Blackjack Card Counting: The Ultimate Guide

Blackjack card counting can turn the tables in your favor. As long as you know the technique behind it.

In this comprehensive guide Casino Professor will tell you everything you need to know about counting cards.

What is Card Counting?

Card counting is a strategy used in blackjack to determine when the player has a statistical advantage over the house. By keeping track of the ratio of high cards (10s, face cards, and Aces) to low cards remaining in the deck, players can make more informed betting decisions.

When there are proportionally more high cards left in the deck, the player has an advantage because:

• Players are more likely to get blackjacks, which pay 3:2
• Dealers are more likely to bust when drawing to stiff hands (12-16)
• Players’ double downs have a higher success rate

Conversely, a deck rich in low cards favors the dealer, as the dealer must hit on hands of 16 or lower, and low cards are less likely to cause the dealer to bust.

How to Count Cards in Blackjack

The Hi-Lo System

The Hi-Lo counting system is the most popular method for beginners due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Here’s how it works:

1. Assign a value to each card:
   • Cards 2-6: +1 (low cards)
   • Cards 7-9: 0 (neutral cards)
   • Cards 10-Ace: -1 (high cards)
2. Start your count at 0 at the beginning of a new shoe
3. Add or subtract values as cards are dealt
4. Convert your running count to a true count by dividing by the number of decks remaining
5. Use the true count to determine your bet size

Step-by-Step Practice Guide

1. Master basic strategy first – Card counting is only effective when combined with perfect basic strategy
2. Practice counting a single deck – Count through an entire deck until you can do it in under 30 seconds
3. Practice with distractions – Add music, conversation, or TV to simulate casino conditions
4. Learn to count in pairs – In real games, cards often come out in pairs
5. Master the true count conversion – Practice estimating the number of decks remaining
6. Practice bet sizing – Vary your bets based on the true count

Betting Strategy

Your betting spread (the difference between your minimum and maximum bets) should correlate with the true count:

• True count of 1 or less: Minimum bet (e.g., £10)
• True count of 2: 2× minimum bet (£20)
• True count of 3: 4× minimum bet (£40)
• True count of 4: 8× minimum bet (£80)
• True count of 5+: 10-12× minimum bet (£100-£120)

Remember that a wider betting spread is more profitable but also more conspicuous to casino staff.

Perfect Blackjack Basic Strategy Table

Hard Hands (No Ace or Ace counted as 1)

Soft Hands (Ace counted as 11)

Pairs

Key: H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double down, P = Split

Strategy Adjustments Based on Count

Once you’ve mastered basic strategy and card counting, you can make these strategy adjustments when the count is strongly positive (true count +3 or higher) or negative (true count -1 or lower):

• Insurance: Take insurance only when the true count is +3 or higher
• 16 vs. 10: Stand instead of hit when the true count is +0 or higher
• 15 vs. 10: Stand instead of hit when the true count is +4 or higher
• 10 vs. A: Double down instead of hit when the true count is +4 or higher
• 12 vs. 3: Stand instead of hit when the true count is +2 or higher
• 12 vs. 2: Stand instead of hit when the true count is +3 or higher

Is Card Counting Illegal?

No, card counting is not illegal in the UK or most other countries. However, while it’s not illegal, casinos disapprove of it and may take measures to counteract it, such as banning players or asking them to leave the premises.

While card counting is not illegal, casinos in the UK have the right to refuse service to anyone they suspect of using this strategy. If a casino suspects a player of card counting, they may:

• Ask the player to leave.
• Ban the player from the casino.
• End the game or session early.

Casinos use various techniques to identify card counters, such as:

• Shuffling more frequently.
• Monitoring player behavior.
• Using multiple decks to make counting less effective.

Card Counting in Online Blackjack

Blackjack card counting online is virtually impossible due to some of rules most games are played. Normal table blackjack the decks might get automatically shuffled before every hands starts.

Of course, several top UK online casinos have a live casino, where players can play against a live dealer. Interaction is very similar to a normal land-based casino, but there are few rules that make things a bit trickier online.

For example, Evolution uses 8 decks, which makes card counting very hard. Land based casinos generally use less decks, which makes card counting slightly easier than online.

The decks also get shuffled relatively quick, making it hard for the deck turn very favorable towards the player.

Known YouTube card counter StevenBridges has made a video of him testing to count cards online. It did not go too well. 

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer blackjack games offer the only potential opportunity for online card counting. However, these games still present significant challenges:

• Decks are typically shuffled at 50% penetration or less
• Many live dealer games use automatic shuffling machines
• Camera angles may make it difficult to see all cards dealt
• Betting limits often change mid-shoe to counter potential counters

Even when live dealer games use manual shuffling with decent penetration, the economics rarely work out in the counter’s favor due to:

• Slower game pace (fewer hands per hour)
• Table minimums that are often higher than physical casinos
• Maximum bet limits that restrict your betting spread

Some famous blackjack card counters in the UK and elsewhere

Card counting in Blackjack has been a game-changer for many skilled players, allowing them to gain an advantage over casinos. Over the years, several individuals and teams have made headlines for their successful card counting strategies

The “British Casino Team” (or “The 6-Million Dollar Team”):

• A famous group of professional gamblers, including a number of UK-based players, made headlines in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This team employed card counting and other strategies to win at Blackjack across several casinos.
• The team operated by using a combination of card counting, spotting patterns, and team play (where one member would play at a table while others observed and relayed information).
• They would rotate players to confuse casino staff and avoid being flagged for card counting.
• This team reportedly made millions, but eventually, they were caught and banned from various UK casinos.

The MIT Blackjack Team (UK Members):

• While the MIT Blackjack Team is primarily associated with the United States, there have been UK members who played a role in the team’s exploits across the globe, including in the UK. The team became famous in the 1990s for using sophisticated card counting strategies and for making large profits in casinos worldwide.
• The MIT team was a group of university students and former students who used a system of card counting along with team play to win large sums of money at Blackjack tables. They would often travel to different cities to avoid being caught, which eventually led to their success in the UK casinos.
• While the MIT team’s exploits have been widely documented in books and movies, their presence in the UK casinos raised awareness about how card counting can be used effectively to beat the house edge.

The “Casino Bandits” (2000s):

• A group known as the “Casino Bandits” was caught card counting in a series of UK casinos in the 2000s. They employed traditional card counting techniques and often used the bet spread technique, adjusting their bets according to the count.
• The group used various tactics to avoid detection, such as playing at multiple casinos across London and other cities, making it difficult for casinos to track their activities. Eventually, after winning large sums, they were banned from several casinos.
• The group’s activities were widely covered by the press as one of the first high-profile cases of card counters operating in the UK.