Card Counting is a major Blackjack strategy used by a large section of Blackjack professionals, especially those into serious gaming. It is a simple, yet an important technique, which helps a player in keeping a rough calculation of the cards that, has been dealt to come up with the probability of cards left to be dealt.
Playing Blackjack for free and mugging up the rules is surely a good idea, but if you want to become an expert and play wise counting cards is what you need to learn.
History of Card Counting
Card counting is nothing but a calculation of the cards that have been dealt to find out the cards that have been dealt. It was Edward O. Thorpe who came up with the concept of Card Counting. In year 1962, in his book “Beat the Dealer” Thorpe proved how some cards are favorable to player and others favor the dealer. Using computer trails, he proved that by keeping a track of the cards that have been dealt, one could easily get an idea of cards that are left in the ‘Shoe’.
Card Counting and Legality
Card Counting can be termed as cheating, when done using computer software or counting device. But when you adopt to the technique of counting cards using your mental calculation there is no one to stop you from estimating what card have been played and what all are left. There are some casinos where card counting is completely legal, but in such cases players are bound to find the game more difficult with more card decks being used.
Running Count
Hi and Lo cards are a part of card counting. Cards from 2 to 6 are called Hi cards and are given +1 value to them, cards from 7 to 9 are counted as zero, similarly cards like ten, aces and face cards are taken as -1. Both Hi and Lo card groups have equal amount of cards in them, 2,3,4,5,6 as well as 10,J,Q,K,A, respectively. These can also be called as positive, negative and neutral cards.
One can adapt to the technique of card counting using the metal calculation of the card that have been played so far. There are some casinos where card counting is completely legal, but in such cases players are bound to find the game more difficult with more card decks being used.