The Easy Red 7 Count is an easy unbalanced card counting system developed by Arnold Snyder. It is easier to learn than the Hi-Lo and other unbalanced card counting systems. The system keeps track of low cards (cards good for the house) and high cards (cards good for the player).
Point Values
The system assigns the following point values:
| Card | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Red 7 | Black 7 | 8 | 9 | T/J/Q/K | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
The key distinction: Red 7s count as +1, while Black 7s are neutral (0). This is what makes the system "unbalanced" — if you counted all 7s equally, it would be balanced.
Initial Running Count (IRC)
Unlike balanced systems that always start at 0, the Easy Red 7 Count's starting IRC depends on the number of decks in play:
| Decks | IRC |
|---|---|
| 1 | -2 |
| 2 | -4 |
| 6 | -12 |
| 8 | -16 |
Formula: IRC = -2 × number of decks
When the shoe is reshuffled, set your count to the IRC for the number of decks being used.
When Do You Have the Advantage?
When the Running Count rises above 0, you hold the advantage over the house. This is your signal to increase your bets.
- •RC < 0 — House has the edge; bet minimum
- •RC = 0 — Close to even; slightly increase bets
- •RC > 0 — Player has the edge; bet more aggressively
Why It Works
The Easy Red 7 Count has approximately 80% potential gain. It's a system that can easily be adopted by new players since it only requires tracking the Running Count — no True Count conversion needed.
Try our free online Easy Red 7 Counter to practice!