You are correct. We noticed that mistake ourselves after the video had been posted. That was my son playing that hand and he is a novice blackjack player. I explained to him that, ultimately, it is his responsibility to make sure that he gets paid when he wins, or that his bet doesn't get taken if it's a push. Dealers do sometimes make mistakes and the player has to point out the error or their bet could be taken, or not paid.
Start out by looking at each hand individually, say there is a 10 a two and a four. Rather than adding +1, -1 and +1, think that that the 10 cancels out the four and the count is then +1. Once you can do that fairly quickly, then do it for two hands at a time. Then keep adding more hands. You will see that it is a much faster way to count. Eventually, you should be able to glance at all of the cards on the table andd quickly arrive at the running count.
Usually, you raise your bet when the count is +2 or higher. You also make your bet in correlation to the count. So, if your betting unit was $10 and the count was +3, you would bet $30,if +5 then bet $50, etc. There is a method of betting called the "Kelly Criterion" where your bet is made in relation to the size of your bankroll and your expected advantage. You can google that term to learn more about it.
It took me about 3 months of practice before I was ready to go into the casinos and play as a card counter. You actually need to keep two counts, the "running count" and the "true count," which is derived by dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining to be played. To do this correctly you need to be able to accurately estimate the number of cards in the discard pile. Also, there is a list of index numbers you need to memorize that tell you when to deviate from basic strategy.
The running count is always based on the count at the current time and it does not change based on the true count. You should calculate the true count whenever you are going to make a bet, or make a playing decision. There are certain index numbers that need to be memorized and those numbers let you know when you should deviate from basic strategy based on the true count. Most of the time as a card counter you will use basic strategy, but will deviate when the count is especially high or low.
You have to figure out that information on your own. Once the hands have been played the used cards are put into a discard pile near the right-hand edge of the table. You have to look at that stack of cards and estimate how many decks have been played. So, if you were playing a six-deck game you might look at the pile and estimate that two decks had been played. You would then have four decks remaining and use that as your number for estimating the true count.
It depends. Each casino is different and you have to find the best games to play in each casino. The three games I usually play are deuces wild, jacks or better and bonus poker. I don't play any double bonus-type games. I am only playing for quarters and I am basically trying to play a break-even game. But I also try to take advantage of the comp programs so that if I break-even, I am also getting the benefits of the club such as free rooms, free food, etc.
When counting cards you really need to keep track of two counts: the running count and the true count. The running count is the total count at any given moment, while the true count is the count per deck. So, with the true count you need to divide the running count by the number of decks left to play. If the running count was +6 and you had two decks remaining to be played, the true count would be +2. The true count is also the number on which you will base your betting and playing decisions.
You can get down the basics fairly quickly. However, you don't really want to be staring at each card as it comes out of the shoe. You can do it that way, but you may look too obvious. The best thing to do is keep practicing until you can look at the cards after they are all dealt out on the table and be able to quickly arrive at the running count. This means you would need to be able to look at the cards and have the +1 cards cancel out the -1 cards and add up the cards that are not canceled.
It's best to sit in the last seat because you have the chance to see more cards being played. However, some players at the table think that the person in that seat controls the cards and they will berate you if they think you don't know basic strategy. When I first started card counting I would always try to sit in that seat. As a card counter, however, you sometimes need to deviate from basic strategy, based on the count. When that happened sometimes players would get mad at me.
Generally, you bet in units, and you raise your unit bet in relation to the count. If you are betting in $25 units, you bet $50 when the count is +2, $75 when it's +3, etc. If the count is negative, you make a minimum bet.
Single and two-deck games have the first two cards dealt face down. You just have to count the cards when they are shown. If a casino has a continuous shuflling machine you can't count cards. It helps to know what the rules are before you sit down to play because they may vary from casino to casino, as well as within a casino from table to table.
You take the running count and divide it by the number of decks remaining to arrive at the true count. For example, if your running count was +8 and there were four decks remaining to be played, then the true count would be +2. The true count reflects the count per deck.
It took me a long time to get my first royal flush, about 2.5 years, but I only played when I went to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, so I wasn't playing a lot. On average you are supposed to get one about every 40,000 hands and I was way behind, statistically, on getting that first one. But, I got other ones much quicker after that so it balanced out. You will find, however, that even as a quarter player, which I was and still am, you get some very good room offers, especially for Atlantic City.
You should just make the minimum bet whenever the deck is negative. To avoid playing in negative counts you could try "Wonging." That is a system based on Stanford Wong who is an expert on blackjack. With this system you don't sit at the table. Instead, you stand behind the seats and count the cards until there is a favorable count. You then put down a bet. Many high limit tables will have sign that says "no mid-shoe entry" to prevent this, but lower-limit tables usually won't have that sign.
Most of the time you will just follow basic strategy. However, there are times, depending on the true count, when you should deviate from basic strategy. Research the term "blackjack index numbers" on the Internet. The book Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong will also show all of the index numbers.
You are welcome. I was counting cards for about eight years. I never bet a lot of money and I did it just to see if it worked. My bets were probably $10 to $50, sometimes a little higher. It did work and I made some money. The problem is that if you bet a lot of money they will watch you very closely. If you win a lot you might get banned from the casino. It's also very mentally tiring. I now play video poker instead. It's more fun and the comps are better. Also, you won't get banned.
Here are a couple of good tips. Be consistent of being inconsistent. Don't let greed get the best of you. Never split on two 10s, Js, Qs, or Ks. The dealer only has a 1 out of 6 chance of beating you. Don't try to win more than 10 times the amount you started with. If you get close; move to a different table. Tip the dealer. Win a certain percentage; not a certain amount of money.
