What is card counting? Does it really work?

Question

How can someone learn to card count?

Answer 1

You count which cards have been played and keep track in your head.  This will give you a mathematical advantage of which cards will most likely be played next.  You can get banned from casinos for counting cards, so it would be good to practice a lot before trying it in public.

Answer 2

it is very hard to do now.  Casinos often use multiple decks at the same time to prevent it.

In 21 they assign point values to the cards.  When a higher valued card is shown it often brings the total count down.  When a lower number card is shown it brings the count value up.  You want a high total count cuz that means there is a better chance of getting a higher value in your hand.  Its pretty complicated and there are different methods. look at wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_counti...

Answer 3

Card counting can provide a small edge for the player over time. You learn by practice.

Here is a link to a page on card counting:

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

Good luck at the tables!

Answer 4

Theres actual books out that teach you how. I guess it can be done. It looks very hard to learn. And after watching 21 I don't think I'd do it.

Answer 5

It's when each card is given a +/- or 0 value. It tracks the ratio of high/low cards in games such as blackjack.  Low cards 2-6 have a value of +1. Neutral cards with a value of 0 are 7-9 and high cards with a value of -1 are tens, face cards and aces. Say the count right now is +8, if a Jack was dealt out, it would now be +7.

Card counting is risky because to make it work, you'd have to have other people with you to take full advantage of it. Ex: having somebody count and give a signal when the count is high.

Answer 6

By asiging point values to cards(negetive and positive) you can "count" them by adding together the point values as they are dealt, which gives you a rather accurate description of what cards remain undealt from the rest fo the deck(s).

If enough cards of a certain type have been removed from play, for various reasons the house edge can be entirely eleminated such that the player actually has an advantage.

A card counter waits untill he has an advantage, and thenh sits and starts placing bets.

Yes it does work, card counters will experience returns on their bets in between 100.6% and 102% or more.  which means if a card counter bets 100 dolars per hand they will earn 60 cents to 2 dollars each hand on average.

Goto the puzzles and games section of your local bookstore and buy a book there.  It is  long long road to becomeing a successful card counter.  Also to have returns in the 102% or more range, you are gogin to need to do more than just count cards.