How to Count Cards was created by Edward O. Thorpe in his book “Beat the Dealer” in 1962. In his book he proved that certain cards were favorable to the player and others to the dealer.

Card counting is best used while playing Blackjack but can be used while playing other poker variations. Counting cards is also best used in a long-run manner of play. Long-run is around 400 to 600 hours of play giving us about 50,000 hands played, a number large enough to have some statistical data. Counting cards doesn’t guarantee the win but help improve the odds of winning.

IMPORTANT NOTE: counting cards isn’t illegal as long as you don’t use a computerized device, only your brain. That said casinos in Nevada have kicked out, even banned players for counting cards. Casinos are private property and have the right to ask anyone to leave for any reason. Trying to return to that casino can get a person arrested for trespassing.

How to Count Cards will be covered in three basic steps. Step 1 will cover the basics of the count, value of each card and suggestions on learning to count cards. Step 2 covers a little about complex card counting systems. Step 3 will talk a little about the casinos and bet spread.

Card counting is fairly simple to learn once you understand the basics. To get started we need to assign groups of cards values. First off all of the 2,3,4,5,6 are valued at +1 and all 10,J,Q,K,A are valued at -1. The 7,8,9 have a value of 0 which mean they are the neutral in the count.

Learning how to count get a deck of cards and flip them over one at a time. Keep a running count for the entire deck. Example: lets say your first six cards turned over is 8,K,7,6,2,A that would mean based on the value assigned we would get 0,-1, -1, 0, +1, 0 as a running count (8 = 0, K= -1, 7=0, 6=+1, 2=+1, A= -1). As you work your way through the deck you should end up with a running count of 0. As you count cards your skill should improve the more you practice. Card counting shouldn’t take you more then 30 seconds for the whole deck.

Once you are able to run through the cards one at a time next try two cards at a time. The easiest way to do this is to remember that some cards will cancel others out in the count. An A and 2 is one example of two cards that cancel each other out since the Ace is -1 and the 2 is +1. Again it is important to remember that when you flip over the last two cards in the deck your running count should equal 0.

There are a number of different card counting systems available with over 100 card counting systems available to choose from. Best advice is to learn a simple system at least to start out. Once you get the hang of it you can advice to more complex card counting systems.

There are some disadvantages and misunderstandings about using a complex system opposed to the easier ones. One disadvantage is that card counting doesn’t mean you will have enough of an edge to win big money at the tables and using a more complex system has a higher error rate due to mental fatigue. Complex card counting systems at best only give you a marginal gain of winning over a simpler system, especially in multi-deck games.

The Hi/Lo system is the most popular card counting style used since it is one of the easiest to understand (Hi/Lo system is explained above in step 1). The Hi/Lo system is a good card counting style to learn because it is easy and effective.

As stated earlier card counting is not illegal however casinos are no making it easier on card players, after all they are not in business to donate money. If using a card counting system when visiting a casino it must be nothing more then mental work.

Casinos are not making it easier for card counters to win by altering their rules and procedures. This will vary from simply having more decks used per game to asking a person suspected of card counting to leave. In extreme cases they might even report your activities to a detective agency as being a crook. Casino dealers will sometimes count cards also and shuffle up once the cards move into the players favor, known as “preferential shuffling”.

When playing in casinos it is important to remember not to use any form of computer or mechanical adding device since this will be, without a doubt, considered cheating by the casino and grounds for them to press charges against you. Card counting is not hard to understand but does take work.