Counting cards is not hard as long as you know what to do. The process is broken down into four easy steps. If you want to know how to count cards, use the steps provided below.
You need to start by assigning a value to each card. Begin by using a High and Low system. It is the most effective way to learn how to count cards in blackjack. The values are:
For each card dealt, you will need to either subtract or add 1 or do nothing if the value of the card is 0.
As a card is dealt, you need to update your running count based on the information you have received. This should be done until the dealer shuffles the cards. Take note of your running count. If it goes down, the casino will have the advantage. When it goes up, you have the advantage.
Casinos have started using multiple decks in a bid to thwart the efforts of card counters. This should not discourage you. For card counting to work, you need to come up with a count per deck (also known as a true count).
For example, let's say you have a +5-running count and 6 decks are remaining, in this case, there is less than one additional high card for each of the six decks. This means you do not have the advantage. Do not concentrate on the number of extra high cards. What matters is the concentration of high cards in comparison to low cards.
For instance, if you had +5 with a single deck of cards remaining, there will be 4 extra Aces and 10's in the remaining deck. This puts the edge in your favor. It is the reason why the true count is crucial to counting cards.
Change your bets depending on how the true count falls and rises. A true count and running count are essential in knowing when the house edge will flip in your favor. If you do not use this information, you will end up playing a tiring game of blackjack. You will just be counting without any advantage over the house.
To capitalize on the information gathered from counting, make sure you raise your bet only when the true count increases. The trick is to ensure you bet small when the count is neutral or negative. Bet big when your count shows a positive figure as this is when the odds are in your favor.
Proper betting and bankroll management can get complicated when you count cards in blackjack. If you are not careful, you may end up losing before the game is over. This is why most people fail even with the best card counting strategy.
The above strategy will teach you how to count cards successfully. It is best to use it on trial runs. For example, you can register on a no deposit casino that offers blackjack. Use the bonus to try out the strategy.
As you are playing, take notes when you go wrong and why you lost. This will help you come up with a strategy that you can use in any online casino. It will also help you understand the ins and outs of card counting in blackjack.