It all depends on where the cut card is placed. To be an effective card counter you usually you want at least 75% of the deck played before reaching the cut card.
You can use card counting on virtual blackjack machines in a casino. However, those machines usually shuffle the deck after each round is played. Some machines may work differently and some may also use different numbers of decks. Read the instructions before playing and it should list that information.
Most card counters use the Hi-Lo because it's simpler. More complex systems might be better in some instances, but if you make mistakes it's not worth the effort. 3rd base won't affect whether or not you get high cards, but you will get to see more cards before playing. I don't sit at 3rd base because you sometimes have to deviate from basic strategy and other players will think you don't know what you are doing and berate you, even though you are making an intelligent play based on the count.
If you sit at "third base" (the last seat before the dealer takes his card) you will have the opportunity to see more cards before deciding how to play your hand. If the casino only deals out 50% of the carads it would be difficult to count crads because there is not enough "penetration." Usually, you would like at least 75% of the deck to be dealt out.
It doesn't matter how many decks have been played. In the hi-lo method you base your decision on the "true" count rather than the "running" count. The true count is derived by taking the running count and dividing it by the number of decks remaining to be played. So if your running count was +8 and four decks were remaining, the true count would be +2 and you would double your betting unit. Read "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong for a better understanding of card counting.
Hello, can I use wonging strategy in this way that If is +2 True count and more I play bet 100 $ and under +2 TC I do not bet only wait for +2 TC and then bet 100 $ , thanks
A true count of +2 should be fine to bet more. Usually, the betting unit is raised in relation to the true count. So, if you are making $5 bets, you would bet $10 at +2, $15 at +3, $20 at +4, etc. If making $25 bets, then you would bet $50 at +2, $75 at +3, $100 at +4, etc.
Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong seems to be the best book if you want to learn about card counting. It will explain all of the math involved in card counting, but it doesn't get into the mechanics of how to actually do it.
Hi-lo is the most popular card counting system. I interviewed Mike Aponte from the MIT card counting team and he said that was the system that they used. The MIT card counting team was very successful and won millions of dollars. It was also the subject of the best-selling book "Bringing Down the House," plus the movie "21" starring Kevin Spacey.
You should be fairly safe as long as you are making low-limit bets, but there are some casinos that will still ask you to leave. Even if you only bet $5 as your minimum you will have to raise your bets when the count is favorable so it may be noticeable to the people in the pit that you are counting cards. If you keep wining it will be even more noticeable. The best thing to do is to play shorter sessions if you are winning so you don't attract attention to yourself.
I would agree that there can be a lot of volatility in card counting. However, that's why counters play on teams. One player can have a bad day, but with five players at different tables the results are more likely to be around that 1% advantage for the team.
In single and double-deck games you are allowed to touch the cards. In six and eight-deck games you are not supposed to touch the cards. In the video we used double-deck games, as well as eight-deck games.
I want to ask about the ups and downs. Will persistent wonging still have losses in the short term and does that still require the 1% rule? Or the numbers will be a little different since we are not playing unfavorable shoes? Will it give a better edge than traditional counting if so how much more?
This is a great video. Here are my steps. You buy 6 decks of cards. 1- Count all 6 decks until you master it. 2- Count all 6 decks while playing a simulation of 6 players against the dealer. 3- repeat step 2 while betting. 4- repeat step 3, but with distractions. Once you have mastered each step, go on to the next one.
"Heat" is when the casino personnel in the pit start scrutinizing your blackjack play very carefully. They may also call the surveillance department to watch you because they suspect you are a card counter. The 1-2 spread would be the number of units you bet. If you are a $10 player you bet from $10 to $20. A $25 player would go from $25 to $50. A 1-4 spread would be $25 to $100 for a $25 player.
(continued from last post...) calculate the true count after two decks, because you can't calculate the running count to a different true count when there is one deck remaining, but if you try to calculate when there is half a deck remaining the count would double if you are dividing by 0.5. Thanks for the help. :)
Henry talks about those machines in his video. They are called "continuous shuffling machines" and you can't count cards when one of those machines is used.
You can count cards against a machine as long as they deal out enough cards. The more cards that are dealt out of the shoe the better it is for a card countyer because you will have a more accurate idea of the cards remining to be played. As a card counter you would want to play in games that deal out at least 75% of the cards in the shoe. Of course, this is assuming that the cards being dealt out by the Internet casino are being dealt on a random basis.
If the first 10 cards are all low (2-6), then there would be more 10-value cards remaining in the deck and that would favor you as a player. Therefore, yes, you should make a bigger bet. You may not neccessarily win because the dealer may get the better cards rather than you. However, the advantage will be in your favor because your are more likely to get a blackjack, plus the dealer is more likely to bust on his bad hands when he has to draw a card.
Read "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong. It covers all of the math you will need to know and it also explains the strategy changes needed in different kinds of situations.
I agree that you can easily have bad days where you lose and lose. However, that's why players form teams. Since you are playing with an advantage over the casino, it's unlikely that everyone will have a bad day and you should come out ahead. However, you also have to assume that everyone on the team is honest and that isn't always the case.
You know I wonder how the fuck I got here and why I'm 6 minutes deep into this video, when I have no fucking idea how to even play blackjack, or go fish for that matter.
There's 3 levels on the thing i use to practice card counting. Those 3 levels are beginner, medium and pro. i have mastered beginner which goes to slow for me. i am on medium and pretty good at that with the odd mistake now and again but i can count the cards in time. i tried pro but the dealing and timer is too fast so i'm still on medium level for now. By the way, i've watched a lot of documentaries on blackjack card counting and i think this is an awesome video, thank you for uploading it.
