Hi-Lo Card Counting at Blackjack

 

One of the most well known and widely used methods of card counting is the Hi-Lo card counting method. This method is also known as the plus minus system and had been first created by Harvey Dubner. This method may come into play when playing world class blackjack games at www.777.com/play-blackjack.html where different blackjack games and game-features are offered, anyways if you are feeling bored just proceed here.

Edward Thorp, the father of card counting, had created the groundbreaking ten count system which was then simplified by Dubner in order to make it easier for the players to use it in the game. the Hi Lo card counting strategy is basically designed for beginners as well as intermediate players and card counters.

It is the easiest card counting technique to learn and is also recommended to players who are just casual players and not really professionals. Professional players would generally need to make use of a card counting system which is more sophisticated and advanced. Because it is so easy to use, Hi Lo card counting technique is also the most commonly used technique used by blackjack players and even some blackjack teams. This is because the strategy works well with the learning curve of a different level team in blackjack.

The Hi Lo Method Explained

The Hi Lo card counting method is very easy to learn. Any player who has even the most basic knowledge on card counting can easily learn and implement this method of counting cards and can even master the system. The most important thing to learn in this method is the respective values for all the cards in a deck.

Given below is the values assigned to the cards:

• Count +1- 2,3,4,5,6
• Count 0- 7,8,9
• Count -1- 10, J, Q, K, A

There are thus three different groups of the card values:

1. There are 20 small cards (2 to 6) which are counted as +1.
2. The twelve middle cards, 7 to 9 are considered as neutral cards and do not really change the count when they are being played.
3. 10 to Ace are the 20 big cards which are counted as -1 when they are being played.

The system is a balanced system since if the player would count every card in the deck, he/she would end up at 0.

In this particular card counting method, ever card would change the count in one way or other. There would be a constant battle between the low and the high value cards and the player would have to constantly hope for smaller cards since these would increase the odds of winning. When there are less smaller cards in the deck, the player has better chances of getting a blackjack, getting good starting hands and higher chances of the dealer busing.

The count at the table would start at 0 when a player would first sit at the table. From the count of 0 the player would have to go on adding or subtracting 1 for every card that is dealt on the table. If the cards are missed and the count goes off, the player can shift the odds of wining without being aware of it.