Card counting is a somewhat controversial subject in the casino industry and some casinos can refuse to allow players to play at their casino if they suspect that they are counting cards. You might have seen dramatic movie scenes like in Rainman where the storyline is based around achieving big casino wins through skilled card counting.
While replicating the achievements in Rainman and similar card counting themed movies is not very realistic, some players can gain an advantage by using card counting in blackjack.
What is Card Counting?
Card counting involves the tracking of the cards that have been dealt so that the player can make probability calculations of the next cards that are going to be dealt. For example, if lots of low cards have already been dealt, there is a higher probability that a higher card is going to come out. If you are playing at a land based casino where cards are not shuffled after every round, the more cards that have come out, the more advantageous card counting can be.
This technique does not help to predict the value of the next card but it can help them to make better decisions based on the mathematical probabilities based on what has already come out of the deck. They can use these calculated probabilities to decide when is a better time to hit, stand or double down.
There is no guarantee that a series of low cards will mean that a high card will come out next but over long-term playing, it can provide players with a slight statistical edge.
Is Card Counting a “Winning System”?
While card counting can provide a slight advantage, there are no guarantees that doing it will enable players to win more hands. Players are likely to win and lose some sessions, even when they are skilled at card counting. The casino still has a house edge when you are playing blackjack against the dealer, so the outcome is more favorable to them.
Does Card Counting Work for Online Casinos?
Not really, it is rare that you can use card counting techniques when playing at online casinos because there is often an auto-shuffle of the cards after each round. As the deck composition is getting reset all the time, card counting is not possible. In RNG games, there is no possibility of card counting because no card count can build up.
If you are playing online blackjack in live dealer casinos, you might find some where the cards are not continuously being reshuffled but this is rare.
How to be More Successful at Online Blackjack
Card counting is not a genuine “winning strategy” because in most modern casinos, it is not possible to do it and even where it is, the results might still not go your way due to the high variance in card outcomes.
To be successful at games like blackjack, there are some choices you can make to provide you with a better chance of being more successful over the long-term. For example, you can choose blackjack games that payout 3:2 rather than 6:5 to give you better returns when you do win.
Casinos such as powerplay casino and sportsbook offer different variations of blackjack, with different rules. Some blackjack games allow doubling after splitting and fewer decks, which can give you a slight advantage.
Another way to help achieve long-term blackjack success is to avoid emotional betting. If you are chasing losses or playing when tired, you will be making rash decisions. Learning when to walk away during a losing streak or to take a break when you are getting tired can help you to make more rational decisions.
Good bankroll management is also an important element of any type of gambling performance. You should set yourself a budget and stick to it, only gambling amounts that you are comfortable with. Using online tools can help you to stick to your deposit and loss limits, and you can also set time limits so you are not drawn into playing for longer than you intend to.
Conclusion
While card counting can provide a small level of assistance in making decisions in blackjack based on probabilities, it is far from being a winning formula. The house always has the edge and losing streaks will happen on a regular basis.
If you want to be successful in blackjack, practising on a regular basis can gain you a deeper understanding of which actions you should take in certain scenarios. Other tactics such as good bankroll management and maintaining self-control when gambling can also be important for your long-term results from blackjack.
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