The dealer has to play by set rules. He must always draw on 16, or less. If there are lots of high cards remaining to be played he will bust more often. A player doesn't have to always hit his hand when it is 16 or less. Also, when there are lots of tens and aces remaining the player will get more blackjacks. The dealer could also get them, but when a player gets a blackjack he is paid at 3-to-2 (avoid 6-to-5 games!).
2,3,4,5,and 6 are +1. 7,8 and 9 are zero. Ten, jack, queen, king and ace are -1. It's a balanced count so you start at zero and when you reahc the end of the deck it should be zero. If not, you made a mistake when you counted. There are some card counting systems that are not balanced so you may start at a number other than zero.
I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at that point in the video. As far as I know, the dealers do sometimes cover the front of the deck when they deal and I don't think there is any rule against it.
He is not banned from all casinos. Actaully, I don't know of any card counter that is banned from all casinos. However, if a casino knows you are a card counter they will almost always ask you to leave, or at least not to play blackjack. In Atlantic City they can't make you leave, but they can make you bet the same amount each hand and that would negate any advantage that you have in the game.
You should be allowed to cash in your chips. However, it would probably be best to just leave the casino and come back another time to collect your money without playing. As a card counter you only want to bet when the true count is positive. Generally, you can bet in relation to your advantage. If +2 bet twice your average bet, +3 triple, +4 quadruple. Keep in mind, however, that the more you bet, the more attention you will get from the pit people.
As a card counter you only have about a 1/2 of 1 percent edge and you won't always win. You can be the world's greatest card counter and still lose hand after hand because luck is also a factor in the short term. You should always record your results and in the logn run you should come out as a winner. However, you also need to make sure that you aren't making mistakes when you count and when you bet. For that you should invest in some software to make sure you are making accurate decisions.
Thanks! i have 1 more question, does it work to count cards at a online live casino? They usually have 4 decks or more.. they dont play all cards.. after a while they start shuffling. But still they play at least 2-3 decks before they do that, the count can come up high beacuse of that? + u dont need to play u can just jump into the table when the count goes higher then 3 or whatever you want.. Sorry my grammar.
You should buy some card counting software to practice before you play for real money. You may also want to buy a book. "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong would be a good book to read. I read it, as well as many others, before I stareted counting cards. By reading the book and using the software, you will have a much better idea of how it all works. Then, practice a lot before you play for real money.
I have a couple of questions about the running counts and the true count. Firstly, after the running count has been divided after one deck in an eight deck show (let's say the running count is 7 and therefore the true count after one deck has been dealt out would be 7) would the true count from 1 become the running count before the true count was calculated again later? Secondly at what points should the true count be calculated? Because if it's after every deck, you can't really (continued...
Question... When is the negative count too high. If you are playing a 8 deck and the count looms between -20 and -34 for several decks when you start with a -28 at the start if the shue? Should you stay til it drops or, get out after the first two decks are gone and the shue is still in high negative?
The dealer takes the money from a made 21 double down hand on third base at the 10:20 mark of this video!! What in TF!??? Dealers make mistakes all the time. All the more reason to have your counting and basic strategy down pat, because you will need to catch dealer mistakes without losing the count. often. truth.
Yes, that is very old footage from when we were just starting to film. We were too busy worrying about the camera and the shot to notice the error. But like you said, it is proof to always pay close attention to the game
With the high-low system you assign a value of +1 to all 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s and 6’s, while all 10’s, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces are assigned a value of -1. The remaining cards: 7, 8 and 9 have no value and are not counted.
I have a question regarding splitting 22's and 33's vs. 2 or 3. Some basic strategy tables call for splitting these cards vs 2-7 and others call for splitting only vs. 4-7. I suspect when doubling is allowed after split you would split vs. 2-7. Can you answer this question.
You are correct. In games where you are not allowed to double after splitting, you would only split 22's and 33's vs. 4-7. If you are allowed to double down after splitting, then you would split 22's and 33's vs. 2-7.
I have a few questions if thats ok. If you have to convert the running count into the true count does that make unbalanced systems like the KO a better system or can you benefit from systems like Hi-Lo more? 2.If you sit at 3rd base does that mean that you could not benefit from the high cards that could come out because the other players might have them instead? 3.Is studying come complex systems worth the time, i mean can you gain an edge that will make a difference and reduce the losing?
thanks for all your help, I think I have 1 more question haha... if you have a running count of +2 and there are 3 decks left in the shoe? would the true count be 0?
Also, what is the best time to get in on the count? Is it at +5, +10, etc. Sometimes I'll play and the count never goes pass a +3 or will go into about a -12.
Ive been in casinos where the first card is down second is down. How can you count that hand as you play?? And there are casinos that throw all cards up I can see this happening. But, most of the casinos have a 3-5 deck shoe and are constantly shuffeling those decks. How can you count that? Do you have to research each casino to see what their rules are?
when do you recomend me to raise my bet when i playing a game with 8 decks and they shuffle after playing 4... u said that counter usully raise there bet when the count is +2 but thats propely better games. So should i start raise my bet at +5 +6 +7 ?? What do u recomend?
Wongs half count my mate runs the most killer Casino in Macau he used to be able to count and deal card's at the same time amazing guy...pratice makes perfect!
I understand what to do when card counting for the + - and nuetral values but i dont understand the concept of how this helps you when counting cards at which values do you know when to hit stay double down split etc.?
