Counting cards is the single most iconic and profitable advantage gambling method, the animated GIF image depicts a row of 5 cards from the 52 card standard poker deck being flipped over. Under the picture you can find a summary, guide to, tutorial and a video tutorial about card counting.

Counting cards with video tutorial

 

Counting cards is the single most iconic advantage gambling practice. When you think of professional gambling, you probably has the mental image of card counting (even though there are much more advantage gambling methods).

The mathematical method of counting cards was made popular by the MIT Blackjack team and by mathematician, best-selling author and blackjack hall of fame member Dr. Edward O. Thorp.

In this guide you will find everything you need to get started with counting cards – from the basics to tutorials: a written guide and a video tutorial about how to count cards in poker.

 

Let’s get started!

 

/Card counting is only one of the advantage gambling methods. There are many more. Check out the other advantage gambling methods and learn to make money gambling like the professional gamblers./

 

 

Card counting

 

Summary:

 

Counting cards – the basics

 

Counting cards, an overview –  Card counting as we know it today is attributed to mathematician Dr. Edward O. Thorp, who published the New York times best seller “Beat the Dealer” in 1966. In the 1960s, he regularly made $ 50,000 ( value as of 2014: $ 396,000) gambling counting cards each weekend, till he got banned from most casinos.

/Dr. Edward O. Thorp  is also the member of the Blackjack Hall of fame. He is widely regarded as the father of card counting, the most ell known professional gambler, card counter, blackjack player who has ever lived./

 

The popularity of card counting in blackjack received a large boost from the M.I.T Blackjack team and the movie “21” in recent years (, you might also want to watch the documentary film “Hot Shoe”).

 

Card counting is most often used while playing blackjack and baccarat but theoretically, it can be used while playing other card games, including poker.

Counting cards is the most popular advantage gambling method.

 

 

Counting cards – the method in practice

Card counting is based on statistics and probability.

In blackjack and baccarat (where it is most often used) there are sets of cards in the game, which benefit the player more, and there are sets of cards, which benefit the dealer more.

When you’re counting cards, what you are really doing is keeping track of cards already in the game and trying to figure out how the probability of  cards – which benefit the player more – change as the game progresses and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

 

Different methods and strategies for counting cards:

 

  • Canfield Expert
  • Canfield Master
  • Speed count
  • Hi-Lo
  • Hi-Opt I
  • Hi-Opt II
  • KISS 2
  • KISS 3
  • K-O
  • Mentor
  • Omega II
  • Red Seven
  • REKO
  • Revere Adv. Plus-Minus
  • Revere Point Count
  • Revere RAPC
  • Revere 14 Count
  • Silver Fox
  • Unbalanced Zen 2
  • Uston Adv. Plus-Minus
  • Uston APC
  • Uston SS
  • Wong Halves
  • Zen Count

 

It would be impossible to cover all these in one post, but Hi-lo card counting strategy is the most popular of all card counting schemes and it is also arguably the best, overall technique. I recommend using the Hi-Lo card counting strategy (that’s what I’m using too, and I’m convinced it’s the best), and in this guide I will explain the basics of it.

 

Counting cards – let’s use the Hi-Lo card counting strategy in blackjack as an example: 

 

This is an animated GIF for the blackjack card counting tutorial step-by-step guide, illustrating one of the steps, the ranking from high to low step in the Hi-lo technique. You can read about this step under this animated GIF.

Hi-lo step 1., ranking cards from high to low

 

In blackjack, high cards (especially aces and 10s) benefit the player more than the dealer, while low cards, (e.g.: 4s, 5s, and 6s) benefit the dealer more.

A high concentration of aces and 10s in the deck increases the player’s chances of hitting a natural blackjack, which pays out 3:2.

Also, when the shoe has a high concentration of 10s, players have a better chance of winning, when doubling.

Low cards benefit the dealer, since according to blackjack rules, the dealer must hit stiff hands (12-16 total), while the player has the option to hit, or stand. Thus a dealer holding (12-16) will bust every time if the next card drawn is a 10 (making this card essential to track when card counting).

 

/If you did not understand the description of card counting because of the blackjack jargon used you need to play more blackjack and familiarise yourself with it’s rules and jargon more before you can consider experimenting with card counting. Remember: you can only start card counting if you already know how to play blackjack./

 

Card counters assign values to beneficial sets. In the Hi-Lo strategy these values are: 

  • Cards worth 10 have a value of -1.
  • Aces also have a value of -1.

The traditionally used values for non-beneficial sets (beneficial for the dealer):

  • Cards 2-6 have a value of +1.
  • Cards 7-9 have no value.

Start at 0 and as each card comes up, add it to your tally.

Example: 

The cards on the cat are +2 (from left to right: 0+1+1 = +2)

This isa picture of a ct lying on its side with 4 cards on it, 3 face up, one face down. If you practice the method for counting cards discussed above, you can see that the value of the cards on the cat is +2. Above the picture you can read about step 2., of this Hi-lo card counting tutorial, which is about assigning numerical value to blackjack cards and then adding the values of each card in the shoe.

+2, 0+1+1 = +2 – using the Hi-Lo strategy for counting cards in Black Jack

 

Increase your bets when the count is running positive (that is, about +2 and above). The higher the count, the more you should bet.

