Blackjack Strategies: How to Count Cards

• With an effective basic blackjack strategy, the house edge can be reduced to less than 1%
• Top card counting blackjack strategies include; Hi-Lo, Omega II, Hi-Opt I &II, and Wong Halves
• Hi-Lo and Hi-Opt I are the best blackjack counting systems if you are a beginner
• If you’re an intermediate player, consider using Omega II and Hi-Opt II card counting systems
• Wong Halves is the most complicated blackjack card counting system but has the highest betting correlation
• Hi-Lo, Omega II, Hi-Opt I &II, and Wong Halves are balanced systems; thus, you can easily obtain the running count (RC) and true count (TC)
• To obtain the true count, divide the running count by the remaining decks in the shoe
• Increase your bet when the true count is positive and reduce your bankroll when the TC is negative or neutral

Blackjack is a skill-based casino game and by using card counting strategies, it is possible to swing the odds in your favour. When you apply a blackjack system, you reduce the house edge to less than 1%.

Fortunately, there are several blackjack card counting strategies that vary in complexity to suit both new and experienced players. However, before applying these systems, you will first need to master the basic strategies in blackjack.

In this blackjack strategies article, you will learn the main blackjack card counting systems, both for beginners and advanced players. Furthermore, we have detailed how these techniques work as well as their pros and cons.

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If you are a new player, it is important to learn the basic blackjack strategies before you even consider learning how to count cards in blackjack. With a basic strategy, it is possible to reduce the casino’s advantage from 2% to 0.5%. Hence, when you play blackjack, learning the fundamentals is paramount.

Surrender

Surrender is an option that allows you to forfeit your hand and lose half your initial bet before the dealer checks for a blackjack. If your hand has less than 50% chance of winning against the dealer, then it’s best to surrender than losing your entire stake.

Split

A split is offered when your initial hand includes two cards of the same value. In this case, you have the option to split the cards into two separate hands. Knowing when to split is crucial. For example, the best time to split pairs is when you’re dealt 2 Aces or 2 eights. However, you should never split a pair of fives or tens.

Hit and Stand

Once you’ve been dealt your first two cards, you can decide to either ‘hit’ or ‘stand.’ To hit means you want to draw another card, and to stand means you are satisfied with the cards. Thus, this basic blackjack strategy helps you determine whether you should take another card or not. If the surrender and split options do not apply to your hand, you can choose to hit or stand.

Soft Totals

If you’re dealt an Ace as one of the first two cards, this is known as a soft total. The Ace is counted as 11 instead of 1, allowing you to be more aggressive since there is no risk of going bust. For example, an Ace and 6 is a soft 17. However, if you hit a soft 17 and are dealt a 5, your Ace card will be valued at 1, so your hand value will be 12.

Hard Total

A hard hand total is one that either has no Aces, or if it does, the Ace is no longer flexible since it is assigned a value of 1. For example, if you have a 10 and a 6, this will make a hard 16. Conversely, if you have a 10, a 3, and an Ace, the total will be a hard hand. This is because if the Ace counts as 11, you would go bust; then again, if it counts as 1, your hand would be a hard 14.

The Hi-Lo blackjack strategy, also known as Plus/Minus, was invented by Harvey Dubner in 1963. It is the most popular card counting system and the best blackjack strategy for beginners, since the calculations are simplified being -1, 0, or +1.

How Do I Count the Cards Using the Hi-Lo System

The Hi-Lo card counting betting strategy breaks cards into three categories, each with a specific value as follows.

Card Value 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

• Count +1

Card Value 7, 8, 9

• Count 0

Card Value 10, J, Q, K, A

• Count -1

Implementing the Hi-Lo card counting strategy, requires you to keep track of every card dealt from the shoe as soon as you join the table. This applies regardless of whether it is dealt to you, the dealer, or other players.

If the remaining deck is rich in high cards, you are highly likely to receive a blackjack with higher payouts. On the other hand, as the high cards deplete, the odds shift in favour of the house.

Running Count into a True Count Conversion

The running count tells you the number of low and high cards left in the shoe. You calculate it by adding or subtracting every dealt card, and, since the cards are assigned values of +1 and -1, this provides a balanced count.

Thus, if you were to count an entire deck of cards using this system, you would end up with a total of 0.