I tried card counting once. However, I struggled to when it came to doing true count conversions. Not to mention all the basic strategy deviations you have to make. Sometimes the counts get absurd to the point where hitting on hard 17 is the right play (although if you're doing that then the player is almost certainly using a computer). The easiest way for a casino to spot a card counter is not the bet sizing as mentioned in the video, but what players do when they have 16 against a dealer 10. As whether to hit or stand depends on whether count is positive or negative.
When I first started out I had the same kind of fears - that trying to convert from running count to true count would inject too much complication and create additional opportunities for errors. Consequently, I tried to create a bet spread based on a running count. It didn't work out so well. Later I took a seminar from MIT Mike and we worked on deck estimation and converting to the true count and my game really took off. I now win more often and more money thanks to MIT Mike's coaching.
If I'm playing one deck game in El Cortez Casino, which is a very good casino for blackjack player. The first 10 cards coming out were all small cards(Hi - Low), if I bet now, will the edge benefits to me? should I bet in this situation?
Does it matter where you sit on the table. Lets say the count is +5 and I am at the last person given cards. Before i get cards the count might be 0 agian? And i can only find online casinos where they have 8 decks and play 4 decks before shuffling.. Can you count like that?
He said it takes several months of practice. i use the + and - card counting system which i think is the high low system he is talking about and i have been learning for a few days but not for hours in the day but i've already got the hang of it. i know what i need to work on, my games not perfect yet, i make the odd mistake if my mind is not focused, which is not good 'cos that costs money. i need to work on speed more than anything. its good to know your weaknesses so you can work on it.
As long as you are playing in a licensed and regulated casino I would not be worried. A casino wouldn't risk it's license just to make few extra dollars.
i've heard that the ho-lo count is a sure way to lose moeny playing blackjack,...there is another count called the ten count were tens are counted as -2 and low cards are counted as +1 aces are side counted, my question is what is the better card counting technique?
When the dealer bounces the shoe everytime you place a big bet, is it possible they are switching the cards? It can't be coincidental. The cards can't be stuck everytime I have a big bet. They dont bounce it when I have a minimum
Hi Henry, Please answer the below questions with respect to Hi-LO Card Counting Strategy 1.How to arrive at the Perfect True Count in the 8 deck card game? 2.How easily we can identify the remaining decks from the discard tray? 3.If the running count is 12 and the remaining deck is 6 . The true count is 2. This is easy :-) However if the running count is -9 and the remaining deck is 7 How to arrive at the true count? 4. How frequently we need to get the true count. Is it after seeing each deck in the discard Tray in a 8 deck card game?
1. To arrive at a "perfect" true count, you have to be "perfect" at deck estimation and division (RC/Decks remaining). 2. It's actually pretty easy to get your deck estimation down to within 1/2 deck, which some consider close enough. Others say you need to be within 1/4 deck. I trained with MIT Mike and he could estimate within just a couple cards! 3. If the running count is negative there is no need to calculate a true count. You should either not be playing or betting the minimum. It's only when the TC is positive that you would use that to tell you how much to increase your bet. 4. If the RC is positive you should recalculate the TC after every hand.
It depends. They may ask you to stop playing blackjack, but you are free to play other games. They may tell you to stop and leave the casino. Or, they may ask for your ID and ban you forever.
Joining on at +2 depends on the deck or type of game it is. Is it a pitch game where there's only two decks? Or is it a shoe game where there's 4+ decks. These things change the variables, something like +3-5 on each deck used makes me feel pretty safe. But you could be there all day on a shoe game if your working alone
so quick question. If im keeping track of the running count and after the hand I go to figure the true count, is the running count now the true count starting with the next hand or is the running count and true count two separate counts you have to keep track of? I hope that wasn't confusing, thanks.
You only need to keep track of the running count until it is time to make a betting or playing decision. At that time you would need to know the true count in order to correctly make your betting or strategy decision. After that you can go back to just keeping track of the running count until it is time again to make another betting or playing decision.
I never bin to a casino but i'm very good at math and memory. So i want to try this. But i read somewhere they put the cards that were just delt , again with the big pack. So each time you start the game the dealer will start with a full pack of cards. Or is this incorecct? depends on wich casino?? I'm from Belgium btw
You are correct. We noticed that mistake ourselves after the video had been posted. That was my son playing that hand and he is a novice blackjack player. I explained to him that, ultimately, it is his responsibility to make sure that he gets paid when he wins, or that his bet doesn't get taken if it's a push. Dealers do sometimes make mistakes and the player has to point out the error or their bet could be taken, or not paid.
Start out by looking at each hand individually, say there is a 10 a two and a four. Rather than adding +1, -1 and +1, think that that the 10 cancels out the four and the count is then +1. Once you can do that fairly quickly, then do it for two hands at a time. Then keep adding more hands. You will see that it is a much faster way to count. Eventually, you should be able to glance at all of the cards on the table andd quickly arrive at the running count.
Usually, you raise your bet when the count is +2 or higher. You also make your bet in correlation to the count. So, if your betting unit was $10 and the count was +3, you would bet $30,if +5 then bet $50, etc.
There is a method of betting called the "Kelly Criterion" where your bet is made in relation to the size of your bankroll and your expected advantage. You can google that term to learn more about it.
It took me about 3 months of practice before I was ready to go into the casinos and play as a card counter. You actually need to keep two counts, the "running count" and the "true count," which is derived by dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining to be played. To do this correctly you need to be able to accurately estimate the number of cards in the discard pile. Also, there is a list of index numbers you need to memorize that tell you when to deviate from basic strategy.
