time, any place.
In reality, I’ve found more mediocre counters
than good ones, and egos larger than the casino
operators’. I figure the subliminal self of
counters is based on abnormally high testosterone
levels.
Them Guys: Working
the pits for years, taking numerous seminars on
counting, plus being a proficient counter myself—me
make it a career move? NOT—I can smell a counter
a mile away. Even your average pitboss will take
simple measures to combat these casino pests. Pit
bosses will hassle counters by putting more decks
on the game, burying more cards on the shuffle,
stopping mid-entry shoe betting, having the dealer
shuffle half way through the deck, and when all
else fails, back you off the game.
The Money Makers:
So is anyone truly making money on card counting?
Sure. A very small, select group of counters who
have created a cottage industry of seminars, tapes,
books and newsletters on counting. For most experts,
writing about playing is more lucrative than playing
itself.
Hitting the Casino:
Card counters, theoretically, have an inherent advantage
of between .5 and 1.5 percent against the casino.
Counting theory is quite simple. Big cards (10s,
aces) favor the player, small cards (2-6) favor
the dealer.
All card counting systems keep track of the relationship
of small cards to big cards remaining in the deck.
When the cards remaining favor the player, you bet
more money. When they favor the dealer, you bet
less.
The simplest count
to learn is a one level count, a.k.a the Hi-Lo counting
system. It assigns the following count values to
each card.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (small
cards).......................+1
7, 8, 9 (neutral cards)............................
0
10, J, Q, K, Ace (big cards)....................-1
To use the Hi-Lo method,
you need to add and subtract the above counting
values for every card exposed on the blackjack table.
By mentally keeping an updated running count from
one hand to the next, you vary your bets according
to the positive/negative value of the upcoming hand.
But it all comes back
to our jumpy pit boss who wants to run you out the
door. He’s just not going to be happy with
blackjack players who know how to beat the house.
He would much prefer players who think they know
how to win but are experts at losing—players
on the bottom rung of the casino food chain.
Geez, Eric, I’m
just warming up, but because of limited space I’m
forced to come full circle. If you’re still
going to make card counting a career move, may I
make a final suggestion? Don’t quit your day
job.
Email to a friend 
Card
Counting
Blackjack
School-Lesson 3 Counting Cards - Basics
Blackjack School-Lesson
4 Counting Cards - How To Do It
Blackjack School-Lesson
5 Counting Cards - The Tricks
Blackjack School-Lesson
6 Counting Cards - Single Deck Play
Blackjack
School-Lesson 18 Single Deck Counting Strategy
Game
Masters BlackJack
School
Money Management
More
Columns By Mark Pilarski
Have a question?
Ask Mark pilarski@markpilarski.com
Good
Casinos Home
