Card Counting Techniques

Card Counting Techniques

If you want to learn how to become a skilled card counter check out our beginners guide.

This section is an in-depth review of the most popular and time tested card counting methods independent of the game itself or other skills required to profitably count cards in a real casino. If you're interested in how these systems were developed, then you should check out the blackjack history page or if you want to learn more about the masters who developed most of these techniques, then go to the Blackjack Hall of Fame page.

This page contains the card counting methods that are most commonly employed by both recreational and professional players. Many of these have spin-off techniques or modifications and there is a whole world of additional counting systems for players who want to explore every possibility.

All systems, particularly the foundational Hi-Lo Count (based off the Revere Plus-Minus count) has spun off several generations of card counting method variations. Generally these differ in how they take into account the number of decks, whether a dealer must stand on a hard or soft 17 and if doubling down after splitting is allowed. The main counting systems not covered in this guide are: Red Seven, Renzey KISS, Revere Point Count, Canfield Expert, Silver Fox, Basic and Advanced Omega and level 3 systems like Wong Halves, Halves with Aces and the Uston Advanced Count.

Every card counting system has certain shared characteristics that are defined as follows:

    Level:

    The number of values in a given card counting system. The most basic systems have one level for + or - 1, while a two level system has +1, +2, -1, -2 and every additional level adds a new layer of complexity that makes it progressively harder to compute.

    A single level counting system is the most commonly developed and used, however the Hi-Opt II count has a two level count and legends circulate about the boisterous Ken Uston using a three level counting system while also maintaining a side count and disguise.

    Side Count:

    An additional count kept in addition to the total points count. The most common example of a side count is the aces in a deck.

    Running Count:

    The total number of points that a given card system assigns to a deck before being dealt. After each hand this total is updated.

    True Count:

    The total point count (or running count) divided by the number of decks in a shoe.

Popular Card Counting Systems

While these might look simple (counting to 1 or 2 is even easier than 21!) the real trick is when counting and playing: not being thrown off by distractions and all while appearing not to be counting at all.