The running count is always based on the count at the current time and it does not change based on the true count. You should calculate the true count whenever you are going to make a bet, or make a playing decision. There are certain index numbers that need to be memorized and those numbers let you know when you should deviate from basic strategy based on the true count. Most of the time as a card counter you will use basic strategy, but will deviate when the count is especially high or low.
You have to figure out that information on your own. Once the hands have been played the used cards are put into a discard pile near the right-hand edge of the table. You have to look at that stack of cards and estimate how many decks have been played. So, if you were playing a six-deck game you might look at the pile and estimate that two decks had been played. You would then have four decks remaining and use that as your number for estimating the true count.
It depends. Each casino is different and you have to find the best games to play in each casino. The three games I usually play are deuces wild, jacks or better and bonus poker. I don't play any double bonus-type games. I am only playing for quarters and I am basically trying to play a break-even game. But I also try to take advantage of the comp programs so that if I break-even, I am also getting the benefits of the club such as free rooms, free food, etc.
When counting cards you really need to keep track of two counts: the running count and the true count. The running count is the total count at any given moment, while the true count is the count per deck. So, with the true count you need to divide the running count by the number of decks left to play. If the running count was +6 and you had two decks remaining to be played, the true count would be +2. The true count is also the number on which you will base your betting and playing decisions.
You can get down the basics fairly quickly. However, you don't really want to be staring at each card as it comes out of the shoe. You can do it that way, but you may look too obvious. The best thing to do is keep practicing until you can look at the cards after they are all dealt out on the table and be able to quickly arrive at the running count. This means you would need to be able to look at the cards and have the +1 cards cancel out the -1 cards and add up the cards that are not canceled.
It's best to sit in the last seat because you have the chance to see more cards being played. However, some players at the table think that the person in that seat controls the cards and they will berate you if they think you don't know basic strategy. When I first started card counting I would always try to sit in that seat. As a card counter, however, you sometimes need to deviate from basic strategy, based on the count. When that happened sometimes players would get mad at me.
Generally, you bet in units, and you raise your unit bet in relation to the count. If you are betting in $25 units, you bet $50 when the count is +2, $75 when it's +3, etc. If the count is negative, you make a minimum bet.
Single and two-deck games have the first two cards dealt face down. You just have to count the cards when they are shown. If a casino has a continuous shuflling machine you can't count cards. It helps to know what the rules are before you sit down to play because they may vary from casino to casino, as well as within a casino from table to table.
You take the running count and divide it by the number of decks remaining to arrive at the true count. For example, if your running count was +8 and there were four decks remaining to be played, then the true count would be +2. The true count reflects the count per deck.
It took me a long time to get my first royal flush, about 2.5 years, but I only played when I went to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, so I wasn't playing a lot. On average you are supposed to get one about every 40,000 hands and I was way behind, statistically, on getting that first one. But, I got other ones much quicker after that so it balanced out. You will find, however, that even as a quarter player, which I was and still am, you get some very good room offers, especially for Atlantic City.
Watch the video again. Henry is the blackjack card counting expert. Steve is the guy who sells the guide book with the coupons.
You should just make the minimum bet whenever the deck is negative. To avoid playing in negative counts you could try "Wonging." That is a system based on Stanford Wong who is an expert on blackjack. With this system you don't sit at the table. Instead, you stand behind the seats and count the cards until there is a favorable count. You then put down a bet. Many high limit tables will have sign that says "no mid-shoe entry" to prevent this, but lower-limit tables usually won't have that sign.
Most of the time you will just follow basic strategy. However, there are times, depending on the true count, when you should deviate from basic strategy. Research the term "blackjack index numbers" on the Internet. The book Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong will also show all of the index numbers.
You are welcome. I was counting cards for about eight years. I never bet a lot of money and I did it just to see if it worked. My bets were probably $10 to $50, sometimes a little higher. It did work and I made some money. The problem is that if you bet a lot of money they will watch you very closely. If you win a lot you might get banned from the casino. It's also very mentally tiring. I now play video poker instead. It's more fun and the comps are better. Also, you won't get banned.
Here are a couple of good tips. Be consistent of being inconsistent. Don't let greed get the best of you. Never split on two 10s, Js, Qs, or Ks. The dealer only has a 1 out of 6 chance of beating you. Don't try to win more than 10 times the amount you started with. If you get close; move to a different table. Tip the dealer. Win a certain percentage; not a certain amount of money.
It takes a lot of time to learn how to count cards. I practiced for three months before I went into a casino to try it for the first time.
It all depends on where the cut card is placed. To be an effective card counter you usually you want at least 75% of the deck played before reaching the cut card.
You can use card counting on virtual blackjack machines in a casino. However, those machines usually shuffle the deck after each round is played. Some machines may work differently and some may also use different numbers of decks. Read the instructions before playing and it should list that information.
Most card counters use the Hi-Lo because it's simpler. More complex systems might be better in some instances, but if you make mistakes it's not worth the effort. 3rd base won't affect whether or not you get high cards, but you will get to see more cards before playing. I don't sit at 3rd base because you sometimes have to deviate from basic strategy and other players will think you don't know what you are doing and berate you, even though you are making an intelligent play based on the count.
If you sit at "third base" (the last seat before the dealer takes his card) you will have the opportunity to see more cards before deciding how to play your hand. If the casino only deals out 50% of the carads it would be difficult to count crads because there is not enough "penetration." Usually, you would like at least 75% of the deck to be dealt out.
