If you are relatively new to live blackjack, you may have heard about card counting. If you are an experienced blackjack player you already know about this technique. But on this guide we cover both the basics of card counting and some more advanced stuff like types of blackjack card counting.
Online casinos in regulated states have both live dealer and software-based blackjack options. They also have a range of games with different rules and side bets. Add in the game variations based on the 21 concept — and you will find a wide array of choices. Advantage play through card counting is not possible at online casinos.
This guide can here to help you understand exactly what card counting is, and whether you should count cards when you play live blackjack.
What is Card Counting?
Lets start by answering some basic and frequently asked questions on this subject.
What is Card Counting?
Card counting is a card game strategy used primarily in by blackjack players to determine whether the next hand is likely to give an advantage to the player or to the dealer.
There is nothing illegal in Card counting under as long as there is no use of external card counting device or person assists the player in counting cards. However, land based casinos don't like players counting cards and might remove you from their premises if they suspect you are.
- Here are some of the reasons why you can't count cards when you play live blackjack: Live casinos are using software monitoring and can detect counting patterns from players. Live blackjack tables are usually using 6 or 8 deck cards and have 50% shoe penetration. This makes it very hard to keep counting.
- Counting cards is simple, but can take time to master. We've won millions from casinos through the craft of card counting. We can walk you through how to count cards in blackjack in just a few easy steps Most people think card counting has to do with memorization.
It all comes down to practice and how good you are in counting. You can read more on our guide to find exactly how you can count cards.
The truth is that you can't really count cards when you play online. There are many reasons for that but the main ones are: Number of decks, shoe penetration, auto shuffling.
Blackjack Card Counting explained in simple terms
During a game of blackjack using a single deck of cards the house edge is virtually zero. This ensures that if you follow a strict strategy and are careful you can win and break even in the long term.
With card counting in blackjack, what you are actually doing is keeping track of the cards that have appeared. Then you wait for the right moment and place a large bet to win big. When you repeat this every few rounds you end up with profit.
Sounds amazing right?
The MIT team have made a fortune with that strategy. But this was years ago when card counting was something relatively new for everyone, players and casinos.
Too good to be true…
The truth is that in our days, blackjack counting and shuffle card is much more difficult and live blackjack counting is not possible.
Why live blackjack card counting is not possible
Here are some of the reasons why you can't count cards when you play live blackjack:
- Live casinos are using software monitoring and can detect counting patterns from players.
- live blackjack tables are usually using 6 or 8 deck cards and have 50% shoe penetration. This makes it very hard to keep counting.
- You need players to be playing with strategy in order to succeed with card counting (This is why the MIT team was playing in groups on the tables)
The alternative way to blackjack counting
Ok, you might be able to count cards succesfully when you play balckajck with live dealers online, but you can still do somthing to increase your chances of winning.
Poker hands preflop odds. What?
Play with blackjack strategy
If you use some basic blackjack charts and play with blackjack basic strategy, you can reduce the casino house edge and get an RTP of 99.5%.
Counting Cards Techniques
If you are still up for trying card counting at your local casino or online the main card counting technique is known as Hi-Lo. This is the classic card counting system. It was originally invented by Harvey Dubner in 1963. This is how you can implement it:
- Assign a tag of (+1) to every 2- 6 ranked cards and a tag of (–1) to every 10-A.
- Start your count after the shuffle and add the tags to each card that is pulled from the deck.
- When the running count is positive after any round, the undealt cards are richer in large cards; you should increase your bet size.
- When the running count is negative after any round, the undealt cards are richer in small cards; you should decrease your bet size.
- When the total count is low then players are advised to bet low, when there is a high count of cards then a higher bet is placed.
The MIT Blackjack Team
Since we metioned the MIT team in the article let's have a look at the story behind his tem and what they have achived with card counting for a good 2 decades!
Teams come and go. Some leave a lasting legacy while others are forgotten pretty fast but the legacy of MIT Blackjack Team endures.
