Card counting is an effective strategy to improve your odds and even gaining an edge on the casino. In the mid-80s and early 90s the MIT Blackjack Team used card counting techniques to win millions in cash. Members of the team are now banned from casinos world wide for their success at the blackjack table. Card counting is a challenging strategy to master, but it can yield profits that are well worth it.

How It Works

When counting cards you keep track of the cards that have been played at your table. Until the dealer shuffles, these cards will not return in play. The best part about card counting is that you don’t need to be Rain Man to do it. Using a simple counting method, you just keep track of the amount of high value cards (10, Jack, etc) and low value cards (2,3,4, etc) left in the deck. A deck with more high value cards left in it is more profitable for the player. You are more likely to be dealt blackjack, and the dealer is more likely to go bust. So when you know the deck is in your favour you can bet more aggressively, because your chances of winning are higher.

Getting Started

Does this sound good? Then it’s time to start learning a card counting system! There are many places online where you can read about card counting, but do yourself a favour and don’t start out with the most complex system. A simpler system is accurate enough to give you a edge and easier to learn. Good counts to start off with are the Hi-Lo Count and the even more simple KO Count.