Hi-Lo Card Counting System: Complete Guide for Beginners

The Hi-Lo system is the most widely used card counting method in blackjack. Developed by Harvey Dubner in 1963 and later refined by Stanford Wong, it offers an excellent balance of simplicity and effectiveness.

Card Values

In Hi-Lo, every card is assigned a value:

• Low cards (2-6): +1
• Neutral cards (7-9): 0
• High cards (10, J, Q, K, A): -1

Running Count vs. True Count

The running count is your cumulative total. But in multi-deck games, you need to calculate the true count by dividing your running count by the number of decks remaining.

Betting Strategy

Increase your bets when the true count is positive (+2 or higher) and decrease when it's negative. A positive count means the remaining deck is rich in 10s and Aces, giving you the edge.