Hi-Lo Card Counting
The most popular and beginner-friendly card counting system. Learn when the deck favors you.
🧠What is Card Counting?
Card counting is a strategy used to determine whether the next hand is likely to give an advantage to the player or the dealer. When the deck is rich in high cards (10s and Aces), the player has a statistical edge — more Blackjacks, better doubles, and the dealer busts more often.
Card counting does not require memorizing every card. Instead, you track a simple running count by assigning values to each card you see.
📐The Hi-Lo System
Assign each card a value as it's dealt. Keep a running total — this is your Running Count.
Example: Cards dealt: 5, K, 3, 8, A, 6, 2
Count: +1, −1, +1, 0, −1, +1, +1 = +2
➗True Count
In a multi-deck game, the Running Count alone isn't enough. You need to convert it to a True Count by dividing by the number of decks remaining.
| Running | Decks Left | True Count | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| +6 | 3 | +2 | Slightly increase bet |
| +12 | 4 | +3 | Increase bet significantly |
| -4 | 2 | -2 | Bet minimum |
| +8 | 2 | +4 | Large bet — edge is yours |
💰Bet Sizing Strategy
The key to card counting is varying your bet based on the True Count. When the count is in your favor, you increase your bet. When it's negative, you bet the minimum.
🃏Why Use 6-Deck Shoe Mode?
Card counting only works with a finite shoe — the 6-Deck Shoe mode in this trainer. In ∞ Random mode, cards are drawn randomly with replacement, so counting has no predictive value.
💡Practice Tips
- •Start by practicing the count with a single deck of real cards at home
- •Count through an entire deck — if you end at 0, your count was perfect
- •Practice counting pairs of cards at a time to increase speed
- •Use the 6D Shoe mode in this trainer to practice in realistic conditions
- •Always master Basic Strategy first — counting without perfect play loses money