Card Counting is an advanced playing strategy based on the mathematical theory of probabilities as various cards are removed from the deck. As large cards are removed from the deck, the dealer has the advantage. When small cards are removed from the deck, the player has a distinct advantage. Approximately one-third of the time the dealer will have the advantage, one-third of the time the odds are even, and one-third of the time the player will have the advantage.
In order to track the player's advantage, a value is assigned to each of the cards in the deck, some positive and some negative. As each card is dealt, the player must keep a "RUNNING COUNT" of the cards. At the beginning and end of each deck the count is zero, as there is an equal number of positive and negative valued cards. As the cards are dealt, depending on the random distribution of the shuffle, the count can vary from positive to negative. When the count is positive the player knows that there is a surplus of large cards left in the remaining deck and should raise the bet. When the count is negative there is a surplus of small cards left, the dealer has the advantage and the bet should be minimal.
The count will also change the way the player looks at certain situations. For example: if the player has a 12-16, the dealer is showing less than a 7, and the count is positive, he will HIT less than if the if count is negative because there is a wealth of large cards remaining. If the player has a 10-11 and the count is very negative, he will probably not DOUBLE because there is are too many small cards remaining.
To practice card counting alone, select PRACTICE COUNTING on the LEARN Menu.
