Card counting in blackjack doesn’t have to stop at the basic HI-LO system. The next step up involves assigning weighted values to each card rather than a flat +1 or -1. It takes more practice to keep accurate, but the payoff is a more reliable count.
The system works by tracking each card as it leaves the shoe and adjusting your running total accordingly. The higher your count, the more the remaining deck favours the player. The lower it is, the more it favours the dealer. Understanding this relationship is what turns counting from a party trick into a genuine advantage. Assign the following values as each card is dealt:
- 2, 3, 6, 7 all have a value of +1
- 4, 5 have a value of +2
- 10, J, Q, K all have a value of -2
- 8, 9 and A all have a value of 0
Although an ace has no value it is important to keep a separate count of aces.
If strictly adhered to and kept accurate, this system can prove very effective in giving a slight edge to the player. It is also worth bearing in mind that this edge diminishes with the amount of decks in play due to the lesser variations you will get. So adjusting your count accordingly is advisable.
A good rule of thumb is to add a point for every 2 decks. So if you have 4 decks you will start the count on +2, if you have 6 decks then +3, and so on. Also remember that a high count late into the shoe is a lot more powerful than near the start.
