Ĭard counters do not need unusual mental abilities they do not track or memorize specific cards. A dealer holding a stiff hand will bust if the next card is a 10. The rules require the dealer to hit stiff hands (12–16 total), and low cards are less likely to bust these totals. On the other hand, low cards benefit the dealer. This also increases the odds of the player busting, but the player can choose to stand on lower totals based on the count.

They also increase the probability the dealer will bust, in the event that the dealer shows a low up-card (i.e.

They can make the insurance bet profitable by increasing the probability of dealer blackjack.

They provide additional splitting opportunities for the player.

The most common hand values that the player doubles down on are 11, 10, and 9 and drawing a high card to these will make a strong hand. The elevated ratio of tens and aces improves the probability that doubling down will succeed.

Doubling down increases expected value.

They increase the player's probability of hitting a Blackjack, which often pays out at 3 to 2 odds (although some Casinos pay at 6 to 5).

High cards benefit the player in the following ways: They also change playing decisions based on the composition of the deck.Ĭard counting is based on statistical evidence that high cards ( aces, 10s, and 9s) benefit the player, while low cards, (2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, and 7s) benefit the dealer. They generally bet more when they have an advantage and less when the dealer has an advantage. A blackjack game in progressĬard counting is a blackjack strategy used to determine whether the player or the dealer has an advantage on the next hand.Ĭard counters are advantage players who try to overcome the casino house edge by keeping a running count of high and low valued cards dealt.

Blackjack index table