I received this email last week, and thought I’d use it as an opportunity to break it down for those wondering “why do you keep a count of the cards“:
- Hi guys I’m lost on one thing about card counting. Now is counting cards and knowing the count just to help you know when to rise and lower your bets, or to be able to determine what card could come up next? Do you change basic strategy, or always follow basic strategy? Like say you have 10-6 the dealer has 5, basic strategy says you shouldn’t hit but if the true count is -3 should you change basic strategy and hit? Or just use the count to alter your bet’s. Thank’s guy’s for taking the time to answer my question. All the best, DUDER.
DUDER, that’s a good question. There are 2 reasons to keep the count.
The first, and by far the most important reason to keep the count is to know when the advantage shifts from the Casino to the player so that you can bet accordingly. It’s that simple. If you don’t know when you have the advantage, you can’t capitalize on it. If you can’t capitalize on your advantage, you can’t win.
The second reason to count cards is to know when to deviate from basic strategy. Deviations aren’t how
you’ll make all your money. But it is sort of like the icing on the cake; Basic Strategy and changing your bets properly will make you money, but implementing Deviations will add more value to what you’re doing. Like my Physics teacher used to say, “You need to learn the rules, so that you can know when to break the rules.” If you know perfect Basic Strategy, then by keeping count, you can know when and how to play differently from Basic Strategy.
So, DUDER, you were right about both things. The only thing you were wrong about, is that you won’t ever know exactly what the next card will be. But you will know what TYPE of cards you have a good chance of being dealt, and with that information, you take the advantage away from the Casino.
Now, I know some of you out there think that you don’t need to count cards to make money at Blackjack. But you’re wrong. Keep playing, and you can kiss your money goodbye. And others are saying, “can you REALLY make a living at blackjack by counting cards?” And the answer is, Yes. Ben and I haven’t had jobs in 7 years, and it’s not because we’re making a killing at this website.
Dear ben & colin I got married when i was 19 to my lovely wife.nine months later our first son was born.i dropped out of 11th grade when i was 16 to help my grandmother with the bills.so i’ve been working since i was 16 doing anything that came available. i’m 25 now my son is 6 and we are expecting a little girl in a couple of days.I work from 4 in the morning to 5 in the evening 7 days a week at a dead end job thats taken me nowhere for 10 an hour. i barely see my family,my wife is often sad cause of the situation and what its putting us through.i’m always tired and sometimes i just wanna give up,but i cant cause of my kids and wife.so somehow i keep chuggin alone not missing a beat.we never have the time or money to do anything,exuse me,but its a bunch of crap.sorry if i’m complaining. i need a drastic change i’m tired of work,thats when i found your site and its great.me and wife love to play cards,cause thats really the only thing we get to do just me and her,but i watched your videos and im practicing counting,but im finding it some what complicated for me,but im really a hands on person,im in need of a coach.so i leave it at that,cause i got to get up at 3. thankyou for listening and thanks for the site.loved your story.
I just found out this about my local casino:
Six-deck games
Dealers stand on all 17s.
Players can double down on any first two cards.
Players can double down after splitting.
Players can resplit aces.
is this a good place to play?
eon,
Yes. This is a good game. Use the Stand 17 chart and make sure to keep the count and deviate when you are supposed to.