The Math Behind True Count Blackjack

The introduction of true count Blackjack was a case of players getting smarter as casinos tried to increase their house edge stylishly. Up until 1961, most Blackjack tables featured a single-card deck. Using the card-counting strategy, which first became known in 1957, some players were able to defeat the house, winning tangible sums. Casinos then began to search for ways to raise their advantage. They came up with the idea of using multiple card decks at the Blackjack table and holding them in shoes.

For the unfamiliar, card counting is an advanced technique Blackjack enthusiasts use to gain an edge in the game. It requires considering certain elements like high/low cards and running counts. However, adding more card decks needed going beyond the running count. Mathematically-inclined Blackjack players sat down to figure things out and introduced another factor called the true count.

So what is true count in Blackjack card counting? Our casino news today discusses what true count Blackjack is all about, how it works, and how to use it.

True Count Blackjack: The Key to Effective Card Counting

True count Blackjack is the mathematical outcome of effective card counting. It serves as an indicator of a player’s advantage over the house in a gaming session. To better understand what we mean, let’s define card counting at Slots Paradise Casino .

In simple terms, card counting is an advanced blackjack technique where you assign a positive (+) or negative (-) value to cards being dealt to determine the value of the remaining cards in the deck. The essence of card counting is to predict what set of cards you will be dealt next and how high or low your next bet amount should be. If you want to see how it is done, check out movies about card counting.

Four Steps of Card Counting

To win at Blackjack, you must have a combination of cards that add up to 21 or closer to it than the dealer’s cards to win.

Assigning a positive or negative value to cards

Since you don’t know what cards you will be dealt with next, card counting helps you by assigning positive and negative values to high and low cards dealt. Card values 2 to 6 are considered low cards and receive the positive value (+1) when dealt. While 7 to 9 gets 0 as their value, while 10, K, Q, J, and Ace get -1 values. This will all make sense as you read further one. And remember, your next big win starts with our trusted casino game reviews.

Running count

Every time a card is dealt and you assign a value (+1 or -1), these values are added and subtracted to give you a running count. Say, for instance, a player is dealt 2, 10. The 2 gets +1, and the 10 gets -1. Put together, it becomes +1 -1 = 0. The zero is the running count. If the cards dealt are 2, 6, Q, 8, J, A, 9, 4, 6, 3, the running count will be +1 +1 -1 +0 -1 -1 +0 +1 +1 +1 = +2.

Running count vs true count

With single-deck Blackjack strategies, card counters could predict the cards left in the deck. However, the use of multiple-deck shoes makes it harder for card counters to predict the cards in a deck with running counts. This is where true count comes in. The true count Blackjack is mathematically determined by dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining. If we have a running count of +4 and 2 decks remaining, the count is +4 ÷ 2 = +2.

Change your bet amount as the game progresses

The essence of assigning a positive or negative value to cards and calculating the running and true count is that it changes how we play. As one of the tips for online Blackjack, place big bets when you notice that the remaining cards in the deck contain high cards. You reduce your bets when you notice that the cards in the deck contain low cards.

Running count vs. true count

Basic strategy and the running count in Blackjack are essential to beating the house at Blackjack. However, the true count tells you how to bet and when to deviate from the basic Blackjack strategy.

Running count involves noting the cards dealt and assigning a value to each, either +1 or -1.

To get the true count, divide the running count by the remaining decks. And to do this effectively, you need to master two skills.

Discover the strategies behind every winning hand in our casino guides.

Calculating True Count

There are two skills you need to master to be good at true count. The first is deck estimation, while the second is quick division.

Deck Estimation

This skill allows you to look at the deck of cards at any point in the game and determine how many are in it.

Quick Division

As it sounds, this is performing a division. It means you must be able to divide your running count quickly by the remaining decks in a shoe.

Mastering Deck Estimation and Quick Division

For card estimation, start by putting different cards into a shoe and studying it. You can put one deck of 52 cards into the shoe and stare at it from so many angles on the table. Do the same with 2, 3, 4 5 decks.

For quick division, there’s no two-way about it. You have to whip out that third-grade maths and divide. You can practice with maths textbooks on division and even print out a few division workbooks online. The idea is that you get good and accurate at it.

Arguably, the highest running count you could get is 40, while most Blackjack card decks don’t have more than 8 card decks. You can easily narrow your maths division calculations along these numbers.

The Best True Count in Blackjack

Generally, whenever a true count increases by 1, the player’s advantage increases by 0.5%. However, when there are more card likes, for example, 6 deck, which already has a house edge of 0.5, the true count must be up to +2 for the player to have any advantage over the house.

The higher your true count, the more you have an advantage. Check the Blackjack true count chart below.

Keeping It Brief

Card counting is one of the best strategies for a casino table game. It is based on assigning values, keeping a running count, and calculating the true count. The running count must be correct for an accurate, Blackjack true count. This count dictates your decision-making at the table. The more edge you have, the higher your chance of winning.

Bring it on! Subscribe to our social media channels for the best info there is!

Delve into similar Blackjack content here: