If the deck has a lot of small cards left, it is better for the casino. You need to keep track of how many low, medium and high cards have been played so you know what is likely to come next. Ace: It can be either 1 or 11, whichever is better for youĬard value is the key factor in card counting.Cards 2-10: The card number is the value.To start counting cards, you need to know the blackjack card values. The later years have been more about honing the actions, and casinos and players one-upping each other with countermeasures and counter-countermeasures. Most of the basic concepts of modern card counting were invented early on. Methods like Hi-Lo counting were introduced, and concepts of true count for multiple decks were helping perfect the strategies. Players like Joe Bernstein, Harvey Dubner, Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel, and James McDermott all created or improved the techniques to beat the casino and let players gain the edge. The core for card counting was there, even if it was rudimentary. Over the years, casinos have taken more countermeasures, and many of Thorp's practices are no longer applicable.

His book, Beat the Dealer, goes over the betting strategies for optimal play. Thorp is considered the father of modern card counting. Mathematicians and mathematically inclined gamblers realised that they could count the cards played to know what values were left in the deck and knew how this affected the gameplay.Įdward O.

While most games were purely random, blackjack gave the player some control. When gambling became an everyday thing, people wanted to get good at it and beat the casino. This was the post-war boom years and when Las Vegas became the epicentre of American gambling. The history of card counting as we know it today dates back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. Check out our how to play online blackjack page for a comprehensive guide. Casinos have countermeasures to prevent counting and will actively keep an eye out for card counters.īut before you start counting cards, you should first learn how to play blackjack. If a player is suspected of counting cards, they will be stopped, barred from playing in the card rooms or even banned from the entire casino where that is possible. With practise, a skilled card counting blackjack shark can gain up to a 3% edge over the casino.Ĭard counting is perfectly legal, but casinos frown upon it. A good card counter can take the casino's edge and turn it around. When you know a deck is hot or cold, you can adjust your wagers accordingly.īlackjack card counting is a way for the player to improve their chances.

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