You can easily tell the remaining cards when using the running count for a single deck. Nonetheless, when multiple decks are in play, you have to take into account the number of cards left. Therefore, when playing blackjack games using 6 or 8 decks such as Blackjack Switch and Vegas Blackjack, you will have to obtain the true count (TC).

Trues Count = Running Count/Decks Remaining

The TC tells you your advantage over the casino when dealing with multiple decks. TC is obtained when you divide the running count (RC) by the estimated number of remaining card decks.

If your running count is 10 and 5 decks are remaining, the true Count will be +2 (10/5). This means that, on average, there are 2 extra high cards per pack of cards.

Hi-Lo Bet Sizing

Keeping tabs on the running count and true count helps you know when the odds are in your favour. This information is crucial in determining when to adjust your bet. As a general rule of thumb, you should increase your bet size when the cards are in your favour. And subsequently reduce your bets when the true count is negative or neutral.

Pros and Cons of Using the Hi-Lo Blackjack Strategy

Pros

• Moderately simple if you are an inexperienced player
• Decent house edge
• Suitable for multi-deck games

Cons

• It does not guarantee you a win
• You need to be highly focused on every move on the table

In blackjack, the odds keep changing depending on the effect of card removal. The effect of removal when playing a single deck will have more significance than if you were playing multi-decks.

Additionally, removing certain cards has a greater impact on your advantage over the house than others. For example, if you were playing a single-deck game and an Ace is removed, it would mean that your expectation of landing a blackjack reduces by -0.59%. On the other hand, the removal of a 5, 6, 4, 3, or 2 shifts the odds in your favour.

Below is a table on a single-deck study showing the effect of card removal in blackjack.

Card 2

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.38%

Card 3

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.44%

Card 4

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.56%

Card 5

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.71%

Card 6

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.41%

Card 7

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.29%

Card 8

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: +0.01%

Card 9

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: -0.17%

Card 10

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: -0.51%

Card A

• Effect of Removal in Blackjack in a Single Deck: -0.59%

Pros and Cons of Using the Effect of Removal Blackjack Strategy

Pros

• Easy to understand and apply
• No mathematical calculations required
• Suitable for beginners
• Accurately reflects the different strengths of the cards

Cons

• Multiple decks makes it more complicated

The Omega II blackjack system was developed in 1992 by Bryce Carlson, a renowned author of the card counting book ‘Blackjack for Blood.’ It is one of the blackjack strategies that utilises balanced systems such as Hi-Lo. While the Omega II strategy is more advanced, you will find it easier to master than other strategies, like the Wong Halves.

Advanced Omega II Card counting system for blackjack features two levels. It also requires you to keep a side count for Aces, which can be quite challenging. Nevertheless, it is known to be quite reliable when you need to decide whether or not to take insurance. With an efficacy of 99%, it is one of the blackjack strategies you should consider when card counting.

How Do I Count the Cards Using the Omega II Blackjack System

You can use the Omega II strategy on Blackjack with Side Bets, Premium Blackjack, or any other preferred variation. In this case, you will be using the heuristic system to count cards. Therefore, you must keep a record of the ratio of high cards to low cards left in the deck.

Many card counting systems only require you to add or subtract 1 to keep track of the running count. However, the level 2 count system used in Omega II is more complicated since some cards are worth +1 or -1 whilst others are valued at +2 or -2.

The blackjack chart below shows the assigned values.

Card Value 4, 5, 6

• Count +2

Card Value 2, 3, 7

• Count +1

Card Value 8, A

• Count 0

Card Value 9

• Count -1

Card Value 10, J, Q, K

• Count -2

Running Count into a True Count Conversion

Like most card counting blackjack strategies, you can use the Omega II blackjack system in any blackjack variant, including Classic Blackjack. To place your wager is easy, you must convert the running count into a true count. You do that by dividing the running count by the number of decks left in the shoe. Understanding your true account helps you determine your bet sizing and if there is a need to change your playing strategy.

Omega II System Bet Sizing

To increase your odds while using the Omega II blackjack system, you have to raise your bets when the count is in your favour. You should increase your bet once the true count reaches +2. If you have a higher positive count (+2, +3, +4, +5), this is the optimum time to further increase your stake. On the other hand, if the true count drops below +2 (+1, 0, -1), you should reduce your bet size.