It doesn't matter how many decks have been played. In the hi-lo method you base your decision on the "true" count rather than the "running" count. The true count is derived by taking the running count and dividing it by the number of decks remaining to be played. So if your running count was +8 and four decks were remaining, the true count would be +2 and you would double your betting unit. Read "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong for a better understanding of card counting.
Hello, can I use wonging strategy in this way that If is +2 True count and more I play bet 100 $ and under +2 TC I do not bet only wait for +2 TC and then bet 100 $ , thanks
A true count of +2 should be fine to bet more. Usually, the betting unit is raised in relation to the true count. So, if you are making $5 bets, you would bet $10 at +2, $15 at +3, $20 at +4, etc. If making $25 bets, then you would bet $50 at +2, $75 at +3, $100 at +4, etc.
Thanks for the advice. ive been doin it the +1, -1, +1 way so i'll try it the way you said and see if it makes me quicker counting cards.
Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong seems to be the best book if you want to learn about card counting. It will explain all of the math involved in card counting, but it doesn't get into the mechanics of how to actually do it.
Hi-lo is the most popular card counting system. I interviewed Mike Aponte from the MIT card counting team and he said that was the system that they used. The MIT card counting team was very successful and won millions of dollars. It was also the subject of the best-selling book "Bringing Down the House," plus the movie "21" starring Kevin Spacey.
You should be fairly safe as long as you are making low-limit bets, but there are some casinos that will still ask you to leave. Even if you only bet $5 as your minimum you will have to raise your bets when the count is favorable so it may be noticeable to the people in the pit that you are counting cards. If you keep wining it will be even more noticeable. The best thing to do is to play shorter sessions if you are winning so you don't attract attention to yourself.
I would agree that there can be a lot of volatility in card counting. However, that's why counters play on teams. One player can have a bad day, but with five players at different tables the results are more likely to be around that 1% advantage for the team.
In single and double-deck games you are allowed to touch the cards. In six and eight-deck games you are not supposed to touch the cards. In the video we used double-deck games, as well as eight-deck games.
Most of the casinos in the U.S. do not use continuous shuffling machines, so there are many opportunities to count cards.
I want to ask about the ups and downs. Will persistent wonging still have losses in the short term and does that still require the 1% rule? Or the numbers will be a little different since we are not playing unfavorable shoes? Will it give a better edge than traditional counting if so how much more?
This is a great video. Here are my steps. You buy 6 decks of cards. 1- Count all 6 decks until you master it. 2- Count all 6 decks while playing a simulation of 6 players against the dealer. 3- repeat step 2 while betting. 4- repeat step 3, but with distractions. Once you have mastered each step, go on to the next one.
"Heat" is when the casino personnel in the pit start scrutinizing your blackjack play very carefully. They may also call the surveillance department to watch you because they suspect you are a card counter. The 1-2 spread would be the number of units you bet. If you are a $10 player you bet from $10 to $20. A $25 player would go from $25 to $50. A 1-4 spread would be $25 to $100 for a $25 player.
(continued from last post...) calculate the true count after two decks, because you can't calculate the running count to a different true count when there is one deck remaining, but if you try to calculate when there is half a deck remaining the count would double if you are dividing by 0.5.
Thanks for the help. :)
Henry talks about those machines in his video. They are called "continuous shuffling machines" and you can't count cards when one of those machines is used.
You have to adjust your betting to get an advantage over the casino. You bet more when the count favors you and less when the count favors the casino.
You can count cards against a machine as long as they deal out enough cards. The more cards that are dealt out of the shoe the better it is for a card countyer because you will have a more accurate idea of the cards remining to be played. As a card counter you would want to play in games that deal out at least 75% of the cards in the shoe. Of course, this is assuming that the cards being dealt out by the Internet casino are being dealt on a random basis.
If the first 10 cards are all low (2-6), then there would be more 10-value cards remaining in the deck and that would favor you as a player. Therefore, yes, you should make a bigger bet. You may not neccessarily win because the dealer may get the better cards rather than you. However, the advantage will be in your favor because your are more likely to get a blackjack, plus the dealer is more likely to bust on his bad hands when he has to draw a card.
Yes. You can tell it's a CSM because the dealer places the discards back into the machine right away.
Read "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong. It covers all of the math you will need to know and it also explains the strategy changes needed in different kinds of situations.
Well, besides earning how to count, you also need to learn how to calculate the true count, plus memorize all of the index numbers.
Sounds interesting, but also sounds very difficult to do. Good luck!
I agree that you can easily have bad days where you lose and lose. However, that's why players form teams. Since you are playing with an advantage over the casino, it's unlikely that everyone will have a bad day and you should come out ahead. However, you also have to assume that everyone on the team is honest and that isn't always the case.
You know I wonder how the fuck I got here and why I'm 6 minutes deep into this video, when I have no fucking idea how to even play blackjack, or go fish for that matter.
Hahaha same man
Lmaooooooooo
@tillasmax Thanks! We put out a new video every month, be sure to subscribe to see all the new ones.
There's 3 levels on the thing i use to practice card counting. Those 3 levels are beginner, medium and pro. i have mastered beginner which goes to slow for me. i am on medium and pretty good at that with the odd mistake now and again but i can count the cards in time. i tried pro but the dealing and timer is too fast so i'm still on medium level for now.
By the way, i've watched a lot of documentaries on blackjack card counting and i think this is an awesome video, thank you for uploading it.
The dealer has to play by set rules. He must always draw on 16, or less. If there are lots of high cards remaining to be played he will bust more often. A player doesn't have to always hit his hand when it is 16 or less. Also, when there are lots of tens and aces remaining the player will get more blackjacks. The dealer could also get them, but when a player gets a blackjack he is paid at 3-to-2 (avoid 6-to-5 games!).
