 |
Online Casino Card Counting
A Preamble
Certain card counting plays are valid on the machines which, when used properly, will increase the amount of the players win. Card counting is not difficult to learn and, when applied to video blackjack machines, is really quite easy to use. Card counters at blackjack tables are banned from further casino play when caught. Their names and pictures are kept on file and passed from casino to casino. Recent legislation has made it difficult to eject these players but many casinos have fought back by modifying the game. Some casinos use multiple deck “shoes” to hold the cards during the dealing. Up to eight decks are used in some places. The deck is shuffled midway, just at the point where a counter’s advantage begins to show. The dealer may shuffle at any time, especially when a new player sits down or when a seated player suddenly makes a dramatic increase in his wager. Atlantic City casinos have dropped their surrender option entirely, thereby eliminating another card counting advantage.
But card counting at a blackjack slot machine is still undetectable and a player may use these strategies at will. Although some casinos do not allow any charts or calculators at the tables, players are still free to use these materials at the slot machines. The player still is free to take this site to the slot floor and avail himself of the best play decisions.
Learning to Count
Card counting procedure is simple to learn. The difficulty is in the application at the blackjack table where the player must disguise his card counting skill and rely on his memorization of many tables of play strategy that are used according to the deck’s count. The video player need only learn the counting technique. The charts are still allowed on the floor so no lengthy memorization is necessary.
The card counter divides the cards into three groups - high, low, and middle cards. The middle cards — 7, 8, and 9 — are ignored during the count. Each 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is given a plus one (+1) value. Each 10, jack, queen, king, and ace is given a negative one (—1) value. The player simply adds or subtracts +1 or—i as each card is seen. Most video blackjack machines reshuffle a single deck after each deal. Some deal from 30 to 40 cards into the deck. Counting strategy must be modified accordingly.
Suppose you are playing a machine that shuffles after each deal. A typical “come out” might show you with a 2 and a 6 and the dealer showing a 10. A quick count shows a total of +1 because your two low cards (+2) are reduced by the dealer’s high card (—1 ) leaving a +1 for a total. Use this +1 when consulting the charts to determine your next move - hit, stick, double down, or surrender. Continue to count during split hands and after each hit.
Some Other Examples Follow:
Player Dealer Count
2, K A -1
10, 10 Q —3
7, 2, 4 6 +3
Split 3, 3 3,4, A
3, K, 2 4 +3
On machines that do not shuffle after each hand you must keep a running count, adding or subtracting the proper number, until the video display indicates that the computer is shuffling the cards. At this point the count reverts back to zero.
Some machines allow you to play two hands at once against the dealer’s one hand. You must use all cards shown to determine an accurate count. The more cards you see, the better your decisions.
That’s all there is to counting cards. Take a few minutes at home to practice by dealing cards to yourself and to the dealer. Use one deck. If you can play a machine that deals several times before reshuffling, practice the extended counting.
|
 |
 |