How to Use the Hi/Lo Card Counting System in Blackjack

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Author: Webmaster Austin

So, you want to turn the tables at Blackjack with Hi/Lo card counting system? Well, it is pretty possible to gain an edge over the house with this most popular card counting system in the world. All you need to do is to understand how to use it effectively, and the purpose of this article is to let you know how.

Before we begin, you should understand that card counting in blackjack is not easy. Even though card counting involves only addition and subtraction, you need sharp focus and the ability to calculate quickly.

Now the main thing. The Hi/Lo card counting system assigns positive (+1) and negative (-1) values to certain cards in the standard deck. The suit a card belongs to does not matter at all. The cards from 2 to 6 are assigned the positive value whereas the cards from 10 to Ace are assigned the negative values. Please note that 7, 8, and 9 don't carry any value at all, so you can overlook them.

When you begin a new game, start your count at 0. Each time a positive card is dealt, add 1 to your count, and each time a negative card is dealt, subtract 1 from your count. You may end up getting a positive, negative, or neutral count. If your count is +2 or more, you can place bigger bets because a positive count indicates that more high-value cards are left in the remaining deck or shoe. On the other hand, if you have a negative or a neutral count, place smaller bets because it indicates that more low value cards are left in the deck.

That's all you need to learn to use the Hi/Lo card counting system. But wait! Don't apply card counting system directly on a real money blackjack game. It's always wise to practice counting cards on the free blackjack games using a standard deck of cards and count all the cards one by one. If you can count the entire deck under 30 seconds, switch to real money blackjack games and turn the tables! Good luck!