 

And this is how you count cards. Not as complicated as most people assume, but keep in mind, practice makes perfect. Teal life games are pretty fast, and you have to count cards without getting noticed by the dealer or pit boss.

 

There are many different systems, variations of the basic system out there but this is the most common form.  It sounds easy on paper but it’s especially hard to do in brick and mortar casinos with all the distractions.

 

 

 

Advantages and disadvantages of counting cards

 

Card counting has a few advantages and disadvantages when compared to other advantage gambling methods.

 

Advantages: 

  • reliable
  • card games are available in every casino
  • can be used online (in live dealer casinos) and offline
  • can be done in teams to avoid detection
  • high earning potential

 

Disadvantages:

This is a picture of a card shuffling machine. These machines make card counting impossible, if you see them don2t try the card counting methods discussed to the right of the picture.

Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM)

Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSMs, to the left) allow dealers to return the cards played to a single shoe, which makes it possible for cards that were just played on the table to be re-shuffled to the top of the shoe. This makes all card counting schemes useless.

Even in venues with no CMS machines, there are downsides to counting cards:

  • you can be banned for doing it
  • it’s hard to master
  • software and trained dealers detect card counting easily
  • you have to learn to mimic the natural pattern as close as possible to avoid detection

 

There is one thing that seriously limits the money you can make with card counting: you can get banned from a casino. Even tough card counting is not illegal, casinos have the right to ban you from playing if you are counting cards.

Therefore, I would suggest playing it safe and not to win more than  $ 2 – 3 000 in one sitting. Make sure you lose some money as well and don’t just win, because that can make it quite obvious that you’re counting cards.

Casinos employ sophisticated methods to detect players counting cards. You can still use card counting in this case, but make sure you don’t go overboard. It is important to mimic the natural pattern of gaming as close as possible (winning-losing-winning-losing). This  makes counting cards harder than it seems, because you not only have to be an expert player and a flawless card counter, you also need to be able to view the whole process from the dealer’s perspective.

If you play it safe, and you play in different casinos all the time, you can make as much as $ 50 000 – 100 000 monthly, but anything higher than that is not realistic (don’t forget to pay taxes on your gambling winnings, in the overwhelming majority of countries money won from gambling is taxable income).

If you don’t go overboard you can certainly make a living doing this for a time. You will eventually be banned from most casinos in your vicinity, but it will take years-and-years before that happens. Let me know in the comments section if you are actively making money with this method, share your experience with us, thank you.

 

Online casinos with live dealers

The following online gambling websites have blackjack, live dealer blackjack and poker:

 

 

SlotV Live Casino and Sportsbook

This is picture of the official logo of SlotV online casino. The picture acts as a link, by clicking on it you will be taken to the website of SlotV, where you can create a player account and place bets. Under the picture you can read more about the 2023 promotions and bonuses offered by the company currently, and the terms and conditions, player protection, privacy policy and user consent & self exclusion programs they have. Full disclaimer: by registering an account we (the website owners and/or employees) will receive a small percentage of the amount of money you wager, that money is used to finance the operation of this website. Players must be 18+ and online gambling must be legal in your jurisdiction. All the details can be found below.

SlotV live casino & sportsbook, current 2023 promotions for new and returning players

SlotV gambling website & bookmakers' promotions:

  • 100% welcome bonus Up To €500 + 50 Free Spins
  • Free spins every day for returning players
  • 33% reload bonus for returning players

USA, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Italy and UK players are not accepted (+ 13 other countries). Full list of banned countries can be found below.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer displayed on this page are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements.

Although, we aim to update this section often, it's best to check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date by the time you are reading this).


General bonus terms and conditions at SlotV:

  • welcome bonuses are only available for 30 days after account creation
  • the minimum deposit to receive any bonus is €10
  • the bonus + deposit needs to be wagered within 7 days from date of activation

Playthrough requirement of the welcome bonus: 27x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 27 times before withdrawal.

Playthrough requirement of the free spins: 30x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal.

The following types of online casino games only contribute partially to the fulfilment of the wagering requirement:

  • Jackpots - 0%
  • Blackjack - 10%
  • Poker - 10%
  • Roulette - 10%
  • Baccarat - 10%
  • Lottery - 0%
  • Video poker - 5%
  • Game shows - 0%
  • Virtual Sports - 0%
  • Others - 0%
  • Scratch Cards - 0%
  • Most slots count 100% towards the playthrough requirement. However, there are some exceptions, you can find that constantly updated list of the casinos' website.

Playthrough requirement: no playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money, in case of the welcome bonuses:

  • Minimum deposit amount: €10
  • Maximum bonus amount: €500
  • Wagering requirements: x27 (deposit + bonus)

In case of the free spins:

  • Participating slots: Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx (changes often, check the casinos' website for the current slots, where you can use your free spins, or ask the customer support)
  • Bet per spin: €0,10
  • Wagering requirements: x30 (bonus)
  • Limit on withdrawing from the free spins: x10
  • 7 days for wagering

Wagering limitation:

  • 7 days for wagering
  • Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
  • Please note that the free spins will appear on the account, once the 150% bonus has been wagered. Your players will get 10 free spins per day over the course of 5 days (50 free spins in total), not all at once.

