Continued... Blackjack Card Counting

Counting The Fives

This isn’t really card counting per se, but most experts consider it as such.

Studies show that the chances of the dealer going over 21 significantly increase when all the 5-point cards are removed from the deck in a single deck game. This is because the 5-card is considered the great equalizer in Blackjack. There are a number of stiff hand combinations that can greatly benefit from receiving a 5 from the draw. Without the 5-card, the chances of busting jack up.

Hence, it would serve you well if you track the appearances of the 5s and increase your bet correspondingly once all of them appear. Alternatively, you could proportionately increase your wager every time a 5 appears.

But there are two problems with this strategy:

Only a few tables play with a single deck

The chances of several 5s appearing in a multi-deck game are rather slim.

Nonetheless, it’s a strategy that can be proven with statistical veracity. So when playing in a multi-deck game, you might as well play the game of shifting proportions; that is, making your bet proportionate to the number of 5s that have appeared.

For example, you’re playing a 4-deck game. There are twenty 5-cards that could appear.

If none of the 5 cards have appeared, wager a low amount.

If ten of the 5 cards have been revealed on the table, increase your wager by ½.

If all, or almost all of the 5 cards have been exhausted, double your wager.

Yes, it’s that easy, but counting 5 cards is not as accurate as the Hi-Lo card counting method. If you have to invest your time and focus on a particular strategy, might as well concentrate on straight up card counting instead of tracking the 5 cards.

The Hi-Opt Card Counting Method

The Hi-Opt card counting method is a variation of the Hi-Lo strategy. The relationship between the two is as storied as it is apparent.

The Hi-Opt card counting method was developed because of an issue that is found in the Hi-Lo strategy. It is concerned with the assignation of a -1 to an Ace. Many believed that an Ace could be disadvantageous to a player since it could alternatively be assigned the value of 1 instead of an 11. But the Hi-Lo method assigned it a -1 because an Ace is vital for a Blackjack and a Blackjack is always beneficial for the player.

This controversy has led to some deviations from the Hi-Lo method. Some players still count an Ace as a -1, while others don't. Some players even employ a multi-value card counting system, assigning values of negative and positive 2s, 3s, 4s, and even 5s to certain cards. Such values don’t work out well as players find it very difficult to apply them once they’re at the table.

Enter the Hi-Opt card counting method. This strategy does away with Aces altogether, assigning them no value at all. It’s the best way to solve the confusion that Aces bring, and in practice, it has worked well without sacrificing precision.

The Hi-Opt card counting method uses the same basic model of the Hi-Lo strategy, albeit, with a slight difference. The Hi-Opt method assigns the following values to the following cards: Three card: +1 Four card: +1 Five card: +1 Six card: +1 Ten card: -1 Jack card: -1 Queen card: -1 King card: -1

All the other cards are ignored.

Card counting with the Hi-opt method is the same as card counting with the Hi-Lo method. But the Hi-Opt method employs another formula for placing bets, which works best with multi-level decks.

For example, you’re playing a 6-deck game.

Four decks have already been exposed.

You have a running count of +4.

The Hi-Opt method would ask you to divide the running count by the number of decks remaining. This would tell you how much you should wager.

By dividing 4 (your running count) by 2 (the remaining decks), you’d get the value of 2, which will be considered as your true count.

You should bet based on the true count. A true count of 2 would mean that you could double your bet and you’re more or less safe with it.

On the other hand, a true count of less than 1 would require you to proportionately reduce your bet. A negative count, just like with the Hi-Lo method, would mean that you should stay away from the table for the time being.

Card Counting Declassified
We have already mentioned that there is nothing illegal about card counting. It is a valid way of exploiting the resources given on the table to the player. No one can go to jail by practicing a little arithmetic.

The problem is, casinos also have the right to protect their own interests. They have the right to disallow players who have distinct advantages over others (to the detriment of the house’s interests). And knowledge about card counting is a potent advantage that can be wielded by the learned player.

This is the reasoning that has led many casinos to ban card counting, as well as card counters, from their tables. A lot of casino personnel survey the playing area in search of players who practice this amazing form of computation. Once they are caught, these players are asked to leave the premises with their earnings so far, and often, they will be blacklisted from those casinos.

Hence, this has led a lot of people to believe that the difficulty in card counting is not in memorizing and mastering proven formulas. It’s in trying to evade the watchful eyes of casinos.

Indeed, card counting is a very profitable approach to Blackjack. But if you are to reap its benefits, you should also learn how to practice it in a clandestine manner to keep you away from the prying eyes of the scouts deployed by the casinos.

Of course, this is not a problem with online casinos, as you could even write down some notes about the cards that appear. Everything will be conveyed electronically and the online casino system has no way of determining your card counting campaign.

But with offline casinos? Things can prove difficult. Here are some essential tips that will help you avoid detection.

• As much as possible, whenever you look at the cards on the table, do not show your anticipation. Look at the other players’ cards as if you’re just interested in how their game is going. But do not allow your eyes to linger on other hands longer than they would on your own hand. Casino personnel catch most card counters because of this mistake. It’s alright to look at the dealer’s hand since the objective of the game is to beat him. But to gawk at other players’ hands is unnatural and only draws attention to yourself.

Do not open your mouth whenever you’re performing your count. Do it silently. It’s a mental process. Avoid making it a verbal one. As much as possible, do not allow your mouth to move.

Be quick with your calculations. If you take your time, the casino personnel will begin thinking that something fishy is going on. You wouldn’t want this to happen. Practice card counting at home before you venture into the real world to practice it. This will give you enough training and experience to make the exercise as flawless as flawless can be.

Act as naturally as you can. Have fun. Casinos are primarily, and ideally, meant for enjoyment after all. Do not fidget unnecessarily. Be calm and steady and composed. Do not take down notes.

Do not show dismay or alarm over the cards of other people. Concern yourself with your own cards, or at the very least, act as if you’re only concerned with your own cards.

Indeed, a poker face isn’t exclusive to poker. It is also a great way to hide your card counting campaigns amidst the watchful eyes of casino personnel. By being subtle in your approach, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits that card counting can bring.

Again, and just to reiterate, card counting is not illegal. You won’t be thrown in jail for it. However, it can earn you the enmity of the casinos and you don’t want that to happen. It’s their house. You’re just a guest, after all.