This quick and easy to follow instructable will teach you how to count cards like an MIT math wizard in no time at all!

Step 1: Overview

The technique of counting cards has long been used by professional blackjack players to legally win millions of dollars at casino tables across the world.

But it turns out you don’t need to be an MIT math prodigy to become an expert card counter and gain an advantage over the house.

Card counting is a technique that lets blackjack players know when the advantage shifts in their favor. When this occurs, card counters increase their bets.

By assigning a value to each card depending on whether it is high, neutral, or low, players keep a running count of the deck, and can adjust their bets accordingly.

It takes practice and patience, but once mastered gives players an edge.

Step 2: The Math Behind the Magic

It’s been mathematically proven that high-value cards (i.e., tens, picture cards, and aces) benefit the player, while the low-value cards (i.e., twos through sixes) favor the dealer.

The remaining cards – sevens, eights, and nines – are essentially neutral. On average, these cards don’t help the player or dealer very much.

After the dealer shuffles the cards, there is an equal number of high and low cards in the deck(s).

Depending on which cards are dealt in the early rounds, the ratio of high to low cards in the remaining undealt cards most likely will change.

For example, if more low than high cards were played in the early rounds, then the remaining undealt cards must have a greater concentration of high versus low cards. When the latter occurs, card counters will bet more because they have a better chance of getting a blackjack and winning a double down.

In addition, if dealers show a low card, they will break more frequently when hitting their hand. If instead the undealt cards contain a higher concentration of low cards, this benefits dealers.

Under the rules of the game, dealers must hit their 12 through 16 hands, and the excess concentration of low cards will increase their chances of getting a pat 17 through 21 hand while decreasing their chances of busting.

To know when the undealt cards are richer in high cards, favoring the player, or low cards, favoring the dealer, card counters assign a tag to every card.

Step 3: Tagging the Cards

There are several card counting systems but in the popular, and relatively simple Hi-Lo system, the tags of each card are as follows:

Card: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Tag: +1

Card: 7, 8, 9 Tag: 0

Card: 10, J , K, Q, A Tag: -1

Card counters must watch every card that is played and arithmetically add the tags for each card.

Step 4: The Running Count

The count after the shuffle always starts at zero. For example, let’s assume the first player had a three, six, and 10 for 19 and stands. The counter would add one, for the three card, add another one, for the six card, and subtract one, for the 10 card. At this point, his or her running count is “plus-one” (i.e., +1 + (+1) + (‒1) = +1).

The counter continues to add the tags of each card in every hand including the dealer’s hand until the end of the round. If the running count is positive, depending on how many cards have been played, the counter may have the edge on the next round and he or she will bet more.

The higher the positive count, and the more cards that have been played, the greater his or her edge, and the more the player will bet. If instead the count is negative, the counter knows there’s no edge, and he or she should bet small in the next round.

The counter continues this process of counting the tags of each card from one round to the next, adjusting his or her bets depending on whether the running count is positive or negative.

Step 5: Practice Makes Perfect

When it comes to card counting, the saying 'practice makes perfect' certainly rings true. The best way to master the art is on the casino floor, sat at the blackjack table with real-world dealers and players.

For some, however, that may seem a little daunting until they feel they have properly learned the theory, memorised the tagging system, and honed their skills.

With that in mind, the experts at 888casino.com have developed a handy online card counting training tool to help players learn and master the art of counting cards from the comfort of their own home.

Alternatively invite a group of friends over and test out your new card counting skills on them!