UPDATE 2023: The online casino does not use the global pandemic situation for advertisement purposes, or to encourage the usage of its online gambling platform. In fact, it's forbidden to use the namesake, name, likeness and official logo or any depiction of the casino/company (and this casino gambling blog) in conjunction with any marketing campaign, which uses the novel coronavirus pandemic for promotional purposes.


SlotV online casino does not accept players from:

Free bitcoin giveaway

This is a banner of freebitco.in bitcoin and fun token crypto wagering website. The banner displays information about the current 2023 virtual currency raffle, and no registration promotion currently offered by the Indian digital gambling website. You can read more information about the gambling platform and their hourly cryptocurrency giveaway. By clicking on the picture you will be taken to the virtual currency betting website. By placing bets on the website we get a percentage of your bets placed as affiliate commision. Thank you for supporting the website.

Free bitcoin giveaway, $0.1 to $ 200 every hour, real no deposit promotion, no wagering requirement bitcoin gambling and betting

One of the rare, genuine ways to actually get free bitcoins online. 100% legitimate, in operation for 10+ years, no deposit or registration required (we are using this site for 1+ years, payout guaranteed, not a scam).You have to manually enter the bitcoin raffle every hour and you will be able to win anywhere between 0.00000009 BTC - 0.00878696 BTC + occasional special prizes.


You can realistically make around €200 per month if you roll every hour and participate in all the other promotions they have as well (wheel of fortune, lottery tickets etc..., all free).

/However, you have to manually spin every hour to get this amount, including at night, therefore, realistically, the amount you can expect will be less./

They also have many other ways to win bitcoin, or FUN tokens, including: online casino section, sports betting, betting on cryptocurrency prices, wheel of fortune, lottery etc...

No wagering, playthrough requirement, limitations.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

Because this is a crypto-only gambling website there are no restricted countries. Everyone over the age of 18 can play (or 24, depending on what is the legal online gambling age in your country).Only bitcoin and FUN tokens are accepted. You have to deposit bitcoin to a specific bitcoin address and it will show up on your balance.

No wagering and playthrough limitations, requirements.

The only hidden fee is that if you win items, physical prizes, in those cases the shipping cost is not paid by them and you will required to pay for shipping (or you can opt to receive the equivalent of the prize in bitcoins if you don't want to pay for transportation).

UPDATE 2023: They also offer an annual 4- 5% interest rate on the FunFair (FUN) tokens you purchase with bitcoin (it's their own cryptocurrency).

 

 

Miami Club Digital Casino Destination

This is the banner advertisement of the gambling website Miami Club, it displays the various bonuses and promotional offers currently available at the digital gambling website, including their terms and conditions and legally mandated player protection information. The picture acts as a link and by clicking on it you will be taken to the electronic wagering platforms, where you can check out the most recent 2022 bonuses, codes, promos and you can register and play if your over the age of 18 (you can try out the games for free, no registration is needed for the free to play mode).

Miami Club online casino, 18+

  • Welcome bonus, 100% up to $100 on your first 8x deposit (up to $800 total)
  • Exclusive bonus code: MIFREE20, $20.00 free, every month, not just for new players, for returning players as well
  • Free spins, use coupon HOTWINGS to get 150% up to $150 plus 30 spins on the Funky Chicken 5-reel, limited time only (by the time you are reading it probably expired, only valid for a few days)

USA players accepted, Canada, Netherlands, Israel, France, Australia and UK players are not accepted. You can read the review of Miami Club Casino here.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

Check the gambling website for the most recent bouse promotions and playthrough requirement and wagering limitation information. The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 40x times before withdrawal, depending on the type.
Type of game: Count towards wagering requirement: 
Keno, Dazzling Dice, Poker Slots, Bingo Bucks - 100%
Table games 10%
Blackjack or video poke 10%
Slots 100%
Roulette, Craps or Baccarat 0% - Forbidden!
 
Wagering limitation:
  • UPDATE 2022: The wagering of any portion of a non-deposit bonus on Roulette, Craps or Baccarat games is strictly forbidden!
  • Currently, bonuses are not available to players registering accounts from the following countries: Russia, Ukraine.
  • Bonuses cannot be combined.
  • Miami Club casino requires that a deposit of at least $25 is made on all accounts before any cash withdrawal is processed to comply with anti money laundering laws + mandatory ID check required by law (law to fight financing of terrorism and payment processor require this as well). The deposited $25 can be withdrawn afterwards with the winnings.

Bet Online Casino, Bookmaker & Poker

This is the promo banner of Bet Online, the US-friendly digital bookmaker, internet poker and online casino website. The banner provides information about the latest 2022 promotional offers and bonus codes, which are offered currently by the gambling platform to new and returning players. This picture acts as a link. By clicking on it you will be taken to the website of betonline.ag, where you can register and start playing if you create a player account (must be 18+).