You do a nice job with these videos! Keep up the great work!
2,3,4,5,and 6 are +1. 7,8 and 9 are zero. Ten, jack, queen, king and ace are -1. It's a balanced count so you start at zero and when you reahc the end of the deck it should be zero. If not, you made a mistake when you counted. There are some card counting systems that are not balanced so you may start at a number other than zero.
I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at that point in the video. As far as I know, the dealers do sometimes cover the front of the deck when they deal and I don't think there is any rule against it.
He is not banned from all casinos. Actaully, I don't know of any card counter that is banned from all casinos. However, if a casino knows you are a card counter they will almost always ask you to leave, or at least not to play blackjack. In Atlantic City they can't make you leave, but they can make you bet the same amount each hand and that would negate any advantage that you have in the game.
You should be allowed to cash in your chips. However, it would probably be best to just leave the casino and come back another time to collect your money without playing. As a card counter you only want to bet when the true count is positive. Generally, you can bet in relation to your advantage. If +2 bet twice your average bet, +3 triple, +4 quadruple. Keep in mind, however, that the more you bet, the more attention you will get from the pit people.
@americancasinoguide
Thank you! This explanation is much easier to explain than learning Statistics.
As a card counter you only have about a 1/2 of 1 percent edge and you won't always win. You can be the world's greatest card counter and still lose hand after hand because luck is also a factor in the short term. You should always record your results and in the logn run you should come out as a winner. However, you also need to make sure that you aren't making mistakes when you count and when you bet. For that you should invest in some software to make sure you are making accurate decisions.
Thanks! i have 1 more question, does it work to count cards at a online live casino? They usually have 4 decks or more.. they dont play all cards.. after a while they start shuffling. But still they play at least 2-3 decks before they do that, the count can come up high beacuse of that? + u dont need to play u can just jump into the table when the count goes higher then 3 or whatever you want.. Sorry my grammar.
You should buy some card counting software to practice before you play for real money. You may also want to buy a book. "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong would be a good book to read. I read it, as well as many others, before I stareted counting cards. By reading the book and using the software, you will have a much better idea of how it all works. Then, practice a lot before you play for real money.
I have a couple of questions about the running counts and the true count.
Firstly, after the running count has been divided after one deck in an eight deck show (let's say the running count is 7 and therefore the true count after one deck has been dealt out would be 7) would the true count from 1 become the running count before the true count was calculated again later?
Secondly at what points should the true count be calculated? Because if it's after every deck, you can't really (continued...
Do U think the double pitch deck is the best for counting and what would be a good count for a double deck to start betting big?
I am writing a screenplay that partially entails card counting. This is very useful. Thanks.
Question... When is the negative count too high. If you are playing a 8 deck and the count looms between -20 and -34 for several decks when you start with a -28 at the start if the shue? Should you stay til it drops or, get out after the first two decks are gone and the shue is still in high negative?
The dealer takes the money from a made 21 double down hand on third base at the 10:20 mark of this video!! What in TF!??? Dealers make mistakes all the time. All the more reason to have your counting and basic strategy down pat, because you will need to catch dealer mistakes without losing the count. often. truth.
Yes, that is very old footage from when we were just starting to film. We were too busy worrying about the camera and the shot to notice the error. But like you said, it is proof to always pay close attention to the game
@@TheJackpotGents thanks for replying to my comment. You guys are my heroes
Good spot!
With the high-low system you assign a value of +1 to all 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s and 6’s, while all 10’s, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces are assigned a value of -1. The remaining cards: 7, 8 and 9 have no value and are not counted.
You always want to base the true count on one deck. So if there was only half a deck remaining you would need to multiply by two.
I have a question regarding splitting 22's and 33's vs. 2 or 3. Some basic strategy tables call for splitting these cards vs 2-7 and others call for splitting only vs. 4-7. I suspect when doubling is allowed after split you would split vs. 2-7. Can you answer this question.
You are correct. In games where you are not allowed to double after splitting, you would only split 22's and 33's vs. 4-7. If you are allowed to double down after splitting, then you would split 22's and 33's vs. 2-7.
americancasinoguide Thanks for the prompt answer!
I have a few questions if thats ok.
If you have to convert the running count into the true count does that make unbalanced systems like the KO a better system or can you benefit from systems like Hi-Lo more?
2.If you sit at 3rd base does that mean that you could not benefit from the high cards that could come out because the other players might have them instead?
3.Is studying come complex systems worth the time, i mean can you gain an edge that will make a difference and reduce the losing?
thanks for all your help, I think I have 1 more question haha... if you have a running count of +2 and there are 3 decks left in the shoe? would the true count be 0?
A +2/3 true count would be rounded up to +1.
Also, what is the best time to get in on the count? Is it at +5, +10, etc. Sometimes I'll play and the count never goes pass a +3 or will go into about a -12.
Ive been in casinos where the first card is down second is down. How can you count that hand as you play?? And there are casinos that throw all cards up I can see this happening. But, most of the casinos have a 3-5 deck shoe and are constantly shuffeling those decks. How can you count that? Do you have to research each casino to see what their rules are?
Hey can I ask at what count should u join the game with. For example at +? with ? decks at play
Thanks for sharing! :^D How do we count with three decks?
Excellent vid,thanks for sharing my friends!
What books on blackjack would you recommend purchasing?
very cool and very good info thanks for sharing
Thanks for the excellent vid! I use the KISS III count described in Blackjack Bluebook II by Fred Renzey. It works!
