Blackjack System also known as card counting is an advanced method of playing Blackjack. The point of all gambling systems is to switch the odds from the house to the player.However in the gambling systems of such casino games as roulette and craps the outcome of one play has no effect on any future play, while the hand of Blackjack depletes the deck of the cards used in that hand, which means Blackjack system can alter the probability of certain events occurring on the next deal. Specifically, if the remaining cards have a higher proportion of 10-count cards and Aces than normal, it is more likely that a player will be dealt a natural, which is to the player's advantage. When the deck has more small cards such as 4s, 5s, and 6s, it is more likely that the player will be dealt a bad hand and bust, favoring the dealer. That’s what the Blackjack system is about.
Because the house advantage in Blackjack is so small to begin with, it is quite common for a deck that happens to be "rich" in remaining 10 count cards and Aces to offer a positive expectation to the player on the next hand. By applying Blackjack system and keeping track of the cards played, a player can take advantage of these situations by betting larger amounts when the deck is in his favor and smaller amounts when it is not. In the long run, the deck will be unfavorable to the player more often than it is favorable, but it is the amount bet under each condition that counts. Using information about the deck's composition to alter strategy is also a part of the Blackjack system.
It is difficult for most people to remember what cards have already been dealt, particularly from a multiple deck shoe. Therefore, most Blackjack system schemes assign a positive, negative, or zero point value to each card in the deck. Normally, low-value cards, such as a 2 or 3, are given a positive value, and 10s are given a negative value. The exact number assigned to the cards depends on the specific Blackjack system method. Practicing Blackjack system means mentally keeping a running tally of the point values as they are dealt. To make the count an accurate representation of the percentage of "good" cards left in the deck, this running tally must normally be divided by a factor based on the counter's estimate of the number of undealt cards that are left. Blackjack system experts have an expectation of 1 to 1.6% gain; professional counters do exist, and number perhaps a few hundred. It is probably safe to say that the best Blackjack system pros earn in the very low six figures of US dollars, comparable with those in other mentally exacting fields.
If the tally is sufficiently high, the Blackjack system user can increase his or her bet, and also may make modifications to basic strategy. All of these calculations must be accurate, at the same time that the dealer and other players may be talking to him, and it must be done in such a way that the casino does not notice that any counting is taking place, to avoid facing casino countermeasures. In practice, the vast majority of people who attempt to use Blackjack system lose money through errors; casinos that notice a counter will often check to see if the counter is good enough to have a positive expectation, and ignore them otherwise. In addition, a Blackjack system practitioner can play the Insurance bet if the count of faces is sufficiently high with potentially an advantage over the house; this bet is in general almost always disadvantageous.
Blackjack system schemes that assign point values of –1, 0, or +1 are called level one counts and are considered the easiest to perform. Slightly greater accuracy, at the cost of increased difficulty and likelihood of making mistakes, involves the use of multi-level counts, which assign point values of –2, +2, or greater to the various cards. This greater range of point values adds to the complication of keeping an accurate tally in one's head.
A final complication in Blackjack system involves the issue of how to treat aces. While playing out hands, Aces are slightly disadvantageous for the player, which implies that they should have a positive point count; but for purposes of getting a Blackjack, they are extremely valuable when they remain in the deck. Most Blackjack system schemes give aces a negative count, recognizing that there is a compromise involved in this process. Some schemes actually assign a zero value to aces, and require the counter to keep a separate side count of aces.
The principle of Blackjack system is to bet more when the player knows the deck is rich in tens & aces. By doing this correctly the player can get an edge over the house between 0.5-1.5%. The reasons for this are, when the deck is rich in tens & aces there is more chance of a Blackjack, which pays 2.5x the stake. The dealer also has a higher chance of going bust as the house cannot stand on anything less than 17, where as the player is able to stand on a low hand.
The method of practicing Blackjack system and keeping track of the cards is to -1 every time a ten or ace is played and +1 every time a 6 or lower card is played. If the overall score after several games is '+' then bet more. However, many online casinos are wiping away this 'loophole' by re-shuffling after each game. Not that they make a great effort to point this out, you may even see the animated casino dealer shuffle the deck on a rare occasion to give the illusion the deck is only re-shuffled periodically.
The only time you may be able to use Blackjack system is in multi-player tournaments, however we have yet to come across casino to offer a multi-player game playing with single decks. Hence while it is possible, it's not realistic. On the other hand, since the deck is reshuffled every game, this makes each game independent of the previous. This opens up many gambling systems such as: Martingale - 'Double or Nothing' and D'Alembert - 'Pyramid.'
Martingale Method means winning by simply re-betting your previous stake. When you lose, double your original stake, hence if you then win your previous loss is cancelled out. This Blackjack system method is fine until you run into an unlucky streak and your losses can add up quickly. The dangers are: 1) Running out of money; 2) Reaching the table's betting limit. Do not forget that while you would expect the player to win as often as the dealer (aside from the slight house advantage), this is only applicable over time (in terms of 1000s of scenarios). The time of a casino session is a blink in the eye as far as statistics are concerned, don't be surprised to see the same side win ten times in a row.
D'Alembert Method Blackjack system flows like a pyramid, you increase your stake by one unit every time you lose and decrease your stake by one unit every time you win. This Blackjack system only comes into effect when you have lost a round. Once you have recovered your loss go back to your original stake. This Blackjack system offers reasonable protection as the ups and downs and is more gradual compared with other systems.
The theory of Blackjack system, and the first counting scheme, was published in 1962 by American mathematician Edward O. Thorp in his book Beat the Dealer, which is now regarded as a classic in the gambling systems literature genre. Much of the specific detail in the work, however, is no longer up-to-date— end play, for example, has practically disappeared because the casinos no longer deal to the last card, in a response to the book. Also, the Blackjack system described (10-count) is harder to use and less profitable than the point-count gambling systems that have been developed afterwards.
The most commonly used Blackjack system by most professionals (both players and surveillance) is Hi-Lo. It assigns -1 to 10's and Aces, +1 to 2 through 6. Higher level counts theoretically generate higher profits, but for most players, decreased playing speed and increased fatigue and error rates argue against their use. K-O, an unbalanced count (7's are also +1) developed by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura (Knock Out Black Jack), is only modestly less effective than Hi-Lo, but is substantially less error-prone.
In the early days of Blackjack system, it is undoubted that a few players were hugely successful. Ken Uston recounts his early successes—and court battles with the casinos—in his book Ken Uston on Black Jack. In reality, Ken Uston, though perhaps the most famous Blackjack system expert through his 60 Minutes television appearance and his books, was overall only a small winner. The most financially successful Blackjack system pros have made their fortunes in other businesses. Ed Thorp, for example, runs a successful fund.
