How to Count Cards in Casino Blackjack
Card counting is relatively easy to practice at home. There are fewer distractions, often you are the dealer and there are not many (if any) other players with you. But when you go to a live casino, the situation is very different: The dealer shuffles and deals cards rapidly, sights and sounds distract you and there are many more cards to count with other players at the table. Now you will learn two methods of card counting for use in a live casino.
Please note that this article does not teach you the mechanics of card counting. It is assumed you already know how to do that and that you have chosen a system.
Single Deck vs. Multiple Deck Games
Many casinos today - especially in Atlantic City - use multiple decks for blackjack. These are also known as shoe games since the decks are stored in a container called a shoe. "Multiple deck" means more than one deck is used to deal cards. Six decks are common. Casinos began to use multiple decks when card counting became popular among gamblers. Multiple decks are more difficult for card counters to "penetrate" than a single deck.
Face Up and Face Down Cards
Thus for card counting purposes, single deck games are more desirable. You should play them whenever you find them, so long as it is not the 6-5 blackjack variety they offer (i.e. a blackjack pays 6:5). If it is a 6-5, you should not play it.
Cards are dealt differently in blackjack games. Often, players' starting cards are dealt face down in single deck games, and face up in multiple deck games. It depends on the casino. Here is how you count for the two variations.
Face Up Card Counting
Usually, the dealer's up card will be kept face down until all players have been received their starting cards. This is the counting procedure:
1) Let each player be dealt their first single cards. Do not watch or count. 2) When the first player has received their second card, start counting one pair at a time. 3) Count each pair as it is completed for each player. 4) Count the dealer's up card. 5) Count each player's hits, if any. 6) Count the dealer's hole card. 7. Count the dealer's hits, if any.
Face Down Card Counting
When cards are dealt face down to the players, you will not be able to count the other players' starting cards immediately. This is how you do it:
1) Count your hole cards. 2) Count the dealer's up card. 3) Count each player's hits, if any. 4) If a player makes a double down, count their hole cards as they are turned up. 5) If a player makes a split, count their hole cards as they are turned up. 6) If a player busts, they will throw all their cards face up. Count their hole cards. 7) If a player stands, you will not see their hole cards yet. 9) Count the dealer's hole card. 10) Count the dealer's hits, if any. 11) Now all players' hole cards that have not been turned up, and all double down cards, will be revealed. Count them.
Card counting takes practice. Sometimes your counting speed will be tested. For example, if the dealer makes a blackjack and all players throw their cards at once. But with practice, it will become quite natural to you, just like a blackjack.