Card counting
In BlackJack, the chances of winning are quite good, since the chance is close to the 50 percent mark. Nevertheless, some players like to use a technique that is not officially illegal - card counting. However, there are some notes to consider when counting cards. Especially in real casinos and casinos, card counting is not liked and can even lead to a ban on the house.
Casinos in the USA can set rules in their house rules as they like, and if it says that card counting is not allowed, it can have fatal consequences if you get caught doing it. This article is intended to explain the technique of card counting, but we do not want to urge any player to use card counting.
How does card counting work?
Card counting is based on a very simple theory. In BlackJack, you have a huge advantage if you have an idea of which cards will come next. You can never know for sure, but the probabilities are higher for some cards than for others, because the others have already been dealt before, you can get a big advantage over the casino. The chance of a normal win is already close to 50 percent and if you can now get a small advantage by knowing which cards are most likely to come, you can turn BlackJack into a profitable game in the long run.
The simple and at the same time quite profitable method of card counting is the high-low system. If you follow this strategy, you don't have to keep track of exactly which cards are already out. It is more likely to calculate a value that represents the remaining values in the deck of cards. This is a so-called "running count" technique in which each card has a certain value. With this simple system, one will find out when the ratio between high and low value cards has become unbalanced.
The card values are divided in such a way that a whole deck of cards should be played through, which gives the final sum zero. From the moment the first card of a newly shuffled deck is dealt, the player begins to count the value of the card. As can be seen from the overview, with a low card the value is increased by one point, and a high card reduces the current value by one point. All cards from 7 to 9 are considered neutral and are not counted.
After the first round, however, the result of the count is still not very accurate. There are far too many cards in play when the one +1 at the end of the first round indicates that there are even more cards with a higher value in the deck. Although this is the case, but you can not rely on it in the next round. Only when some hands have been played and the decks of cards in the shoe are slowly coming to an end, you can bet on the result of counting cards.
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For this reason, some players make it so that they only watch a table for a few rounds. This makes you a little suspicious, but you can also observe the playing style of the other players at the table. In the real casino, however, this should only be used when you really master it "in your sleep". The croupiers and security chiefs who have been trained to recognize such behavior may not notice that you are counting in your head.
Well-known examples of successful card counting
We all like to hear stories of people who managed to outwit the casinos and celebrate a successful evening with card counting. And fact, there are some stories from the past where professional BlackJack players have been successful with card counting.
THE BlackJack Team
The MIT BlackJack team is feared by many casinos. Originally it was a group of students and former students of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, who developed strategies to beat various major casinos using the technique of card counting. Privately, they financed their group and cashed in numerous casinos in the USA. Some members of this group were exposed at some point, so that they were banned from various casinos, but the small group quickly expanded. The team and its successors successfully operated the strategy from 1979 to the beginning of the 21st century and there are still some players who emulate the MIT BlackJack team.
Who is who in the movie "21" (2008)?
The film "21" is based on the bestseller "Bringing Down The House" by Ben Mezrich, which tells the true story of the MIT blackjack team from the 90s.
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Ben Cambell
Ben Cambell
played by
Jim Sturgess
real person:
Jeff Ma
Jeff Ma
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Jill Taylor
Jill Taylor
played by
Kate Bosworth
real person:
Jane Willis
Jane Willis
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Jimmy Fisher
Jimmy Fisher
played by
Jacob Pitts
real person:
Mike Aponte
Mike Aponte
-
Kianna
Kianna
played by
Liza Lapira
real person:
Laurie Tsao
Laurie Tsao
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Micky Rosa
Micky Rosa
played by
Kevin Spacy
real person:
Bill Kaplan
Bill Kaplan
The big advantage of the group from the greater Boston area was their number. The interested parties were trained in regular meetings in halls, apartments and other rentable rooms. In a test, the best players were selected, but some normal players with the talent for hiding were also selected. They put groups together, which then sat together at a table and thus blurred the suspicion of card counting.
Tommy Hyland
Tommy Hyland is a notorious card counter of the gambling game BlackJack. He mastered the technique so well that at first no one suspected. The winnings accumulated with the player and so he also founded a team in 1979. Originally, the team consisted of four players who had to bring in $ 4,000 each as a bankroll. Within a few months, they had already won over $ 50,000. The conditions worsened in Atlantic City, where the team was caught up in the situation, and so they moved to Asia. One or the other of the team was caught and put on trial, but that it is not illegal to count the cards, the court had no choice: a smart strategy and no illegal tricks are used. One acquittal after another was the result.
What do casinos do about card counting?
Casinos around the world have now become aware of the technique of card counting, but there will still be numerous players who play successfully with the technique. Nevertheless, the casinos have become much more sensitive. In the largest casinos in the world, for example in Las Vegas, they rely on state-of-the-art video surveillance with programs that can recognize the playing style and behavioral traits of a suspicious player. In addition, there is often a second croupier sitting at the table, who focuses mainly on the players. The simplest remedy for card counters has now become the standard. Instead of a small number of decks of cards, the game is now usually played with six packs of 52 hands. Before all cards have been used, all cards are shuffled again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Card counting is a method that increases your chances of winning by 50%. But there are certainly still some things that are still unclear. That's why I have created a detailed FAQ section for you, which answers the most frequently asked questions.
Can I count cards when I play blackjack online?
How to do this Card Counting in Blackjack works, is quite simple. You can try this method not only in the land-based game libraries, but also when playing online. But you should also always be aware that you increase your chances with it, but do not automatically win with it.
Card Counting in Blackjack - Safe winnings possible?
Do you play in one of the best Blackjack Online Casinos , then you should be aware that you do not automatically win by counting cards. It only increases the likelihood that you will decide the game in your favor. However, there is no guarantee of a profit.
Can you win at blackjack without counting cards?
You don't necessarily have to count cards to win. There are many different possibilities that you can try. This also includes the Blackjack Strategy Table . This is especially suitable for the beginners among you, as it increases your chances of winning.
Is card counting legal in Blackjack?
Although card counting is a popular method of increasing its probabilities to a victory. But it is not welcome, especially in the land-based game libraries. Some operators rely on video surveillance to be able to locate the players. You can find out more about the topic in my separate review .
What is the best system for counting cards in blackjack?
There are many strategies and systems, which is why it is important that you try them out for yourself. However, the best strategies are THE Blackjack Team developed and was able to win a large sum. But you should also be aware that you will be banned from the house if you are caught doing so.
Ben Cambell
Jeff Ma
Jill Taylor
Jane Willis
Jimmy Fisher
Mike Aponte
Kianna
Laurie Tsao
Micky Rosa
Bill Kaplan