The Promises and Pitfalls of 
Card Counting

It's more or less universally accepted that "card counting" can "bring down the house." Well, it IS true that you will gain, with an advanced card count, up to a 2% advantage in the long-term. Not exactly "brining down the house" unless you literally have millions to burn. In addition there are A LOT of drawbacks and challenges that face the Card Counter.

Some of the BIGGEST names in Blackjack don't speak very highly of card counting. Why? Because it DOESN'T work unless you are THOROUGHLY committed to it -- with both your TIME and your BANKROLL.

Think Card Counting is a "Magic Bullet" that kills Casinos and will make you the next millionaire? Better think again! Here's what some of the TOP Blackjack players have said about card counting. Listen up!
Ken Uston
"Two of the best counters I know played in Europe for 61 days, full time, and were down $30,000...The same two players dropped $156,000 in two weeks in Atlantic City in late 1979 in a highly favorable game"
"Lance Humble"
Co-Creator of Hi-Opt I & II
​"When Resorts initially opened in Atlantic City, three first-rate counters playing the Hi-Opt II lost over $60,000 in less than 3 weeks."
Edwin Silberstang
​"Every time the deck was favorable and I had a big bet out, I'd lose. When I had a minimum bet with a super-negative deck, I'd get a blackjack. It was awful"
Bryce Carlson
"Bad runs of luck can, and will, sometimes dominate your results for hours and hours on end. I have personally experienced losing streaks that lasted for over 7,500 hands."
If ANY system promises nothing but success on the Blackjack felt, RUN AWAY. It's a SCAM. No system, no count, no computer program can make you win EVERY session. It's a pipe dream and fools gold that the masses run headlong over a cliff to find. It only profits the casinos and the person selling the hyped up junk.

What is Card Counting?
​The Basics 

The idea is simple. Having "small cards," usually 2-6, in the "shoe" (the elongated box the dealer pulls the cards from) is HELPFUL to the DEALER.  Why? Because these "small cards" will turn a "stiff hand" (12-16) into a total between 17 and 21 without the dealer "busting." 

So when these "small cards" are played they are assigned a PLUS value (usually +1). That's good for the player when these are depleted.

10 value cards (All 10s and "Face" Cards) are good for the PLAYER. Why? Because when there are only high value cards (9-Ace) you will always get a "Pat Hand" (Total between 17-21). So when these high cards are depleted from the "shoe" it's BAD for the player! Therefore these cards are given a NEGATIVE value (usually -1).

Tracking cards in this fashion, assigning certain cards a "plus" or "negative" value as they are dealt, is called the RUNNING COUNT.

When the Deck is POSITIVE, it's good for the PLAYER. When it's NEGATIVE it's BAD for the Player and good for the Dealer, or House.

Simple right? WRONG. First you have to keep track of not only your cards, but ALL PLAYERS CARDS including the Dealer!

Next you have to DIVIDE the "Running Count" by the number of Decks left. So if your running count is +4 and there are 5 decks left to play you've got a TRUE COUNT of .8. In addition, you'll need to learn "Index" plays based on the True Count that are different than Basic Strategy.

To see how Counting Cards looks in play with explanation, this is a good video to watch:

An EASY way to Count Cards
The ACE FIVE Count

To gain a VERY SMALL edge on Blackjack with games that have favorable rules (like not hitting "Soft" 17s). Try the "Ace-Five" count.

Its EASY. Track the Fives that come out as +1 and the Aces as -1. There is no  "True Count" to tally up in your head. The theory behind this system is that "5" cards are helpful to the dealer in making "stiff" hands into winning hands (e.g. 16+5=21). So when they are depleted, it's good for the Player.

Aces are obviously helpful to the Player, so when these are taken out, it's bad for the Player.

You will need a LARGE bet spread (I'd wager up to 12 units in a high count) to make a very small profit. You'll also have WILD swings up and down and have a GOOD chance of GOING BROKE! 
WELCOME TO THE CARD COUNTING WORLD! 

Card Counting 2.0
​Index Plays and Side Counts

But wait! Card Counting gets even BETTER! In addition to having to learn Basic Strategy PERFECTLY, you'll need to know VARIATIONS of Basic Strategy according to the True Count!

These plays are "tuned" to the count that will add FRACTIONS of a percentage to your advantage. The cost? You'll be learning 10, 20 or even more "Index Plays" on top of Basic Strategy, keeping the running count, and figuring the True Count.
Ace Side Count

The first card counting system I learned was from Avery Cardoza. It was $95 and taught you all you'd ever want to know about counting cards. 

Because Aces were NOT included in the count, but are VERY valuable to the Player, he suggested a SIDE COUNT. That's right, in addition to keeping track of the running and true count, you'd now also have to keep track of the Aces separately. 

Whats the extra work worth? An advantage of about 1/20th of 1%!

If you really want to squeeze all  you can out of your Card Counting efforts, you'll likely need to keep a "side count" as well.

Can you see why I gave up on Card Counting yet...?

Learn How to Win at Blackjack WITHOUT Card Counting!

Does Card Counting sound like more work than it's worth? Does to me too! I Counted Cards for YEARS. I knew Hi-Lo, the KISS counts, "Speed Count" and others. I DON'T use them anymore. 

Playing at a $5 Table, your hourly profit rate is LESS than around $8 an hour counting cards! And that's playing PERFECTLY! Plus you better have at least $5k to burn to carry you through the "valleys" of bad luck!

The GOOD NEWS is, there are ways to win at Blackjack without counting cards!
As long as you can do some VERY basic math operations in your head, you can FORGET about the "running count" and figuring the "true count" in you head. All while trying to keep track of what's going on in the game!

It's no wonder that the VAST MAJORITY of ALL card counters are LOSERS! Click on the Link Below to Learn More or read my review of Easy Money Blackjack!
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