Card Counting - Part 1

January 02, 2011 | Article Category: Casino Games

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The words Card Counting are often heard when it comes to gambling, and there are those who feel that if they can master card counting, they can master the art of winning when gambling in a casino. The question is whether this is really possible or not.

What Exactly is Card Counting?

To begin to understand, it is important that we know what exactly Card Counting is. The words Card Counting explain exactly what it is, since it literally means that the player counts the cards, and remembers them, in order to keep track of which cards have already been played. By knowing which cards have already been dealt, and played, the player who counts cards will also know what cards are left in the deck that will still be used in play. Essentially, although the player cannot predict the card that they will be dealt, the Card Counter will know what the odds, or the chances are, of being dealt the card they need.

Of course, counting each and every card is particularly difficult, and Card Counters may choose to count only certain cards that are more pertinent to the game, or hand, that they are playing, such as Aces, or perhaps picture cards, or any other specific number, or numbers, that the player needs to complete a good hand, or perhaps one that they think the dealer, or another player might need.

In What Games is Card Counting Useful?

There are two casino games that are played both in online casinos, and in brick and mortar casinos, that lend themselves particularly well to Card Counting. The two games are blackjack and poker. When those who play in casinos talk about Card Counting, they are usually referring to its use in the game of blackjack, although it can be used in any card game. In order to count cards, the Card Counter will need to know how many decks of cards are being used in the game.

Card Counting can only be used in certain circumstances. The more decks there are, the more time it takes before Card Counting will be effective. When playing with six to eight decks, Card Counters need to count cards for a few hands before it will be at all meaningful in helping them make a choice of which bets to place, and which hands to fold, and which to play. Basic mathematics will make it clear that the odds of receiving a picture card will be higher if the majority of cards that have been drawn are number cards, and vice versa. When online casinos are trying to protect themselves against Card Counters, in order to do so, they simply need to shuffle the decks fairly often, which makes it almost impossible for the Card Counter to be able to get a handle on what is being played, and what is left in the deck, since there is not enough time between shuffles to allow them to do so.