Interesting methods, I wonder if mastered, how long it will last for a person?
when do you recomend me to raise my bet when i playing a game with 8 decks and they shuffle after playing 4... u said that counter usully raise there bet when the count is +2 but thats propely better games. So should i start raise my bet at +5 +6 +7 ?? What do u recomend?
Wongs half count
my mate runs the most killer Casino in Macau he used to be able to count and deal card's
at the same time amazing guy...pratice makes perfect!
Would card counting be effective when the casino uses the continuous shuffler?
So what do you play usually ? Deuces wild? Or jacks or better?
I understand what to do when card counting for the + - and nuetral values but i dont understand the concept of how this helps you when counting cards at which values do you know when to hit stay double down split etc.?
I tried card counting once. However, I struggled to when it came to doing true count conversions. Not to mention all the basic strategy deviations you have to make. Sometimes the counts get absurd to the point where hitting on hard 17 is the right play (although if you're doing that then the player is almost certainly using a computer). The easiest way for a casino to spot a card counter is not the bet sizing as mentioned in the video, but what players do when they have 16 against a dealer 10. As whether to hit or stand depends on whether count is positive or negative.
Basic strategy deviations give a slight boost in EV, but it's still possible to be a winning player without deviating from basic strategy.
When I first started out I had the same kind of fears - that trying to convert from running count to true count would inject too much complication and create additional opportunities for errors. Consequently, I tried to create a bet spread based on a running count. It didn't work out so well. Later I took a seminar from MIT Mike and we worked on deck estimation and converting to the true count and my game really took off. I now win more often and more money thanks to MIT Mike's coaching.
If I'm playing one deck game in El Cortez Casino, which is a very good casino for blackjack player. The first 10 cards coming out were all small cards(Hi - Low), if I bet now, will the edge benefits to me? should I bet in this situation?
Does it matter where you sit on the table. Lets say the count is +5 and I am at the last person given cards. Before i get cards the count might be 0 agian? And i can only find online casinos where they have 8 decks and play 4 decks before shuffling.. Can you count like that?
You can start raising your bets once the true count is +2, or higher.
He said it takes several months of practice. i use the + and - card counting system which i think is the high low system he is talking about and i have been learning for a few days but not for hours in the day but i've already got the hang of it. i know what i need to work on, my games not perfect yet, i make the odd mistake if my mind is not focused, which is not good 'cos that costs money. i need to work on speed more than anything. its good to know your weaknesses so you can work on it.
As long as you are playing in a licensed and regulated casino I would not be worried. A casino wouldn't risk it's license just to make few extra dollars.
I bet this guy can't even step 2 ft into a Casino without being watched like a hawk by the pit boss..
Or not even be able to gamble depending on his past
dabberzz yeah I hear that bud
Some croupiers count cards too. Card counters are capable of sniffing out each other.
i've heard that the ho-lo count is a sure way to lose moeny playing blackjack,...there is another count called the ten count were tens are counted as -2 and low cards are counted as +1 aces are side counted, my question is what is the better card counting technique?
@stephanthienel
what's a betting spread of 1-2 draws heat
When the dealer bounces the shoe everytime you place a big bet, is it possible they are switching the cards? It can't be coincidental. The cards can't be stuck everytime I have a big bet. They dont bounce it when I have a minimum
when its good time to double my bet?Plus 10 for example?(6 decks)
Hi Henry,
Please answer the below questions with respect to Hi-LO Card Counting Strategy
1.How to arrive at the Perfect True Count in the 8 deck card game?
2.How easily we can identify the remaining decks from the discard tray?
3.If the running count is 12 and the remaining deck is 6 . The true count is 2. This is easy :-) However if the running count is -9 and the remaining deck is 7 How to arrive at the true count?
4. How frequently we need to get the true count. Is it after seeing each deck in the discard Tray in a 8 deck card game?
1. To arrive at a "perfect" true count, you have to be "perfect" at deck estimation and division (RC/Decks remaining).
2. It's actually pretty easy to get your deck estimation down to within 1/2 deck, which some consider close enough. Others say you need to be within 1/4 deck. I trained with MIT Mike and he could estimate within just a couple cards!
3. If the running count is negative there is no need to calculate a true count. You should either not be playing or betting the minimum. It's only when the TC is positive that you would use that to tell you how much to increase your bet.
4. If the RC is positive you should recalculate the TC after every hand.
It depends. They may ask you to stop playing blackjack, but you are free to play other games. They may tell you to stop and leave the casino. Or, they may ask for your ID and ban you forever.
Joining on at +2 depends on the deck or type of game it is. Is it a pitch game where there's only two decks? Or is it a shoe game where there's 4+ decks. These things change the variables, something like +3-5 on each deck used makes me feel pretty safe. But you could be there all day on a shoe game if your working alone
Is that a continuous shuffling machine shown at 11:00?
so quick question. If im keeping track of the running count and after the hand I go to figure the true count, is the running count now the true count starting with the next hand or is the running count and true count two separate counts you have to keep track of? I hope that wasn't confusing, thanks.
You only need to keep track of the running count until it is time to make a betting or playing decision. At that time you would need to know the true count in order to correctly make your betting or strategy decision. After that you can go back to just keeping track of the running count until it is time again to make another betting or playing decision.
thanks I appreciate the quick reply, helped alot
I never bin to a casino but i'm very good at math and memory. So i want to try this.
But i read somewhere they put the cards that were just delt , again with the big pack.
So each time you start the game the dealer will start with a full pack of cards.
Or is this incorecct? depends on wich casino?? I'm from Belgium btw