How Does Card Counting Work in Blackjack?
Learn the fundamentals of card counting in blackjack. Understand how advantage players track cards to gain an edge over the casino.
Card counting is a blackjack strategy that allows players to track the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck. When the deck is rich in high cards (10s, face cards, and Aces), the player has an advantage. When it's rich in low cards, the house has an advantage.
The Basic Concept
At its core, card counting works by assigning point values to cards as they're dealt. In the popular Hi-Lo system:
- Cards 2-6 = +1
- Cards 7-9 = 0
- Cards 10-A = -1
As cards are dealt, you keep a running count by adding or subtracting based on each card you see.
Why It Works
Blackjack is unique among casino games because previous hands affect future outcomes. Unlike roulette where each spin is independent, in blackjack, cards that have been dealt cannot appear again until the deck is reshuffled.
Getting Started
The best way to learn card counting is through consistent practice. Protocol 21 offers dedicated drills to help you master the Hi-Lo system and other counting methods at casino speed.
Ready to Practice?
Download Protocol 21 and start mastering card counting with our casino-grade training drills.