Card counting: A system for improving the player's edge by assigning "weights" to each card face and summing the card weights as each new card is turned face up. The "count" indicates when the game is favorable for the player, so that the player can place larger bets and/or make changes in playing strateg

Card counting? Don't you have to be some sort of mathematical genius or have a photographic memory to count cards? All card-counting systems are based on basic strategy, so I suggest you read that article before you continue.

Let's start out with what counting is and, more importantly, isn't. Card counting is a means of tracking the relationship between the high-value cards (good for the player) and the low-value cards, which are good for the dealer. Taking note of the cards that have been played can determine whether the remaining cards are beneficial to the player, and altering betting and playing strategy accordingly.

There are several methods for Card Counting

Casual Card Counting

Casual card counting is just that, casual. It doesn't take a lot of concentration or mathematical calculations, and demands little use of your memory.

You already know that a deck rich in face cards is an advantage to the player. All you need to do is casually observe the flow of cards coming out of a deck or shoe. For example, if you are playing a multiple deck shoe and after a few hands you observe that very few face cards or aces were played you have a situation where the next hand will probably be good for the player. Thus, you increase your bet.

The key to this system is to look for extremes. The absence or predominance of exposed high cards is easily noticeable by casual observation. Often you will play several hands where the mix of face cards and low value cards are relatively even. But when you see a noticeable absence of high value cards you should increase your next wager.

Casual card counting is something you should always do unless you are following a strict card counting system such as the Hi-Low system. It won't guarantee winners for you on every hand, but it will give you a slight advantage. 

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