In 1962 the godfather of card counting, Dr. Edward O. Thorpe, outlined a blackjack betting and playing strategy to eliminate the casino’s advantage and actually give the player an edge. He used a computer to quickly play thousands of hands, and the results proved his basic theory, which was: if the unplayed cards contained a lot of high cards, the dealer was more likely to bust. By keeping track of what cards had been played, the gambler would increase his bets when a lot of low cards had been played, and decrease his bets when the reverse was true. When Thorpe went to the casinos to test the results under actual playing conditions, he lost at first, but gradually began to win consistently.

The counting system developed by Thorpe will win at the casinos, but it’s hard to use and requires a lot of concentration and ability to do the math quickly in your head. Also the casinos have taken steps to neutralize the card counter’s edge. Newer methods, which are easier to use, and are more profitable were developed to fight back against the casinos. Among these are the plus-minus counting systems one of which is the Hi-Lo system originated by Stanford Wong. For this system cards two through six have a value of plus one, and tens through aces have a value of minus one. Sevens, eights, and nines have zero value. After the dealer has shuffled the cards and stacked the shoe, the player starts with a count of zero. As cards are exposed, the player keeps a running count. The higher the plus value goes, the more high cards are left in the deck, and the player increases his bet size.

In addition to the running count, advanced card-counters will keep track of the true count, also called the count per deck. This gives an idea of how rich the deck is in high cards and will help size the bets. For example if the running count is ten and you estimate there are three decks left in the shoe, the true count (ten divided by three) is three and a third. If the running count is ten and you estimate there are two decks left, the true count is five. You would bet more in the second situation where the true count is higher. The true count can also help you determine appropriate times to modify basic blackjack strategy. For example suppose you are dealt a ten and a two, the dealer’s upcard is a two, and the true count is plus three. Basic strategy says to hit in this situation, but you know the deck is rich in high cards, and therefore the dealer has a good chance of busting, so you would stand.

If you can keep track of a lot of information, Wong also recommends counting specific cards, such as aces, that have been played. Keeping multiple counts may affect your ability to play accurately, and if you lose the basic running count you are at a disadvantage. Don’t try additional counts until you can keep the running count expertly.

Blackjack played with a perfect basic strategy typically offers a house edge of less than 0.44%, but a typical card counter who varies his bets appropriately will have an advantage of about 1% over the casino. Card counting can be mastered by ordinary people, however, the amount of practice it takes to get to be an expert will vary from individual to individual. If you are serious about beating the casinos, practice for many hours before placing your bets.

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Joe Starr writes on a variety of subjects to keep his brain from fogging over. Visit his website http://allaboutcasinogambling.com to learn about popular casino games and strategies.

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Smart blackjack players will review any advertised winning blackjack systems with a certain degree of skepticism. This is a good state to be in when reviewing certain products. However, the smart players also know that there are some quality products out there that can help raise their game. To help make sure you find the ones that really bring value, be sure to consider these tips:

1. Prove They Increase The Odds In Your Favor.

The best winning blackjack systems will work to take away the house’s edge and give you your own. Review their product information to determine what evidence they have supporting their claim that they are effective. This can be very helpful in showing that their claims are legitimate and trustworthy. Although it is not the deciding factor for a purchase, it is one thing you should strongly consider with an unknown product from an unknown “expert”.

2. Are Created By Experts With A Mathematical Background.

In the end, blackjack is a game that can be broken down to a number of finite situations. Mathematicians work in a field that keys on these types of scenarios and is one reason why many of the best blackjack players in the world have a math background. They know the odds well and work them into their products performance. Be sure your product has this included in its creation and performance.

3. Proven Names in Blackjack should get more leniency in selection.

Although a slew of statistical data about the product’s effectiveness is good for unknown products or experts, this is less important with products made by known experts in blackjack circles. Their reputation is tied to their products so they are more likely to give you products that operate at a high level. Therefore, if you are looking at a product made by a pro, you can feel far more confident in your selection.

By keeping these different tips in mind, you should be well on your way to finding quality winning blackjack systems.

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Counting Cards In Black Jack is a popular discussion point on many blackjack forums and message boards. The reason is that the experts know counting cards increasing their odds of winning. Since everyone likes to win, it is only natural for the novice to want to learn just how to do it. With this thought in mind, here are a few tips to consider:

1. Learn The Basic Strategy first to increase the odds in your favor.

This basic strategy will help try to decrease the built in advantage of the house and move it closer to 50/50. This strategy will teach you to know what to do based what the up card of the dealer shows and your existing cards. You should be able to have a strategy for every combination where you know whether to hit, stay, split, or double down. The key here is to get a good base to allow you to learn more complex strategies.

2. Once the Basic Strategy is mastered, move onto more complex strategies.

These strategies will help show you when it is wiser to increase bets and make other plays. The goal here is to actually increase the 50/50 split to odds that are more in your favor. By consistently playing with these strategies, you should be able to become a more consistent winner overtime.

3. Don’t be afraid to play at online casinos.

Playing blackjack at respected online casinos is the equivalent at playing at in-house casinos. In addition, they often offer other advantages including location convenience and bonuses to play. These enticements can help give you an extra edge. In addition, there are some good software programs that will help with your card counting efforts that you would not be able to use in a in-house casino.

By keeping these tips in mind, you should be able to better master counting cards in black jack. Winning every once in a while is good, but winning consistently is what we are all after.

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