Hi Low card Counting Values
Hi Low is the simplest card counting system that will guarantee an advantage. These are the numerical values asigned to each card in Hi-Low:
Hi-Low 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10,J,Q,K A
+1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 0 0 -1 -1
Card Counting Practice
Now that you know what the count values are, you must learn to keep track without thinking. This is how you will practice. First, find a deck of cards. Take three cards off of the top of the deck and place them face down without looking. Now, pick up two cards from the deck and look at them. Starting at negative four add or subtract the total value of those two cards and set them down in a separate pile. For example, if the first two cards you look at are a six (worth 2) and a jack (worth -2) then you would add zero to your starting count of negative four. Continue looking through the deck, two cards at a time, until you have gone through the entire deck. Take your time and make sure you count every card. Once you are through the deck and have a final count, look at the last three cards. Including the last three cards, did you end at a count of zero? If so then you just counted down the deck perfectly.
Continue to do this, increasing in speed. Once you can get through every deck in 25 seconds without a mistake, add another deck. If you can get through two decks in under a minute you should be in fighting shape (with two decks start the count at negative eight). It is absolutely necessary that you be able to count this well and this quickly. Speed and accuracy are the foundation of counting and any mistakes here will cost you money.
Some may find it helpful to run simulations once they feel confident in their ability to add and subtract the different card values quickly. There are several free simulation programs online, none of which require giving out your email or personal information. Not only will software allow you to get through more hands than physical simulations, but it can also inform you when you make a mistake in basic strategy. If you do not want to use software then you can always deal out cards to yourself, but you must make sure that you deal out the cards in the same order as a casino dealer.
Card Counting At The Casino
The dealer (or you if you are running a simulation) will always deal cards out one at a time from their left to their right, ending at dealer. The incorrect way to count is to look at the cards one by one as they are dealt. Instead, wait to look at the other players cards until both cards for each hand are done being dealt. From your right to your left (starting at the first player to act and ending at the last) count all the cards on the table one hand at a time. Once you have counted each hand, look at the dealer's up card. From here start the circle over again. This time, count each of the hit cards one by one as they come out. Finally, once the dealer reveals their hole card (face down card) add that value and the values of any cards the dealer receives for hits.
When the hand is finished you should have an accurate count that includes the values for every card that was dealt during the hand. You will of course use this count as the starting point for the next hand. A counter must also use the count at the end of each round to determine how much to bet on the next round, but that is a topic for much later. See chapter
Let's go through a quick example to make sure the process is clear. Say there is one other person at the table with you and you are playing with two decks. The dealer deals one card to you, one to the other player, and one to themselves. They then start to deal out the second card for each hand. As soon the second card comes out for your hand (the first hand in play) you look down and see a red two and an eight. Because it is two decks you will start the count at negative eight (the reason for this will be addressed on the next page) Red twos are worth plus two (2) and eights are worth zero (0), giving the hand a total value of two (2 + 0 = 2). This means the count is now at negative six (-8 + 2 = -6). You then look to the other players hand. They have a six and a five. What is the count now? You should come up with a count of negative two (-6 + 4 = -2). Continue this process in the order explained above, until all of the cards have been counted.
Tip: In your head, instead of saying "negative three" just say "n three". This may not seem like a big deal, but it will allow you to count faster and with more accuracy.
Balanced vs Unbalanced
If you have counted before, or have a very keen eye, you will notice that there is a small difference between Red Zen and counts like Hi-Low. If you count all the way through a deck in Hi-Low, you will end on a count of zero. This is called a Balanced count. Balanced counts were the first counts developed. They have a few advantages and many disadvantages.
Balanced counts
An advantage of a balanced count is that it is sometimes more accurate. This is because with balanced counts you can find what is called the "true count". Don't let the term confuse you, a true count is just what we call dividing the count by the number of remaining decks. One can only do this in a balanced count because the number of decks does not affect the count.
The disadvantages of balanced counts lie in the fact that counters must always use the true count. This creates an entire calculation the counter must preform every time there is a betting or playing decision. The difficulty only increases as the number of decks increase. At two decks this will be difficult (quick what is a count of 7 divided by the 1.3 decks left?), at six decks the task is nearly impossible. The small advantage one gains from a true count is worthless if they can not keep a perfect count. Luckily, with advances in computer counting simulations we are now able to test the exciting, counter intuitive, unbalanced counts.
Unbalanced counts
If you add up the numbers in a count and you get something other than zero, that count is said to be unbalanced. These systems have been gaining huge popularity in part because of their ease and in part because computer simulations have shown that they are amazingly accurate.
To account for the fact that the count is unbalanced, all a counter must do is start the count at the difference. In Red Zen, each deck has an extra count of 4. This is why during practice you must remember to add negative four to the starting count for each deck you are using. If you are practicing with two decks, or are playing at a table that uses a two deck shoe, you would have to start the count at -8. At a six deck you would start at -24 (6 x -4). This simple pregame step means that unbalanced counters do not have to worry about a true count. As a player who has tried balanced systems with great success, I have nevertheless switched permanently to using unbalanced counts. If you are interested I encourage you to learn more about the advantage of unbalanced counts and card counting in general.
In a balanced count you would want to bet whenever the count was positive. In an unbalanced count where each deck is off by four, one will actually have a small advantage at about negative three regardless of how many decks are being used. This is when you will want to start increasing your bet. The difference is, instead of having to do a calculation every single hand to find the true count, unbalanced counters only have to do some simple multiplication before the game begins.
To learn more about card counting and the mathematical formulas involved, check out Modern Card Counting here: Counting Cards eBooks
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