Bet Online casino, poker and sportsbook

  • Welcome bonus, $3000, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits. Use the code BOLCASINO
  • 25% - 50% sports betting reload on every qualifying bet, code: LIFEBONUS  (for the 25% bonus) and BOL1000 (for the 50% bonus)
  • +100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum, ripple, litecoin or DASH. No code required + 5% crypto boost afterwards on future deposits
  • 100% poker bonus
  • 10% weekly rebate, cashback for returning players

You can read the review of BetOnline here. List of countries, from which they do not accept players can be found in the review and below. North American players accepted.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date).
Playthrough requirements of every bonus and promotion:
  • The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal, usually (sports betting and poker bonuses 10x)
  • Forfeiting the bonus will result in the bonus and any subsequent winnings associated with it to be removed from players accounts.
  • Only one bonus can be active at a time, playthrough requirements must be met before additional promotions can be received.
  • Players must use the related bonus code in order to receive a bonus (if it has a code, not every promotion requires one).
  • Bonus funds will only be available on the Betsoft games, the other providers are not eligible,, unless otherwise stated.
  • In cases where rollover or other criteria specified in the individual bonus terms and conditions are not met within 30 days, any remaining bonus funds and associated winnings will be forfeited automatically.
  • Wagering requirements must be fulfilled before any winnings can be withdrawn.

Playthrough requirement contributions: The following table show the contribution of the various types of games towards the fulfillment of the wagering requirement.
Game types: Contribution:
Slots (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100%
Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20%
Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10%
Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5%
Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
This only applies to casino bonuses, sports betting or poker bonuses have different wagering limitations (can be found on the company's website). BetOnline does not accept players from:

Fair Go Aussie Themed Casino

This is a banner of Fair Go internet casino website's current 2022 promotions, bonuses. FairGo is an Australian ("Aussie") themed casino, which accepts players from Australia and New Zealand. The picture also act as a link, by clicking on it you will be taken to the free to play area of the digital gambling website, where you can try out their games for free without spending any money, and you can register a real player account if you are 18 or older. Terms and conditions and requirements can be seen below the banner and on the casino's website.

FairGo - click to check out the digital casino, latest promotions, offers, hundreds of pokies, Aussie players welcome

Promotions:
  • 100% welcome bonus up to $200, on your first 5 deposits (total $500), coupon code: WELCOME
  • 100 free spins with code: DOD-GOW (limited time only, please let me know when the code expires)
  • 150% bonus and 50 spins on the new slot Lil Red ($20 minimum deposit requirement), coupon code: LILRED150, or on the slot Hyperwins, bonus code: GETHYPED
  • Special Neosurf bonus, deposit using Neosurf and get a 200% welcome bonus (only once per player), promo code: 200-NEO

Only one bonus can be active at a time. North American players are accepted at the casino. FairGo Casino does not accept players from: Moldova, Israel, UK. You can read the full review of Fair Go casino here.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

Disclaimer: The casinos is not actually an Australian online casino, the company is not registered in Australia, it's only "Aussie" themed.
All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date). Terms and conditions of every bonus and promotion:
  • Players from the following countries do not qualify for any bonuses: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.
  • Only one bonus can be active at a time.
  • Only real money players, who completed the registration are eligible for a bonus.
  • No deposit bonuses hold a maximum cash out limit which is 5x the bonus amount unless otherwise specified.

Playthrough requirement:
  • The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 60 times before withdrawal, unless otherwise stated.

Wagering requirement contributions: The following table show the contribution of the various types of games towards the fulfillment of the wagering requirement.
Game types: Contribution:
Slots (a.k.a. Pokies) 100%
All types of Blackjack, Video Poker, Craps, American Roulette, Baccarat and other table games and non-pokies games 0%

 

Mr Bit Casino and Sportsbook

This is a banner displaying the various bonus offers of Mr Bit casino. On this page, right under the banner, you can read about these latest 2022 promotions, free spins and their terms and conditions, playthrough requirements, wagering limitations and their player protection, self exclusion and harm mitigation features. This is an advertisement, by clicking on the banner you will be taken to website of Mr. Bit, where you can register an account and place bets with real money. Full disclaimer: by registering an account we (the website owners and/or employees) will receive a small percentage of the amount of money you deposited, self exclusion from the casino website is possible. Must be 18+.

Mr. Bit casino & bookmaker, current 2022 bonus offers, welcome bonus, free spins and offers for returning players, 18+

  • 100% welcome bonus Up To €500 + 50 Free Spins
  • Free spins every day for returning players
  • 33% reload bonus for returning players

You can read the full review of Mr Bit casino here

USA, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Italy and UK players are not accepted (+ 13 other countries). Full list of banned countries can be found below.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date by the time you are reading this).


General bonus terms and conditions at Mr. Bit and its sister sites:

  • welcome bonuses are only available for 30 days after account creation
  • the minimum deposit to receive any bonus is €10
  • the bonus + deposit needs to be wagered within 7 days from date of activation

 


Playthrough requirement of the welcome bonus: 27x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 27 times before withdrawal. Playthrough requirement of the free spins: 30x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal.


Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus:

  • Minimum deposit amount: €10
  • Maximum bonus amount: €500
  • Wagering requirements: x27 (deposit + bonus)

In case of the free spins:

  • Participating slots: Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx
  • Bet per spin: €0,10
  • Wagering requirements: x30 (bonus)
  • Limit on withdrawing from the free spins: x10
  • 7 days for wagering

Wagering limitation:

  • 7 days for wagering
  • Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
  • Please note that the free spins will appear on the account, once the 150% bonus has been wagered. Your players will get 10 free spins per day over the course of 5 days (50 free spins in total).

UPDATE COVID-19: The online casino does not use the global pandemic situation for advertisement purposes, or to encourage the usage of its online gambling platform. In fact, it's forbidden to use the namesake, name, likeness and official logo or any depiction of the casino/company (and this casino gambling blog) in conjunction with any marketing campaign, which uses the novel coronavirus pandemic for promotion.


