How do I learn how to count cards?

Question

I would like to count card for the game blackjack. Where are some good book, website or other things that could help me learn.

Answer 1

There are Several counting systems that can be learned, some are better suited for different types of games.

There is information availabe on the web at these sites

-http://qfit.com/blackjack.htm  (Lots of links, bj tools and software

-Blackjackinfo.com   (forums and links)

-hitorstand.net   (basic strategy)

Card counting involves asigning point values to different types of cards, adding the point values together as the cards are dealt in a game, and then changing your bets and playing strategy according to the rules of the sytem.  The card counting sytem described by most peopel is the hi/lo, but this may not be the right one for you so check the links above and go from there, i also recomend buying books as the information is much easier to find in them than digging through random articles on the web and peicing together the information yourself, books are much more straight forward and can save you a lot of time.

Answer 2

I use a basic form of counting. Cards 2-6 I count as a -1, Cards 9-K I assign a value of +1. When the deck is at a rating of +5 or more, you can tell there are more high cards, and thus should bet more. One such way of betting is to increase your betting unit for each positive number the deck is past 1. So if you're betting 5 bucks a hand, you would bet 15 when the count is +3. Problem is, most casinos use multiple decks, or their single deck games they shuffle after every 1/2 hands. For multiple decks, to find the true count, divide the count you have by the number of decks. For example, in a 6 deck game, if your count is +18, your true count would be +3 and you would bet 3 units.

I don't concur with the version the other user gave above as I feel that Aces can't be looked at positively or negatively because of their values. If you have an 11 and a high positive count you're going to double assuming the next card is a 10. The other method could lose you money because a high positive count in that method means there is a good amount of aces in the deck as well which would get you a 12, and you just doubled so you'd be stuck on it.

Answer 3

Statistically speaking, you are doomed to lose at every game on the casino floor — unless, that is, you can count cards. At the blackjack table, speedy math skills can flip the advantage from the house to you. Granted, it's a small edge — 2 percent at best, which is nowhere near as good as dragging Rain Man to Vegas. But what have you got to lose? (Oh, yeah, all that money.)

Bring mucho moola. Your edge will come from betting more when the dealer's shoe — a device for holding multiple decks of cards — is rich with big cards, which tend to help you and hurt the house. Success takes time and a bankroll of at least 400 times your standard bet.

Count and cancel. Using the classic Hi-Lo method, you start with zero at the shuffle. For every 10, face card, or ace that hits the table, subtract a point. For every 2 through 6 card, add a point (the 7, 8, and 9 cards = zero points). When possible, let cards cancel each other out to save time.

Divide and bet. Before each hand, divide your count by the estimated number of decks left in the shoe (tip: guess how many decks are in the discard stack and subtract that amount from the total number used in the game — usually six). When the result hits +2, bet like a big dog.

Be inconspicuous. Don't move your lips as you calculate. Or bet too many chips. Counting cards isn't against the law, but a suspicious pit boss will show you the door — or just signal the dealer to shuffle, which wipes out your boosted odds and sets the count back to zero. D'oh!

Learn basic strategy. Basic strategy is a mathematically calculated optimum way to play your hand in every situation. There are variations in strategy according to the number of decks used and the different blackjack rules. A perfect basic strategy player plays at almost no disadvantage to the house.

Learn deviations. A deviation is a change from basic strategy by playing the hand differently according to the true count. There are many deviations, but start by learning the "illustrious 18", that should get you started