Blackjack was and will remain one of the most played card games in both online and physical casinos. When playing blackjack, you should be lucky enough to get the best cards and win as much as possible. But you can increase your chances of winning by having a good strategy.
There are a lot of strategies that you can use when playing card games online. One of the most popular of them is card counting.
Actually, card counting is more difficult to use in online blackjack, rather than at physical casinos. Though, it is still possible and can help you take a slight edge over the house.
No matter which games you enjoy, blackjack or poker, you can always take advantage of card counting.
This strategy requires you to keep track of the cards that were already dealt and memorize them. When you play for a while and get into the counting, you can easily decide if the next hand will be in your favor.
Step 1. Assign values to the dealt cards
First, a player needs to watch the cards and allocate these values to each type:
- Low cards (2 through to 6) = +1
- Neutral cards (7 through to 9) = 0
- High cards (A through to 10) = -1 Tallying cards is also called “running count.”
Step 2. Calculate the true count
Now, you need to create a “true count” to keep track of the several decks available in most real-money blackjack games. To make the conversion, divide the running count by the remaining decks. You can estimate the remaining decks by looking at the shoe. For instance, if you have a +9 running count and the deck estimate is 3, the true count is +3.
Step 3. Know your advantage
Next, apply the “true count” to determine if you hold an edge over the house. Here is how true count determines the advantage or disadvantage: -3 = 2.05% house edge -2 = 1.53% house edge -1 = 0.80% house edge 0 = 0.42% house edge +3 = 1.77% player’s advantage +2 = 1.17% player’s advantage +1 = 0.58% player’s advantage Remember that a higher true count lets you risk more with high confidence.
While online live blackjack uses real decks of cards, they are shuffled more frequently than in a traditional casino. This makes it harder for players to count cards effectively. Additionally, many live online casinos employ software to detect card counters and prevent them from playing. However, it is still possible to use card counting strategies in online live blackjack if you are disciplined and adapt your strategies to the online format.
Here are some tips to help you implement card-counting strategies in online live blackjack:
Keep it simple
Stick to a basic card counting system like the Hi-Lo count. This system is easy to learn and implement and will give you a good idea of when the deck is in your favor.
Practice
Practice counting cards at home before playing online live blackjack. There are many online simulators available that can help you improve your skills.
Adjust your betting
When the deck is in your favor, increase your bet. When the deck is against you, decrease your bet. This will help you maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.
Pay attention to the game
Stay focused on the game and avoid distractions. Watch for changes in the dealer's behavior and patterns in the cards dealt with.
Card counting can give players an edge over the house, but it also carries risks. Here are some potential risks and rewards to consider:
Rewards
- Increased chances of winning
- More accurate betting decisions
- Ability to take advantage of favorable situations
Risks
- Detection by live online casinos and possible ban
- Legal consequences in some jurisdictions
- Requires a significant amount of time and effort to master
Overall, card counting will always be easier to implement if you are playing in a land-based casino. Nevertheless, this strategy will work well even online if you practice it enough and find a good casino to do it.
We recommend you start on blackjack tables with fewer decks in play, which will make your job simple.
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