Mr Bit Casino does not accept players from:

 

 

Counting cards – tutorial, step by step guide

 

Counting cards using the Hi-lo card counting strategy in blackjack

 

The Hi-lo count was first introduced in 1963 by Harvey Dubner, an American engineer and mathematician. Below is a brief explanation of how to use the Hi-Lo system in practice.

 

I., Assign a numeric value to each rank, the traditional values used are:

 

The is a visual learning aid to help you card counting. You can see the numbers you need to assign to certain cards while suing the Hi-lo card counting system. Under the picture you can read about the Hi-lo system.

Numbers you need to assign when counting cards

 

II., Start with a “running count” of zero at the start of the deck/shoe. As cards are revealed, keep adding or subtracting from the running count, according to the point system in step 1.

For example, if the first ten cards to come out of the shoe are 2, 7, Q, 7, K, A, 8, 3, 2, 5, then the running count is: +1+0-1+0-1-1+0+1+1+1=+1.

 

III., Divide the running count by the number of decks remaining, to get the “true count.”

E.g.: running count is +5 and there are about 2 decks left. The true count would be 5/2 = 2.5.

 

Let’s round that up to 3, to keep it simple. This is the true count.

 

IV., The higher the value of the true count, the more you should bet.

Only increasing bets after a win, decreasing after a loss, and staying the same after a push makes play look more natural, but at a cost of more moderate profitability.

Try to mimic the natural pattern of the game as close as possible, so no one can find out that you’re using an advantage gambling method (it gets you banned from casinos, but in live dealer online casinos they don’t see you, therefore it’s almost impossible form getting banned from live dealer online casinos, you might want to try it out, the online casinos on this page all have live dealers).

 

 

Counting cards – a video tutorial

 

If the step-by-step guide above wasn’t enough, or if you are more of a visual learner, the following Youtube video might be perfect for you:

 

 

If you have read the Hi-Lo card counting tutorial and watched the video, you only need to practice to master the Hi-Lo card counting strategy in Blackjack and start winning money.

 

 

Where to practice counting cards?

 

If you are new to counting cards, or you are just starting to get the hang of it, you need to practice in an environment that has less distractions than a brick & mortar casino, and zero chance of getting banned.

 

The best place to practice card counting is a so called “live casino” (online casino with live dealers). A live dealer casino is the perfect place to practice, because you can have a tutorial open while you play, have plenty of time to think, no pressure, and no pit boss watching over you. The online casinos on this page all have live dealers.

 

 

Online casinos with live dealers

The following online gambling websites have blackjack, live dealer blackjack and poker:

 

SlotV Live Casino and Sportsbook

This is picture of the official logo of SlotV online casino. The picture acts as a link, by clicking on it you will be taken to the website of SlotV, where you can create a player account and place bets. Under the picture you can read more about the 2023 promotions and bonuses offered by the company currently, and the terms and conditions, player protection, privacy policy and user consent & self exclusion programs they have. Full disclaimer: by registering an account we (the website owners and/or employees) will receive a small percentage of the amount of money you wager, that money is used to finance the operation of this website. Players must be 18+ and online gambling must be legal in your jurisdiction. All the details can be found below.

SlotV live casino & sportsbook, current 2023 promotions for new and returning players

SlotV gambling website & bookmakers' promotions:

  • 100% welcome bonus Up To €500 + 50 Free Spins
  • Free spins every day for returning players
  • 33% reload bonus for returning players

USA, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Italy and UK players are not accepted (+ 13 other countries). Full list of banned countries can be found below.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer displayed on this page are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements.

Although, we aim to update this section often, it's best to check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date by the time you are reading this).


General bonus terms and conditions at SlotV:

  • welcome bonuses are only available for 30 days after account creation
  • the minimum deposit to receive any bonus is €10
  • the bonus + deposit needs to be wagered within 7 days from date of activation

Playthrough requirement of the welcome bonus: 27x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 27 times before withdrawal.

Playthrough requirement of the free spins: 30x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal.

The following types of online casino games only contribute partially to the fulfilment of the wagering requirement:

  • Jackpots - 0%
  • Blackjack - 10%
  • Poker - 10%
  • Roulette - 10%
  • Baccarat - 10%
  • Lottery - 0%
  • Video poker - 5%
  • Game shows - 0%
  • Virtual Sports - 0%
  • Others - 0%
  • Scratch Cards - 0%
  • Most slots count 100% towards the playthrough requirement. However, there are some exceptions, you can find that constantly updated list of the casinos' website.

Playthrough requirement: no playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money, in case of the welcome bonuses:

  • Minimum deposit amount: €10
  • Maximum bonus amount: €500
  • Wagering requirements: x27 (deposit + bonus)

In case of the free spins:

  • Participating slots: Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx (changes often, check the casinos' website for the current slots, where you can use your free spins, or ask the customer support)
  • Bet per spin: €0,10
  • Wagering requirements: x30 (bonus)
  • Limit on withdrawing from the free spins: x10
  • 7 days for wagering

Wagering limitation:

  • 7 days for wagering
  • Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
  • Please note that the free spins will appear on the account, once the 150% bonus has been wagered. Your players will get 10 free spins per day over the course of 5 days (50 free spins in total), not all at once.

