Blackjack, counting cards, etc.?

Question

I just got done watching 21, and this kinda intrigued me since it was based on a true story but neways..

How exactly does that stuff work? [counting cards]

Blackjack is the only card game that ive really ever played.

Im 16, so i can still get quite a bit of practice.

I have a fairly good memory, and can do math in my head very well.

Answer 1

That movie, 21, was fun to watch, but it is a fictionalized drama about some events that happened many years ago, before the the casinos all changed the rules of the game to prevent it!

Counting cards is actually quite simple.

The most comon system is the Hi-Lo count. Start a new shoe with a count of Zero. Assign a value of +1 to 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and -1 to tens and aces. Everything else is 0, or neutral. As the cards are played, add or subtract these counts to get the running count. A positive total indicates the deck is rich in tens and aces. Calculate the true count by dividing the running count by the number of decks left to be played. The higher the number the better the deck for the player.

However, to use the info in a real game is quite different! To get the advantage that card counting offers, you must play perfect basic strategy, understand the blackjack rule variations, practice blackjack money management, and know how, when and what amount to bet!

Here is a link that explains it all.

http://www.thedoverpro.com/blackjack.htm

Good Luck at the tables!

Answer 2

As the count gets higher, more high value cards are still in the deck.  The low value cards have a value of +1, the high values -1, the middle 0.  If you sit in on a "hot" deck, you have a higher chance of getting higher cards.