Table of Contents
Learn all the top strategies and systems in blackjack card counting with SWERTE99 Casino. Reduce the house edge and beat the house!
What is blackjack card counting?
Card counting is a method used to determine whether the player or the banker has an advantage on the next hand. The idea behind card counting is that players can decide whether to be confident or cautious based on the card counting system before the round begins. This allows players to essentially find a way around the banker’s advantage, since by accurately determining the next hand, the banker loses a 0.5% advantage over the players.
The philosophy behind card counting was first proposed by a mathematician named Edward O. Thorp, who believed that the house edge in blackjack could be defeated with a good card counting system.
In addition to being a mathematician, Thorpe became a respected blackjack researcher, publishing the controversial “Beat the Dealer” in 1956 and designing a strategy that allowed players to beat the dealer based on Shuffling the deck has a greater chance of predicting the next round of cards and therefore a greater chance of winning.
How does Blackjack Card Counting work?
Blackjack is a game of skill, and unlike other table casino games, the house edge is not a fixed percentage on any given game. Using basic strategy, you can theoretically reduce the house edge in Blackjack to around 0.5%, but Blackjack is not set to a fixed percentage due to the way the cards are distributed. The house edge depends on the cards drawn, as a dealer’s ace showing increases the potential house advantage, while a player’s ace decreases it.
Card counting uses a value allocation system where different cards have different values, either positive (+1), neutral (0) or negative (-1). The high-value card 10-A is a negative card, and the low-value card 2-6 is a positive card. By counting each card that appears and adding or subtracting the value, the player can determine the expected value of the rest of the deck.
This allows players to raise or lower their bets based on what might appear in the deck next. Card counting reduces the house edge in blackjack to 0.5% in favor of the player. Since the inception of card counting technology, a variety of strategies and systems have emerged covering nearly all variations of blackjack, including multi-tiered games.
Blackjack card counting drill
Now that you know the basics of how card counting works, here’s a short step-by-step guide to any given round of blackjack:
- If a card has a value of 2-6, add +1 to it.
- If a card has a value of 10-A, assign it -1.
- All other cards have a value of 0 (7-9).
- After any round, if the total value is positive, there is a higher chance of a higher value card (10-A) in the next round and you should increase your current bet.
- Likewise, if the result is negative, it means that the undealt cards are mainly low value cards (2-6) and the current bet should be lowered.
- The bet is higher when the result is positive and lower when the result is negative.
Hi-Lo counting system
Hi-Lo is the most commonly used and popular card counting system as it follows the basic system highlighted above. Inspired by Thorpe’s original card counting work, the Hi-Lo system was founded in 1963 by an engineer named Harvey Dubner. separate.
The Hi-Lo system is divided into 3 stages, namely “Running Count”, “Real Count” and “Refill”. Essentially, you focus on cards as they are drawn and add their value to the total. After all cards have been dealt, you can calculate the true count by dividing the final value of the cards by the number of decks played for a given game. Doing this will give you the final calculation and you can then raise or lower your bet accordingly.
Here is an example:
- A total of 6 cards were dealt, with a total score of 4.
- The game uses 4 decks of cards, so your calculation is 4/4, which is 1.
- The final value for this round is +1, which means you should raise your stakes slightly.
The Hi-Lo system is flexible to adapt to the number of decks being played or whether the blackjack game involves multiple players. Remember, your count must include all cards dealt during the round, whether they were in your hand or not. Count the cards dealt to other players as well as the dealer to ensure your calculations are accurate.
Other card counting systems
Hi-Lo is not the only system used for card counting, as there are many different variations, all of which use different calculations and have different levels of difficulty. Each card counting system has a different level of accuracy, depending on the blackjack variation being played. Practice some of them and learn what works best for you on your card counting journey.
SWERTE99 highlights some of the most commonly used blackjack counting systems, as well as the calculations surrounding their card value, accuracy and efficiency during the game:
- Betting Correlation (BC) – Equates each system’s accuracy to that of a computer (out of 100).
- Play Efficiency (PE) – A measure of how accurately a strategy predicts deviations from the basic strategy or exceptions to standard blackjack strategy rules. Again, the closer to 100 the better.
- Insurance Correlation (IC) – Specifies how effective each strategy is for when to take insurance on a given hand.
Important Tips for Blackjack Card Counting
- Practice makes perfect: As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and card counting is no exception. Find a system that works for you and practice it so you can apply your skills with confidence.
- Start slow: Take the necessary time to find your feet before diving into the abyss. Practice a deck of cards offline or try it with a friend before hitting the table to avoid any unnecessary panic during the real game.
- Try a different system: Although Hi-Lo is the most popular card counting system, that doesn’t mean you have to use it. Try it out and find the system that works best for your studies.
- Remember your numbers: No matter what system you use, card values and corresponding values are the name of the game. Memorize the card that each number corresponds to and make it work so you can make split-second decisions when you use your skills.
- Keep it fun: Whether it’s in practice or when you bring it to the table, you’re going to make mistakes or go wrong sometimes. Take your time and don’t feel like you need to become an expert right away. Multiple sources emphasize that blackjack card counting takes over 100 hours to fully master, so make the journey fun.
SWERTE99 Popular Online Blackjack Game
Now that you have everything you need to know about SWERTE99 login, it’s time to play some of the top blackjack games available on SWERTE99!
| Game | Recovery rate(%) | Describe |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack Neo | 99.60% | Typical online blackjack allows you to play up to 3 hands simultaneously with the dealer. Blackjack Neo is perfect for anyone who wants to get involved in the world of Blackjack. |
| Live blackjack | 99.29% | Premium Live Blackjack Experience with real casino dealers giving you the most authentic experience. Compete with live dealers and experience tabletop classics on your favorite device. |
| Free blackjack bets | 98.45% | Take your live blackjack game to the next level with splits and doubles on every hand at no extra cost. Split your hand to double your chances against the dealer without adding extra costs to your initial bet. Double your bet on strong hands and get an extra 100% for free. |
| Lightning Blackjack | 99.56% | Upgrade your live blackjack experience with special multipliers applied to winning hands. Apply a win multiplier of up to 15x to winning hands, or a 25x win multiplier to blackjack win values. |
FAQs
Blackjack card counting works by assigning a numerical value to each card drawn, with 2-6 being a positive value, 7-9 being a no value, and 10-A being a negative value. If at the end of the draw the overall value of the cards is positive or negative, raise or lower your bet accordingly.
Positive values mean you should raise your bet, negative values mean you should lower your bet.
Card counting is easy to learn, but may take some extra time to fully master. Take your time, find a system that works for you, and practice until you can memorize your strategies.
Card counting is not illegal, but some land-based casinos reserve the right to prevent you from continuing to play if they suspect you of continuing to count cards.
Card counting is technically possible in some online blackjack games, but many games use software that shuffles the cards between rounds to keep the results fair and seemingly random. Mechanical card shufflers are also used in live blackjack to prevent card counting.
