How to Count Cards in Blackjack
Step 1: Assign a value to every card
The Hi-Lo system gives each card one of three values. Low cards are good for you when they leave the shoe, so they count +1. High cards are bad for you when they leave, so they count −1. The middle cards are neutral.
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = +1
- 7, 8, 9 = 0
- 10, J, Q, K, A = −1
Memorize these until they are automatic — you should see a card and know its value without thinking.
Step 2: Keep a running count
Start at 0 the moment the dealer shuffles. As every card hits the table — yours, other players’, and the dealer’s — add its value to your total. That total is your running count.
Example: the cards dealt are 5, K, 3, 7, 6, A. You count +1, −1, +1, 0, +1, −1, which nets to +1. Practice by turning over a deck one card at a time and adding as you go; a correctly counted full deck always ends on 0.
Step 3: Convert to a true count
The running count alone is not enough, because +5 means much more with one deck left than with five decks left. Convert it to a true count:
True count = running count ÷ decks remaining
Estimate decks remaining by looking at the discard tray. If your running count is +6 and about two decks are left, your true count is +3. The true count is the number you actually act on.
Step 4: Raise your bet when the count is high
A positive true count means the remaining shoe is rich in high cards and the edge has shifted toward the player. That is when you bet more. A simple approach is to bet one unit at a true count of 0 or 1, and add roughly one extra unit for each additional point of true count. When the count is neutral or negative, bet the table minimum or sit out.
The size of this bet spread is what actually produces your profit — the count tells you when to push, and a bigger spread means a bigger edge (but also more attention from the casino).
Step 5: Add deviations (optional, advanced)
Once your counting is solid, you can squeeze out a little more by occasionally deviating from basic strategy when the true count crosses certain thresholds — for example, taking insurance at a true count of +3, or standing on 16 versus a dealer 10 at a count of 0 or higher. These are covered on the deviations page. Do not add them until your count is fast and accurate.
Practice drills
To build speed and accuracy, drill in this order:
- Single-card flips — flip one card at a time and say its value out loud.
- Deck countdown — count down a full deck and check you land on 0. Time yourself toward 25–30 seconds.
- Card cancelling — flip two cards at once; a +1 and a −1 cancel to 0, so you learn to read pairs instantly.
- Play-and-count — play hands of basic strategy while keeping the count, since at a real table you must do both at once.
You can run the last drill right now, for free, on our blackjack games — there is no money at stake, so it is a safe place to build the habit. First make sure your basic strategy is automatic, because counting on top of shaky strategy loses money.