (There is more than one "hi-low" system.)

There are certain things in common I can pass on.

(1) You need to convert the raw count into a per deck, or true, count. To do that, divide the raw count by the number of decks remaining. (You have to estimate the number of decks remaining that you have not seen.) For example, if you are at a table using an eight-deck shoe and it appears there are about two decks in the pick-up show you would divide the raw count by 6 to get the true count.

(2) The bigger the true count the better and consequently the more you want to bet. Negative true counts are always worse than a new shoe so you want low bets.

(3) For betting, if the true count is high enough you do want to take insurance when the dealer has an ace up. The exact value varies depending oh the hi-low system, but is usually around +1 or higher.

(3) There are many other adjustments you should make depending on the count.  For example, with a positive count you would not usually hit a 16 when the dealer has a 10 showing. The decisions include when to surrender (if available) and when to split as well as when to stay and when to hit.

(4) Always remember that counting only changes the odds a small amount. It does not guarantee winning. Even with a very high count, making a blackjack more likely, it is just as likely that the dealer will be the one who gets the blackjack. You do not want to increase your bets too much just because of the count. Even with the odds slightly in your favor you will go broke eventually if either (a) you play long enough or (b) you do not practice good money management.