What is counting cards?

Question

What is counting cards?

Answer 1

In  nutshell card counting is assigning a point value to each of the types of cards in the deck.  Typically cards 2-7 will be assigned positive numbers while cards 9,10,j,q,k,A will be assigned negetive numbers.  8's can go either way but are usually ignored, 2's 7's and 9's are sometimes ignored for various reasons, and aces are sometimes kept track of seperately.  It all depends on what the particular system is targeting in terms of efficiency.

By keeping track of the sum of all the point values of all the cards dealt, you know which group of cards has a larger presense in the undealt portion of the deck by the fact that the "count is positive or negetive, also the higher the count the larger the prsence of those types of cards will be.  This is valuable informations since removing different types of cards effect the hosue advanatage for various reasons mostly linked to the fact that the dealer must hit up to 16 and the players ability to get payed 3:2 for blackjacks

By making the ideal play for every hand you are dealt, and betting large enough when the count is in the favor of the player it is possible to slowly extract money from the casinos.

There are many other factors involved in card counting and it shoudl not be attempted with your hard earned money untill you have a full understanding of the process.

Info on card coutning as well as card countign tools and software can be found here

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

Answer 2

It is keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards left in the shoe at a blackjack table. Variations in this ratio change the odds of the player winning so the player would increase their bets when they have a favourable shoe.

The system worked before casinos took measures to make it pretty much useless. A recent movie called 21 has made the system popular and many people who have no clue what they are doing are wasting their time trying to learn how to card count.

Answer 3

Card counting theory is pretty simple. Basically, big cards (10s, aces, etc.) favour the player, and small cards (2-6) favour the dealer.

All card counting systems basically keep track of the ratio of small cards to big cards remaining in the deck. When the cards remaining favour the player, you bet more money. When they favour the dealer, you bet less.

The simplest count to learn is a one level count, which is also know as the Hi-Lo counting system. The Hi-Lo system assigns the following count values to each card:

2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (small cards) - +1

7, 8, 9 (neutral cards) - 0

10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace (big cards) - -1

To use the Hi-Lo method, you have to add and subtract the counting values for every card exposed on the blackjack table. By mentally keeping an updated running count from one hand to the next, you vary your bets according to the positive/negative value of the upcoming hand.

However, casinos are well aware of it and have devised a number of strategies to either mitigate the risk (to them) or to defeat card counting strategies.

Pit bosses have a lot of experience, and they can spot card counters a long way off. They will instruct the dealer to put more decks on the game, bury more cards in the shuffle, stop mid-entry shoe betting, and get the dealer to shuffle mid-way through the deck.

As a last resort they will back you off the game. And this is without considering the math skills and quick, clear thinking that's required to keep the game in your head.

Answer 4

SOME SAY ITS CHEATING OTHERS SAY IT IS STEALING IT IS WHEN SOME ONE COUNTS THE CARDS IN BLACK JACK AND THEY KNOW WHENTO CALL IT OR LEAVE IT IT IS AGENSED MOST CASINO/HOTEL POLESIES, RULES,AND LAW