Let’s start by answering a question. What is the running count in blackjack? When you’re counting cards in blackjack, the running count is the total value of the count, positive or negative, at any given time. This is the overall total used in the numerator when calculating the true count.
In the Hi-Lo system, whenever you see a 2,3,4,5 or 6, you will add 1 to your running count.
Whenever you see a 7,8 or 9, your running count will remain unchanged.
Whenever you see a 10,J,Q,K or A, you will subtract 1 from your running count.
A shorter notation would be:
Let’s imagine you’re at a blackjack table with two other players. The first player has a 5 and a 6, for a total of 11, the second player has a 10 and a 2 for a total of 12, you have an Ace and a 10 for blackjack. The dealer is showing a 7.
Starting from the right hand side of the table we count the first hand a 5 is +1, a 6 is +1, so we’re at +2. The next hand has a 10 and a 2, a -1 and +1, so they cancel out and we’re still at +2. We have a 10 and Ace, both -1. So we’re back to zero. The dealer’s card is a 7, which counts as 0, we’re still at zero. The first player doubles down, we see that the first player received a 10 for 21, we count the 10 as -1, which brings our count to -1. The second player hits their 12 and receives a 3, we add +1 and we’re back to zero, they hit their hand again and receive a 4, we add +1, now our running count is +1. Our blackjack gets put in the discard tray and the dealer begins to play their hand. Our count is +1, then the dealer turns over the hole card and we see a 2, we add another +1 and we have +2, they hit with a 4, we add another +1 and have +3, then they hit with an Ace, -1, now we have +2 again, and finally the dealer hits with another 7 for 21, the count is unchanged at +2.
Using that same round for our count, here’s how that might be done quickly. The counter waits for the 2nd card to hit the first player’s hand and then immediately adds the two +1s together for 2, then skips past the cards that cancel in the 2nd player’s hand and then subtracts the two -1s in their own hand to get to zero. After the first two cards of each hand, plus the dealer’s upcard are counted, the counter begins counting each card as it comes out. In our example we had a 10, followed by a 3, a 4, and then the dealer’s cards were a 2, 4, A and 7. In the counter’s head they count the cards individually, their internal monologue will sound something like this, using the above example “-1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 2, still 2”.
It’s not enough to just count one round at a time, we need to keep that running count going until the cards are shuffled together. Remember, we’re counting all the cards that have been removed from play.
So let’s take our example from above, where we ended at +2, well we’ve got more cards to count. The card counter should have that +2 saved in their internal monologue. “+2, +2, +2”. Then we’ll go through the same process as the round before, counting from the time the first player receives their second card. The first player has a 10 and 5, so we cancel those out and stay at +2, the second player has a 6 and 7, now we have +3. Our hand is a 10 and 8, we’re back to +2. The dealer’s up card is a 4, and now we have +3 again. All the players stand, the dealer turns over a 2, +4, hits with a 6, +5, and just barely busts with a 10, +4.
Now we take that +4 and carry it on to the next round where we repeat the process.
Your running count is simply a representation of the ratio of small cards (2-6) to big cards (10-A) that have been played. If your running count is a positive number, that is how many more small cards have been removed from play than big cards. If your running count is a negative number, then that is how many more big cards have been removed from play than small cards. If your running count is zero, then exactly the same amount of big cards and small cards have been removed from play.
We should be counting all of the cards that are removed from the shoe, that includes our cards, other player’s cards, and the dealer’s cards. Since all of those cards come out of the same shoe.
As stated in the examples above, it’s worth repeating, the easiest way to count is to wait for that second card to hit the first player’s hand, which allows you to cancel any pairs of +1 and -1. Only after that will you start counting each card individually.
There are some actions that can make counting a little trickier. Pay special attention to any double downs that get placed face down, this can also happen on split aces, which only receive one card each. Make sure you don’t forget to count these cards at the end of the round when they get turned over.
Losing the count is a particularly devastating mistake when it happens to a card counter. One of the most common causes for losing the count is excitement during a big hand, particularly splits, re-splits and doubles. The player gets so wrapped up in putting more money at stake, and invests themselves emotionally into the outcome of the hand…that they simply stop counting.
Another extremely common reason for losing the count is simply dropping it during a conversation or some other distraction. This is one of those things that gets better with practice, you should do as much practice as you can with distractions in your environment.
New card counters sometimes just forget to count some of the cards. I’ve seen it many times at bootcamps where face down double-downs get forgotten about, particularly if the dealer hand busts. In this instance, I’ll reiterate, it’s important to pay special attention to any face down cards, make a mental note that it hasn’t been counted yet.
Another common spot for cards to get missed is when a player has a blackjack and the cards get scooped up and paid quickly, the player sometimes hasn’t counted those yet by the time they’re off the table.
We should only be resetting our count to zero if 1. The count has actually reached zero. Or 2. The shoe is being shuffled. This mistake can happen for two very distinct reasons.
The first reason this mistake happens is a simple misunderstanding of how card counting works. It’s important that you remember that this running count is running all the way through the shoe, until the cards are shuffled. We are not resetting every round.
The second reason this mistake happens is the counter making assumptions about when the cards are going to be shuffled. For example, the cut card is visible at the front of the shoe, so the player assumes the cards are about to be shuffled, drops the count and resets to zero…only to see the dealer pull the cut card, declare “Last hand” and deal the cards to his minimum bet.
Counting a card more than once is also a fairly common counting mistake. This usually happens with the dealer’s cards. The player gets so far behind on their count that they’re trying to catch up while the dealer is playing out their hand and forgets what has been counted and what hasn’t.
We’ll cover the true count in another article, but for the sake of clarity, the true count is the running count divided by decks remaining. It’s the number a card counter uses to inform their betting decision.
Sometimes a card counter might get the two numbers conflated, or simply use the true count number as their running count when the next round starts. This results in a player being wildly off on their count for the remainder of the shoe if it isn’t caught.
The best thing you can do to prevent the mistakes outlined above is practice and practice a lot. You can practice using our free Blackjack Trainer, and members can even use our full suite of training software. Adjust the speed of the drill and keep at it, you will get better the more you practice.
You can also practice blackjack card counting by yourself with physical cards, you won’t get immediate feedback on mistakes, but you can check your count at the end of each deck or shoe. One way to practice is to simply deal hands to yourself and work on counting while playing basic strategy.
If you want to get faster at counting, try our Card Counting Training Drill or count through a single deck of cards, remove three cards to keep yourself honest and check your count at the end. Aim for 25 seconds or less.
Once you’ve mastered the running count, the next step is mastering true count conversion. You’ll be dividing your running count by decks remaining, so brush up on those long division skills!