This team was comprised of a group of students and former students of, among others, Harvard School of Business, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The team is known to have used card counting techniques and more complex methods to beat land based casinos at blackjack worldwide.
This team enjoyed tremendous success from 1979 through the initial years of the 21st century.
The story of the MIT team
It is well documented that 6 MIT students trained themselves card counting in 1979.
Strong-minded to put their newly discovered expertise to work, the group of 6 traveled to Atlantic City during the spring of 1979 to win their riches.
After working together as one team in spring, the group members went their separate ways when most of them graduated from college in May. After this, some of the original group members never gambled again.
Two members, Jonathan and Massar, nonetheless, maintained an enthusiastic interest in card counting and chose to make Cambridge, MA, home to MIT, their permanent residence.
How did the group form
In November 1979, a proficient blackjack player contacted Massar. His intention was to convince Massar to form a new group to travel to Atlantic City. The mission of the new team was to take advantage of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission's ruling.
The commission had held that it was illegal for Casinos in New Jersey to ban card counters in general. According to the commission, casinos could only ban individual players.
If you use some basic blackjack charts and play with blackjack basic strategy, you can reduce the casino house edge and get an RTP of 99.5%.
Counting Cards Techniques
If you are still up for trying card counting at your local casino or online the main card counting technique is known as Hi-Lo. This is the classic card counting system. It was originally invented by Harvey Dubner in 1963. This is how you can implement it:
- Assign a tag of (+1) to every 2- 6 ranked cards and a tag of (–1) to every 10-A.
- Start your count after the shuffle and add the tags to each card that is pulled from the deck.
- When the running count is positive after any round, the undealt cards are richer in large cards; you should increase your bet size.
- When the running count is negative after any round, the undealt cards are richer in small cards; you should decrease your bet size.
- When the total count is low then players are advised to bet low, when there is a high count of cards then a higher bet is placed.
The MIT Blackjack Team
Since we metioned the MIT team in the article let's have a look at the story behind his tem and what they have achived with card counting for a good 2 decades!
Teams come and go. Some leave a lasting legacy while others are forgotten pretty fast but the legacy of MIT Blackjack Team endures.
This team was comprised of a group of students and former students of, among others, Harvard School of Business, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The team is known to have used card counting techniques and more complex methods to beat land based casinos at blackjack worldwide.
This team enjoyed tremendous success from 1979 through the initial years of the 21st century.
The story of the MIT team
It is well documented that 6 MIT students trained themselves card counting in 1979.
Strong-minded to put their newly discovered expertise to work, the group of 6 traveled to Atlantic City during the spring of 1979 to win their riches.
After working together as one team in spring, the group members went their separate ways when most of them graduated from college in May. After this, some of the original group members never gambled again.
Two members, Jonathan and Massar, nonetheless, maintained an enthusiastic interest in card counting and chose to make Cambridge, MA, home to MIT, their permanent residence.
How did the group form
In November 1979, a proficient blackjack player contacted Massar. His intention was to convince Massar to form a new group to travel to Atlantic City. The mission of the new team was to take advantage of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission's ruling.
The commission had held that it was illegal for Casinos in New Jersey to ban card counters in general. According to the commission, casinos could only ban individual players.
The new group (consisting of four players and an investor who invested $5000) traveled to Atlantic City in December 1979.
Can You Count Cards In Online Live Blackjack Card Game
The group played continuously through May 1980 and multiplied the $5000 capital four folds.
The MIT Blackjack Team played on and off after 1980, but interest faded as casino regulations, weakened management focus, and player fatigue, caused the group to lose key players and eventually stop playing.
Can You Count Cards In Online Blackjack
A network of Blackjack card counters
In its entire course, The MIT Blackjack Team ran more than 20 partnerships for a decade, 1979 to 1989. At least 70 players played on the team on certain capacity (either as key players, card counters, or as support staff) over the team's course.
Blackjack Card Counter Online
Surprisingly, every partnership was profitable during the entire course. With all expenses paid, the partnerships enjoyed returns ranging from 4 to over 300 percent per year.
