Blackjack Card Counting

Players from all countries can PLAY!

Blackjack is a game of skill and card counting allow you to gain a bonus within the game. Edward R Thorp is regarded as the daddy of card counting. He discovered the foundations of card counting and published his method in 1962 in his book Beat the Dealer. His book started the Blackjack revolution and it was also instrumental within the casinos taking action to prohibit card counters. Card counting isn't illegal but casinos can ban players from playing blackjack in the event that they detect that a player is counting cards.

Many of us remember the movie Rain Main man where Dustin Hoffman’s character memorized the entire cards popping out of the shoe. This has given the incorrect impression as to what card counting really is. Even the term card counting is misleading because whilst you count cards you might be merely keeping an eye on the ratio of high to low cards left within the deck.

Why It WorksWhat makes blackjack different from another casino game is that the home edge isn't fixed. The percentages of having a natural blackjack are dependent upon the cards that experience already been dealt and the cards remaining within the deck. If an ace is dealt at the first around the odds of drawing another ace has gone down.

Within the game of blackjack your probability of winning a hand relies on the combination of the cards remaining within the deck. If the combo of cards remaining within the deck contains high value cards, this can be a positive and is favorable for the player. When the deck encompasses a large collection of tens and aces it increases the players possibilities of drawing a pat hand (17 or higher) or getting a natural blackjack. It also increases the probabilities that the dealer will bust. Despite the fact that the dealer is solely as more likely to draw a fair hand when the deck is positive, the player is getting paid 3 to two for a natural blackjack. That is why card counters raise the dimensions in their bets when the deck is rich with high cards. They'll also deviate from basic strategy dependent on the count.

If the cards remaining within the deck are low value cards, it's negative and it favors the dealer. Card counters usually lower their bets when the count is negative. When the deck is rich in low cards it less likely that the dealer will make a pat hand and it is usually makes it less likely that the dealer will busts when he has to draw.

Counting MethodsThe concept of counting cards is unassuming. Each rank of card is assigned some extent value and the cardboard counter adds or subtracts those points to get a “running count” to figure out if the deck is positive or negative. There are lots of different card counting systems utilized by the players. Some are more complex than others but all of them are designed to maintain track of the low and high cards left within the deck.

The values assigned to the cards determine whether a counting system is balanced or unbalanced. A balanced card counting method comparable to the preferred Hi/Lo values a whole 52 card deck as zero. While you use a balanced counting system you retain a running count of the cards as they're played but then you must divide running count by the selection of decks not yet played to get the true count.

With an unbalanced method akin to Speed Count or Knock Out (KO) the whole of the 52 card deck doesn't add as much as zero. You begin with a predetermined number to inform you when the deck is positive or negative in preference to using zero as a kick off point. The advantage to using an unbalanced method is that it's simpler since you don’t must estimate the remainder decks and convert to the true count.

Getting the EdgeThe purpose of any of the cardboard counting methods is to inform the player when the deck is positive with high value cards. The Blackjack player gains the threshold over the home by betting more when the deck is positive and infrequently even deviating from basic strategy. The variation between the scale of your bet when the deck is neutral or negative and the quantity you increase because it becomes positive is called the spread. Because the positive count increase so does your advantage.

More Than CountingBeing a successful card counter takes greater than just with the ability to keep track of the cards. Many players find that they are able to successfully count a deck within the privacy of the quiet home but then have difficulty in a loud casino with all the distractions. Successful card counters also needs to be capable to camouflage their play to allow them to go undetected by the casino pit bosses. One of the simplest ways to get caught counting cards is to make big jumps for your bets from one hand to the following. You need to learn play a cat and mouse game with the casino and should you can do this you may get the advantage over the house.

Be RealisticThere are many players counting cards and getting cash but you should be realistic about your results. Card counting will only provide you with a one to 2 percent edge over the home and the advantage you gain by card counting relies at the longer term and your given results during any single session can vary greatly. When the deck is positive they dealer has just as likely an opportunity of having the high cards as you do. Still any edge you'll be able to gain over the casino is definitely worth the effort that it takes to be informed and winning is lots more fun.

Read More... [Source: About.com Casino Gambling: What's Hot Now]