UPDATE 2023: The online casino does not use the global pandemic situation for advertisement purposes, or to encourage the usage of its online gambling platform. In fact, it's forbidden to use the namesake, name, likeness and official logo or any depiction of the casino/company (and this casino gambling blog) in conjunction with any marketing campaign, which uses the novel coronavirus pandemic for promotional purposes.


SlotV online casino does not accept players from:

Free bitcoin giveaway

This is a banner of freebitco.in bitcoin and fun token crypto wagering website. The banner displays information about the current 2023 virtual currency raffle, and no registration promotion currently offered by the Indian digital gambling website. You can read more information about the gambling platform and their hourly cryptocurrency giveaway. By clicking on the picture you will be taken to the virtual currency betting website. By placing bets on the website we get a percentage of your bets placed as affiliate commision. Thank you for supporting the website.

Free bitcoin giveaway, $0.1 to $ 200 every hour, real no deposit promotion, no wagering requirement bitcoin gambling and betting

One of the rare, genuine ways to actually get free bitcoins online. 100% legitimate, in operation for 10+ years, no deposit or registration required (we are using this site for 1+ years, payout guaranteed, not a scam).You have to manually enter the bitcoin raffle every hour and you will be able to win anywhere between 0.00000009 BTC - 0.00878696 BTC + occasional special prizes.


You can realistically make around €200 per month if you roll every hour and participate in all the other promotions they have as well (wheel of fortune, lottery tickets etc..., all free).

/However, you have to manually spin every hour to get this amount, including at night, therefore, realistically, the amount you can expect will be less./

They also have many other ways to win bitcoin, or FUN tokens, including: online casino section, sports betting, betting on cryptocurrency prices, wheel of fortune, lottery etc...

No wagering, playthrough requirement, limitations.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

Because this is a crypto-only gambling website there are no restricted countries. Everyone over the age of 18 can play (or 24, depending on what is the legal online gambling age in your country).Only bitcoin and FUN tokens are accepted. You have to deposit bitcoin to a specific bitcoin address and it will show up on your balance.

No wagering and playthrough limitations, requirements.

The only hidden fee is that if you win items, physical prizes, in those cases the shipping cost is not paid by them and you will required to pay for shipping (or you can opt to receive the equivalent of the prize in bitcoins if you don't want to pay for transportation).

UPDATE 2023: They also offer an annual 4- 5% interest rate on the FunFair (FUN) tokens you purchase with bitcoin (it's their own cryptocurrency).

 

 

Miami Club Digital Casino Destination

This is the banner advertisement of the gambling website Miami Club, it displays the various bonuses and promotional offers currently available at the digital gambling website, including their terms and conditions and legally mandated player protection information. The picture acts as a link and by clicking on it you will be taken to the electronic wagering platforms, where you can check out the most recent 2022 bonuses, codes, promos and you can register and play if your over the age of 18 (you can try out the games for free, no registration is needed for the free to play mode).

Miami Club online casino, 18+

  • Welcome bonus, 100% up to $100 on your first 8x deposit (up to $800 total)
  • Exclusive bonus code: MIFREE20, $20.00 free, every month, not just for new players, for returning players as well
  • Free spins, use coupon HOTWINGS to get 150% up to $150 plus 30 spins on the Funky Chicken 5-reel, limited time only (by the time you are reading it probably expired, only valid for a few days)

USA players accepted, Canada, Netherlands, Israel, France, Australia and UK players are not accepted. You can read the review of Miami Club Casino here.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

Check the gambling website for the most recent bouse promotions and playthrough requirement and wagering limitation information. The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 40x times before withdrawal, depending on the type.
Type of game: Count towards wagering requirement: 
Keno, Dazzling Dice, Poker Slots, Bingo Bucks - 100%
Table games 10%
Blackjack or video poke 10%
Slots 100%
Roulette, Craps or Baccarat 0% - Forbidden!
 
Wagering limitation:
  • UPDATE 2022: The wagering of any portion of a non-deposit bonus on Roulette, Craps or Baccarat games is strictly forbidden!
  • Currently, bonuses are not available to players registering accounts from the following countries: Russia, Ukraine.
  • Bonuses cannot be combined.
  • Miami Club casino requires that a deposit of at least $25 is made on all accounts before any cash withdrawal is processed to comply with anti money laundering laws + mandatory ID check required by law (law to fight financing of terrorism and payment processor require this as well). The deposited $25 can be withdrawn afterwards with the winnings.

Bet Online Casino, Bookmaker & Poker

This is the promo banner of Bet Online, the US-friendly digital bookmaker, internet poker and online casino website. The banner provides information about the latest 2022 promotional offers and bonus codes, which are offered currently by the gambling platform to new and returning players. This picture acts as a link. By clicking on it you will be taken to the website of betonline.ag, where you can register and start playing if you create a player account (must be 18+).