Pros and Cons of Using the Omega II Blackjack System

Pros

• Easy to evaluate the running and true count
• Suitable for intermediate players
• Higher betting efficiency

Cons

• More advanced compared to the Hi-Lo system
• Requires concentration and practice

The Hi-Opt (Highly Optimum) card counting strategy is based on Edward Thorp’s Hi-Lo Count. The system was initially known as the Einstein Count, but it was later tweaked by Lance Humble and Carl Cooper to the Hi-Opt count.

The Hi-Opt blackjack system gives you a choice between Hi-Opt I and Hi-Opt II. While these techniques are relatively similar, there are a few differentiating factors that you will discover below.

Hi-Opt I Blackjack System

The Hi-Opt I blackjack system is a balanced card counting strategy similar to the Hi-Lo count. This is a perfect blackjack strategy if you're a beginner as it is easy to understand. In this system, your cards are assigned with 0, -1, and +1 values. The main difference to the Hi-Lo system is the values assigned to twos and Aces, where both are 0.

Card Value 2, 7, 8, 9, Ace

• Count 0

Card Value 3, 4, 5, 6

• Count +1

Card Value 10, J, Q, K

• Count -1

Hi-Opt II Blackjack System

The Hi-Opt II system has higher accuracy than the Hi-Opt I strategy, being around 91%. But, it is also significantly more complicated since it utilises a level 2 count (-2, -1, 0, +1, and +2). You’ll need to track more cards and assign multiple values, as illustrated in the blackjack chart below.

Card Value A, 8, 9

• Count 0

Card Value 2, 3, 6, 7

• Count +1

Card Value 4, 5

• Count +2

Card Value 10, J, Q, K

• Count -2

Pros and Cons of Using Hi-Opt I and II Blackjack Systems

Pros

• Both card counting systems are balanced
• Relatively high betting efficacy
• Both strategies provide a higher advantage

Cons

• Hi-Opt II is not suitable for beginners

The Wong Halves system was introduced by John Ferguson, popularly known as Stanford Wong. The card counting strategy was published in 1975 and is the most accurate blackjack strategy you can use, but It is also one of the most advanced.

It requires you to track many card values with some being halves. But once you understand the main principles, the Wong Half system is efficient in retaining your advantage over the house while playing at a casino.

How to Use the Wong Halves System

Unlike other blackjack strategies that use one or two card counting levels, the Wong Halves system utilises three levels. This means while you play that you have to keep track of three-unit numbers on the positive and negative sides of the indices (-1.5, -1, -0.5, 0, +0.5, +1, +1.5). However, when you master this system, you will have a 99% betting correlation.

Therefore, if you are an experienced player, it is an effective strategy when playing live blackjack variants such as the Live Blackjack Private with a real live dealer.

How Do I Count the Cards Using the Wong Halves System

Fractions can be quite intimidating. But to help, you can use the blackjack chart below to memorise the card values used in the Wong Halves system. When you convert the fractions into decimals, it makes the calculations much easier.

Card Value A, K, Q, J, or 10

• Count -1

Card Value 9

• Count -0.5

Card Value 8

• Count 0

Card Value 2, 7

• Count 0.5

Card Value 3, 4, 5, 6

• Count 1

H3: Pros & Cons of Using the Wong Halves System

Pros

• It is more accurate than many other card counting systems
• 99% betting correlation
• Increases your edge over the casino
• Effective system for 6 or 8 deck games

Cons

• Not suitable for beginners and intermediate players
• Involves complex calculations
• Requires a high level of concentration

• Card counting blackjack strategies help you track your odds of getting low or high cards
• Before venturing into card counting, you first need to understand the basic blackjack strategies; when to hit, stand, split or surrender
• Blackjack counting systems vary in difficulty where some use simple tally systems and other complex calculations
• Hi-Lo strategy and the Hi-Opt blackjack systems are suitable for if you are a new or casual blackjack player
• If you are an advanced or intermediate player, the Omega II, High-Opt I &II blackjack systems are excellent options
• Wong Halves blackjack system is the most complicated card counting strategy but has a 99% betting correlation
• The true count is obtained by dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining in the shoe
• Card counting does not always guarantee a win; thus, your bankroll management is crucial
• Card counting systems require dedication and time to master

Did you find this article helpful? If you did, we have other blackjack guides that can help you broaden your overall understanding of the game. Also, we would recommend having proper bankroll management when applying these basic blackjack strategies. To help you with that, you can take advantage of our promotional offers to obtain additional funds.

We also have a plethora of other online casino games that you can explore, including roulette, baccarat, and craps. Check out the related guides below before you get started.

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