what does counting cards mean in gambling

The counter would add one, for the three card, add another one, for the six card, and subtract one, for the 10 card. For example, let’s assume the first player had a three, six, and 10 for 19 and stands. The count after the shuffle always starts at zero. In the popular Hi-Lo card counting system used in this trainer, the tags of each card are as follows: CardĬard counters must watch every card that is played and arithmetically add the tags for each card.

To know when the undealt cards are richer in high cards, favoring the player, or low cards, favoring the dealer, card counters assign a tag to every card. If instead the undealt cards contain a higher concentration of low cards, this benefits dealers by casino rules, dealers must hit their 12 through 16 hands, and the excess concentration of low cards will increase their chances of getting a pat 17 through 21 hand while decreasing their chances of busting. In addition, if dealers show a low card, they will break more frequently when hitting their hand. When the latter occurs, card counters will bet more because they have a better chance of getting a blackjack (with a bonus 3-to-2 payout) and winning a double down. Depending on which cards are dealt in the early rounds, the ratio of high to low cards in the remaining undealt cards most likely will change.įor example, if more low than high cards were played in the early rounds, then the remaining undealt cards must have a greater concentration of high versus low cards. After the dealer shuffles the cards, there is an equal number of high and low cards in the deck(s).

What does counting cards mean in gambling