Blackjack is one of the most popular games at casinos, and for good reason. It is fun, simple to understand, easy to learn, and most importantly, has a lower house edge than the average game. That’s right, whereas the casino advantage is between 5% – 10% in slots (online or land-based), the percentage is only 0.5% in blackjack. This means that you have a higher chance of winning blackjack than any other casino game.
However, even with the chances being that high, many people still want an edge. For that reason, quite a large number of gamblers, whether pros or just the really dedicated, learn to count cards. It is important to note here, that card counting is not illegal, unless you use some sort of device. So, if a land-based casino catches you counting cards, the worst they can do is ban you.
So, the question remains, how does one learn to count cards? And the answer is simple. There are numerous card counting strategies that you can master. For some, these strategies come easy. For others, it takes some practice. In this article, we are going to be focusing the high-low strategy. For examples of the hi-lo card counting strategy, you can take a look at the website provided. In this article, we are going to give a brief introduction, explain how it is done, and discuss whether it truly is the best system for counting cards?
How Does the High-Low System for Counting Cards Work?
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The high-low system was created by Harvey Dubner in 1963. Mr. Dubner was an accomplished electrical engineer and mathematician. Mr. Dubner set out to prove that the problem of an optimal bet had a solution, and in 1960, ran a number of blackjack simulations, which eventually resulted in the high-low strategy. Not only that, but it also was an important step in showing that technology can have real-life benefits, and help new entrepreneurs better run their newly-established businesses.. In this section, we will attempt to explain how the High-low strategy works in a step-by-step basis.
- Step 1 is to assign a value to each rank. So, for cards ranked 2 – 6 the value is +1. 7, 8, and 9 are valued at 0. Anything from the ten to the ace is a -1.
- Start at zero, and add/subtract a value based on the card dealt.
- Divide the running count by the number of decks used for the game that remain in play. Here we get what gamblers call the true count.
- If the true count is high, bet more. If it is low, bet less.
These are the four simple steps that explain how the high-low strategy work. However, there is a bit more to the strategy, which we are going to get into in this next section.
How Do You Count Hi Lo Cards?
So, you’ve mastered the easy steps. What comes next? Well, the next thing you must do is put it into practice. Here is where it gets tricky. We recommend you practice the hi-lo strategy in a neutral environment, without actually putting your cash in danger. If you do this, you will have mastered the practice, and the only variable left is to put it to the test in a real casino.
Now, let us explain how the strategy actually works. So, after you’ve found the true count, you will need to know when to put down a bet, and how large a bet to put down. As we said, the higher the true count, the higher your bet should be. So, you will have to establish the minimum bet size, in order to decide how much the wagers should increase. Once you’ve done so, you will need to assign a dollar amount to every true count unit.
For example, let’s say you have a minimum bet of $15. You place minimum bets until you reach a positive true count. Then you set the unit size. Let’s say that 1 unit = $30. So, from then just follow a table of increasing true count units.
- +1 true count = $30 bet
- +2 true count = $60 bet
- +3 true count = $90 bet
How Do You Win High-Low?
Hopefully, now you understand exactly how the strategy works. As we said before, we recommend you give it a go in a neutral environment first, before you take it to the casinos. Maybe gather a group of friends around and suggest a no-stakes game of blackjack. That’s when you bust out the high-low game, and shock and amaze all of them with how well you’ve done.
Remember, unlike slots or roulette, blackjack involves a certain degree of mathematical skills. However, don’t let this intimidate you. As you can see from our previously laid out examples, the math skills necessary are not super advance. All you have to do is understand basic addition and subtraction, and multiplication and division. From there, winning at high-low will be a piece of cake.
Is High-Low the Best Card Counting System?
We can’t say that high-low is the best system. In actuality, any card counting system will have its pros and cons. For high-low, the pros are very obvious. It is incredibly simple to understand and learn. Anyone, even beginners could pick up on it in no time flat. The system provides an excellent edge over the casino, minimizing the already small house edge. On top of that, it genuinely does work, even if the number of decks used increases.
Now, obviously, there are more accurate systems out there. However, most of them are difficult to learn and master, and are reserved for the professional players only. If you want to give another system a go, we recommend looking into the Thorp Ultimate strategy.
Final Thoughts
The high-low count carding strategy is an excellent place to start for anyone interested in becoming a pro blackjack player; or even just if you want to learn how to count cards and improve your chances at the casino. Remember, though, most casinos frown on card counting, so it is also important that you remain undetected when incorporating your newly-found skills.