Counting the Cards in Blackjack

Winning blackjack can be a matter of luck or it can be a matter of skill. Of course, there are never any real guarantees in any gambling endeavor, but that only means that skills at games that allow you to change the odds are doubly important. In Texas Hold'em and most poker variants, it's bluffing. In Blackjack, it is card counting. Card counting can make blackjack into a real game, instead of a card based lottery. It is actually the biggest reason why people consider blackjack one of the best casino games out there, as it is more than just being lucky - you can actually be good at the card game. Without card counting, you may as well play roulette or any other game wherein your chances for victory are thoroughly dictated by the roll of the dice or the spin of the wheel.

Card counting systems often use zero as the balancing point to allow you to keep track of the cards dealt across the table. Not paying attention to the cards dealt to other players can cause you to count incorrectly and thus, make you essentially bet blindly and in any card game, betting blindly is a bad idea. Card counting systems often prefer to stick to the positive count, or a count that tells you to bet more when it is positive. A positive count usually occurs when low value or count cards have been dealt around the table.

This implies many things. In card counting, many low cards means that the dealer will tend to bust more often. Players also tend to get a considerably higher number of blackjacks and if it isn't a blackjack hand, it is at least one with a strong position. The number tends to correspond directly to the amount of money you should put on the table. Keep in mind that in any card counting system, just because you got a high number doesn't mean you should bet high from that point onwards. Things simply do not stay static - after a while, the number could potentially drop and you, being a wise player, should respond accordingly, which is essentially to bet lower.

No matter what card counting system you use in blackjack, you should be sure to practice and make it second nature. Casinos can overwhelm even the most hardened person - the lights and the booze alone can loosen a gambler's grip on their chip. Discipline and practice can make sure you don't fall into the trap and keep your head in the game.