Card counting is an effective strategy that can certainly give you a winning edge. There are several types of card counting techniques available — some are easy to learn while others are more complex. However, all card counting techniques share one concept: determining whether the shoe deck is high-card or low-card rich.
Understanding the Card Counting Principle
Card counting tracks whether the shoe deck contains more high cards or more low cards. All counting systems assign a point value to each card. As cards are played, the count increases or decreases.
General rules across all systems:
- •Low cards (2–6) are assigned a positive value (+1 or higher)
- •High cards (10, J, Q, K, A) are assigned a negative value (-1 or lower)
- •Middle cards (7, 8, 9) are typically neutral (0)
When low cards are dealt, the Running Count (RC) increases — indicating a high-card-rich deck remains. When high cards are dealt, the RC decreases.
A positive RC = more high cards remain = player advantage.
Running Count vs. True Count
- •Running Count (RC) — The cumulative count as cards are dealt
- •True Count (TC) — The RC divided by the number of decks remaining in the shoe
The True Count normalizes the RC so it's equally meaningful regardless of how many decks are in play.
True Count = Running Count / Decks RemainingBalanced vs. Unbalanced Systems
Unbalanced Systems
- •Do not require converting RC to TC
- •Starting count is not 0 (e.g., Easy Red 7 starts at -2 × number of decks)
- •Easier to learn and use
- •Best for beginners
Balanced Systems
- •Start at 0 and end at 0 when all cards are dealt
- •Require converting RC to TC for accurate betting decisions
- •More complex, but more accurate
- •Include additional metrics: Betting Correlation (BC), Playing Efficiency (PE), Insurance Correlation (IC)
Getting Started
If you are new to card counting, start with an unbalanced system like the Easy Red 7 Count or the KO Count. These use only the Running Count and are much easier to master while still giving you a significant edge.
Once comfortable, graduate to balanced systems like Hi-Lo or the Revere Point Count for greater accuracy.