Counting cards is easier than it sounds
Card counting is known to, when done right, be able to provide an excellent advantage to you, the player.
This is why those who use the technique at land-based casinos sometimes get asked to leave when being caught counting.
But is it a blackjack strategy guaranteed to bring winnings? Is it allowed at real money casino sites in India? And how do you count cards in the first place?
Is card counting a guaranteed winning strategy?
The short answer is no.
Although it is relatively easy to count cards in addition to following blackjack rules, there are two aspects of the game that will place hurdles in your way.
The first hurdle is shuffling. Every time the shoe or deck is shuffled, you have to reset your count. If shuffles happen frequently, it will be impossible to gain a good idea of the cards in the deck.
The second hurdle is the cut. When a dealer first receives the deck of cards, they’ll use a blank, colored card to cut the cards.
Where the cut is made will depend on how accurate your count can be. Honest game providers, such as Evolution Gaming, will have their dealers cut the shoe at about 60%-40%.
If a shoe is cut in the middle, there will be too many cards removed for you to be able to count at all.
How to count cards
A lot of players usually get scared when hearing about card counting. Especially if they’re just starting out learning how to play blackjack. They think they need to be some kind of mathematical geniuses to keep track of the cards.
Thankfully to most of us, that’s not the case! The goal of counting is to know how many high cards are left in the shoe, as these are good for us players.
The easiest way to count cards is to give cards a +1, a -1, or a 0, depending on what value the card has.
Card values and their card counting value:
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = +1
- 10, J, Q, K, A = -1
- 7, 8, 9 = 0
You’ll count each card that is dealt and will continue to count until there’s a shuffle.
If your running count is positive (+), you’ll have an advantage over the house. If it’s negative (-), the house has the advantage.
Is card counting allowed at Indian online casino sites?
It’s essential to carefully read the Terms and Conditions of the gambling site where you are about to play before attempting to count cards.
Some online casinos will allow you to count cards while some forbid it. If you’d count cards at a casino that won’t allow it, you risk your casino account being permanently closed!
A permanently closed account will risk losing any real money balance that is considered winnings, so we recommend vigilance when taking your counting skills to the test at an online live blackjack table.
Conclusion
If you want to count cards, make sure that it is allowed by the casino.
Also, understand that card counting in live blackjack is no “magic” winning recipe. You will win some, and you will lose some.
See your card counting as a fun and exciting addition to your gameplay instead of a way for you to rake in massive amounts. Just like strategies such as Martingale, for example, there are no guarantees that counting will make you win.
Trust us; you’ll have a lot more fun in the meantime!
Last but not least, always make sure to keep a bankroll, and set limits to your gambling so that you don’t lose control.
Good luck, and have fun!