Bet Online casino, poker and sportsbook

  • Welcome bonus, $3000, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits. Use the code BOLCASINO
  • 25% - 50% sports betting reload on every qualifying bet, code: LIFEBONUS  (for the 25% bonus) and BOL1000 (for the 50% bonus)
  • +100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum, ripple, litecoin or DASH. No code required + 5% crypto boost afterwards on future deposits
  • 100% poker bonus
  • 10% weekly rebate, cashback for returning players

You can read the review of BetOnline here. List of countries, from which they do not accept players can be found in the review and below. North American players accepted.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date).
Playthrough requirements of every bonus and promotion:
  • The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal, usually (sports betting and poker bonuses 10x)
  • Forfeiting the bonus will result in the bonus and any subsequent winnings associated with it to be removed from players accounts.
  • Only one bonus can be active at a time, playthrough requirements must be met before additional promotions can be received.
  • Players must use the related bonus code in order to receive a bonus (if it has a code, not every promotion requires one).
  • Bonus funds will only be available on the Betsoft games, the other providers are not eligible,, unless otherwise stated.
  • In cases where rollover or other criteria specified in the individual bonus terms and conditions are not met within 30 days, any remaining bonus funds and associated winnings will be forfeited automatically.
  • Wagering requirements must be fulfilled before any winnings can be withdrawn.

Playthrough requirement contributions: The following table show the contribution of the various types of games towards the fulfillment of the wagering requirement.
Game types: Contribution:
Slots (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100%
Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20%
Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10%
Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5%
Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
This only applies to casino bonuses, sports betting or poker bonuses have different wagering limitations (can be found on the company's website). BetOnline does not accept players from:

Fair Go Aussie Themed Casino

This is a banner of Fair Go internet casino website's current 2022 promotions, bonuses. FairGo is an Australian ("Aussie") themed casino, which accepts players from Australia and New Zealand. The picture also act as a link, by clicking on it you will be taken to the free to play area of the digital gambling website, where you can try out their games for free without spending any money, and you can register a real player account if you are 18 or older. Terms and conditions and requirements can be seen below the banner and on the casino's website.

FairGo - click to check out the digital casino, latest promotions, offers, hundreds of pokies, Aussie players welcome

Promotions:
  • 100% welcome bonus up to $200, on your first 5 deposits (total $500), coupon code: WELCOME
  • 100 free spins with code: DOD-GOW (limited time only, please let me know when the code expires)
  • 150% bonus and 50 spins on the new slot Lil Red ($20 minimum deposit requirement), coupon code: LILRED150, or on the slot Hyperwins, bonus code: GETHYPED
  • Special Neosurf bonus, deposit using Neosurf and get a 200% welcome bonus (only once per player), promo code: 200-NEO

Only one bonus can be active at a time. North American players are accepted at the casino. FairGo Casino does not accept players from: Moldova, Israel, UK. You can read the full review of Fair Go casino here.

Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations

Disclaimer: The casinos is not actually an Australian online casino, the company is not registered in Australia, it's only "Aussie" themed.
All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date). Terms and conditions of every bonus and promotion:
  • Players from the following countries do not qualify for any bonuses: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.
  • Only one bonus can be active at a time.
  • Only real money players, who completed the registration are eligible for a bonus.
  • No deposit bonuses hold a maximum cash out limit which is 5x the bonus amount unless otherwise specified.

Playthrough requirement:
  • The deposit bonus amount must be wagered 60 times before withdrawal, unless otherwise stated.

Wagering requirement contributions: The following table show the contribution of the various types of games towards the fulfillment of the wagering requirement.
Game types: Contribution:
Slots (a.k.a. Pokies) 100%
All types of Blackjack, Video Poker, Craps, American Roulette, Baccarat and other table games and non-pokies games 0%

 

Mr Bit Casino and Sportsbook

This is a banner displaying the various bonus offers of Mr Bit casino. On this page, right under the banner, you can read about these latest 2022 promotions, free spins and their terms and conditions, playthrough requirements, wagering limitations and their player protection, self exclusion and harm mitigation features. This is an advertisement, by clicking on the banner you will be taken to website of Mr. Bit, where you can register an account and place bets with real money. Full disclaimer: by registering an account we (the website owners and/or employees) will receive a small percentage of the amount of money you deposited, self exclusion from the casino website is possible. Must be 18+.

Mr. Bit casino & bookmaker, current 2022 bonus offers, welcome bonus, free spins and offers for returning players, 18+

  • 100% welcome bonus Up To €500 + 50 Free Spins
  • Free spins every day for returning players
  • 33% reload bonus for returning players

You can read the full review of Mr Bit casino here

USA, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Italy and UK players are not accepted (+ 13 other countries). Full list of banned countries can be found below.

Playthrough requirements, wagering limitations, terms and conditions and list of restricted countries

All bonuses, free spins, and other promotional offer are subject to the following wagering limitations and playthrough requirements. Although, we strive to update this  section often, it's best if you check the company's website for the latest and up to date bonus terms and conditions (they change it quite often, with every new bonus, it's possible we have missed something, or it's no longer up to date by the time you are reading this).


General bonus terms and conditions at Mr. Bit and its sister sites:

  • welcome bonuses are only available for 30 days after account creation
  • the minimum deposit to receive any bonus is €10
  • the bonus + deposit needs to be wagered within 7 days from date of activation

 


Playthrough requirement of the welcome bonus: 27x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 27 times before withdrawal. Playthrough requirement of the free spins: 30x, the deposit bonus amount must be wagered 30 times before withdrawal.


Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus:

  • Minimum deposit amount: €10
  • Maximum bonus amount: €500
  • Wagering requirements: x27 (deposit + bonus)

In case of the free spins:

  • Participating slots: Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx
  • Bet per spin: €0,10
  • Wagering requirements: x30 (bonus)
  • Limit on withdrawing from the free spins: x10
  • 7 days for wagering

Wagering limitation:

  • 7 days for wagering
  • Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
  • Please note that the free spins will appear on the account, once the 150% bonus has been wagered. Your players will get 10 free spins per day over the course of 5 days (50 free spins in total).

UPDATE COVID-19: The online casino does not use the global pandemic situation for advertisement purposes, or to encourage the usage of its online gambling platform. In fact, it's forbidden to use the namesake, name, likeness and official logo or any depiction of the casino/company (and this casino gambling blog) in conjunction with any marketing campaign, which uses the novel coronavirus pandemic for promotion.


Mr Bit Casino does not accept players from:

 

 

Important: 

This is a picture of a card shuffling machine. These machines make card counting impossible, if you see them don2t try the card counting methods discussed to the right of the picture.

Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM)

  • CSM (Continuous Shuffling Machines) make card counting impossible (live casinos have CSM sometimes too, you can see this machine to the left).
  • Remember, counting cards is not illegal, but it can get you banned from a casino (or even from a live dealer online casino, but that’s almost unheard of, only if you get really greedy).
  • The higher the count, the more you should bet, but keep in mind that if you range your bets too much, you might draw the suspicion of the casino staff. Subtlety is important.

 

 

Can you count cards in blackjack?

Of course you can! In fact, card counting is most often used in blackjack. This is where it gives you the most advantage. Here is video tutorial about card counting in blackjack (the same thing that’s in the step by step guide, just in video format, for visual learners):

 

 

Can you count cards in poker?

Yes, definitely, and you should too. The technique is called counting outs. Here is a video tutorial of card counting (counting outs) in poker, which tells you about the benefits, advantages and issues, disadvantages of this poker advantage play method:

 

 

 

Can you count cards in baccarat?

The answer is yes, you can. But is is worth it? Compared to blackjack and poker it’s not, it only gives you a tiny advantage, the least out of all the three big casino card games. If you still  would like to learn, here is a video tutorial about counting cards in baccarat:

 

 

Card counting is only one of the advantage gambling methods. There are many more. Check out the other advantage gambling methods and learn to make money gambling like the professional players.

 

Last updated: 2021-01-03

 

Gamble responsibly! Good luck,
SimonTheSorcerer

Last Updated on 2021-01-03 by Simon

Thank you for visiting:
This is a selfie of the author and owner of Simon's Casino Gambling Blog, me, Simon András Péter, a.k.a. by the internet pseudonym SimonTheSorcerer, owner of Simon's Online Marketing Kft. This is the homepage of my online casino gambling blog, you can see what's on the website, the links to all the different sections of the website.

That's me, Simon, thank you for visiting.

Don't worry, this is not an ad! ;) Just wanted to make sure to tell you that I'm glad you visited this gambling blog. I'm Simon, the only author and the man behind this blog (if you are interested, my unusual life story can be found on the homepage, under the "About me" dropdown section).
I'm an independent gambling blogger since 2012. In this sector dominated by huge media companies, casino operators and online marketing networks, who can easily spend $ millions on their online gambling blogs, it's not easy for an independent nobody like me to survive. It took me about 6 years, working my ass off, to even have a chance to be noticed by visitors like you. I'm lucky enough that for a few years now, I make enough money to be able to do this full time (before that, I had part-time jobs, ghost writing gigs, online marketing this and that).
Now I can finally do this full time, thanks to visitors like you! And it means a lot! If you are interested, please bookmark this site (no social media profiles, I no longer have any, but please feel free to share anything on any social media networks, if you still use them). I don't have any money to advertise, and if you have a personal blog, any social media profile, please mention my gambling blog and link back to it. This the only way for a small website like this to grow. Thank you!

Logo of Kiva.org. You can read about my non-profit activity right next to the picture.
Charity: As a way to help others, to give back, I sometimes donate to Kiva. If you click on the ads on the website, I make some money. And in a good month, if I make more than my expenses, I donate to people and projects on Kiva.
Kiva helps young entrepreneurs in developing countries, which is an issue close to my heart for obvious reasons. If you have the means, please sign up with the revolutionary non-profit company Kiva.org and help people lift themselves out of poverty, through hard-work, and an initial investment (non-profit loan). These non-profit loans encourage entrepreneurship and hard work instead of creating a dependent class that is afraid to get a job, or start a business (because if they did, they would no longer get support and free money, disincentivizing hard work and entrepreneurship). This is the right way to fight poverty in developing countries (or anywhere else really), and if this is something you are interested in, and if you would like to know more, or to help out, please check out Kiva.org here. Thank you!
By being on this site, you agree to terms and conditions, and privacy policy. You must be at least 18, and if you are a gambling addict, or a citizen of Hungary, please leave the site.
Summary:
Simon's Guide to Counting Cards Tutorial
Article Name:
Simon's Guide to Counting Cards Tutorial
Description:
Learn how to count cards using this tutorial (Hi Lo method), video tutorial included, guide, videos, step by step, how to and more. How to count cards using the Hi-Lo card counting strategy technique.
Author:
Simon Andras Peter (SimonTheSorcerer)
Publisher:
Simon's Online Marketing Kft.
Publisher Logo: