1 Deck Blackjack Strategy
However, blackjack players using basic strategy will lose less than 1% of their total wagered amount with average luck, which is a substantially lower house edge than most other casino games. This is not true in games where blackjack pays 6:5 as that rule increases the house edge by about 1.4%. EXAMPLE #1: If our Running Count is 10 and we have 5 decks remaining, our True Count is 2. (10 ÷ 5) EXAMPLE #2: If our Running Count is -7 and we have 2 decks remaining, our True Count is -3. (-7 ÷ 2) When using perfect basic strategy and card counting, we are able to use this information to bet according to our advantage.
Arguably my favorite game – I use a simplified method to count cards, make sure to have a notepad or something similar up while playing, also, ALWAYS choose the seat last to act. If that seat is not available, wait until it is. We want to MAXIMIZE our edge. You should also find a casino that offers good rakeback and bonuses, which Stake has far and beyond the most lucrative deals in both
Here is my method:
Step 1: Assign A Value To Every Card
With Hi-Lo, the most common card counting system, the card values are as follows:
- 2-6 = +1
- 7-9 = 0
- 10-Ace= -1
As each card is dealt, you will either add 1, subtract 1, or do nothing based on each card’s value.
Step 2: The Running Count
Keep A Running Count By Adding Or Subtracting Every Card That You See In Each Shoe.
As each card is dealt, we will update our “running count” with the new information we are given.
EXAMPLE #1: The running count for this round is 0 (zero).
EXAMPLE #2: The running count for this round is +1
EXAMPLE #3: The running count for this round is +1.
A card counter does this for each card that comes out of the shoe: card after card and round after round until the dealer shuffles the cards again. Back in the days of single deck blackjack, this information would have been enough to start betting accordingly. If the running count increases, the advantage begins shifting to the player. If the running count goes negative, the casino’s advantage increases.
Step 3: Calculate A “True Count” Or Count Per Deck
In an attempt to thwart card counters, casinos began using multiple decks. Nice try, Casinos! To use our running count in a multiple deck game, we simply have to translate our information into a “True Count” or count per deck. We’ll break down each step below.
Having a +5 running count with 6 decks remaining is a completely different scenario from having a +5 running count with only 1 deck remaining. In the first instance, there is less than 1 additional high card per deck remaining so the player doesn’t have the advantage yet. It’s not just the number of extra high cards that matters to a card counter; it’s the concentration of high cards compared to the concentration of low cards.
So if you had that running count of 5 with only 1 deck remaining, we know that there are 5 extra 10’s and Aces in the remaining 52 cards, which puts the edge in the hands of the player! That’s why the “True Count” is so valuable.
EXAMPLE #1: If our Running Count is 10 and we have 5 decks remaining, our True Count is 2. (10 ÷ 5)
EXAMPLE #2: If our Running Count is -7 and we have 2 decks remaining, our True Count is -3. (-7 ÷ 2)
When using perfect basic strategy and card counting, we are able to use this information to bet according to our advantage. That’s how we card counters make our money! The true count will also inform us of when to change our playing strategy. We call these “playing deviations”
Step 4: Change Your Bets As The True Count Rises And Falls
Keeping a running count and a true count are essential to knowing when the house edge flips in favor of the player, but if you don’t use that information to change how you play, you’ll just be playing a mentally exhausting game of blackjack. In order to capitalize on the information you get from counting, you have to raise your bets as the true count rises. You want to bet really big when the cards favor the player and really small when the count is negative or neutral and doesn’t favor the player. Bankroll management and proper betting strategy can get complicated, and it’s easy to cause a lot of damage to your bankroll if you don’t properly understand how to bet. This article gives a good overview of the things involved:
1 and 2 deck blackjack games are sought after by blackjack players. The house is more in favor of the player compared to multi-deck games. It’s also easier for players (to learn how) to count cards, track deck penetration and so on.
But it’s also because of these player advantages that many casinos have done away with their smaller deck blackjack games, or have altered the rules significantly to put the majority of the edge back in favor of the casino. So you’ll be lucky to find a 1 or 2 deck blackjack game, either live or online.
Don’t let that stop you from looking, though. There are many benefits to single deck blackjack games, which I’ve outlined below. Further below I’ve shared some methods that casinos use to lower the player’s edge.
There are a number of benefits to playing at 1 or 2 deck blackjack casinos.
- More player blackjacks. The odds of being dealt a natural blackjack in a single deck game is 4.82%. With 8 decks your odds decrease to 4.75%.
- Less dealer blackjacks. The dealer is less likely to have a blackjack to tie the player if the player has one, because the one of 4 (or 8) aces have been used, drastically lowering the odds of the dealer having one.
- Deck penetration. Assuming the cards aren’t reshuffled every hand, a single deck will be penetrated more than two decks, than 3, 4 and so on. The further a deck is penetrated, the more accurate a card counter’s count, as well as his assessment of how many 10s and aces are left in the deck, and possibly, where.
- Card counting. Single and double decks are easier for players to count and keep track of.
- Great value for double downs. Similar to the reason for more player blackjacks, the chances of a player receiving a good card when double downing increases in a single and double deck.
1 Deck Blackjack Strategy
The difference in any one of these points is miniscule, comparing the odds of a single deck to multiple decks. However, if you combine all of these points together, along with the various rules in favor of the player (like splitting aces, double downs after splits, etc), then it adds up to a significant advantage in favor of the player.
What Casinos Do to Lower the Player Edge
Obviously (it should be obvious, at least), the casino isn’t going to stand around and let players have this massive edge. They’re there to make money, after all. So assuming you can find a single or double deck blackjack game online, be aware that the casino may take the following actions to reduce your odds.
- Bad blackjack odds. In a single or double deck game, don’t be surprised to see 6:5 payouts for natural blackjacks. That reduces the payout from $1.50 to $1.20 per $1 wagered. This adds 1.39% to the house edge.
- Dealer hits soft 17. This adds .22% to the house edge.
- Shuffle every hand. This applies only to live blackjack games, since online games shuffle every hand anyway. But shuffling removes the advantage of tracking deck penetration and getting a (more) accurate count.
- Anti-card counting policies. Some casinos have policies prohibiting card counters from playing. 5Dimes is an example of this. Card counters that try to take advantage of live dealer games may have their accounts closed and winnings confiscated.
1 Deck Blackjack Strategy
In short, casinos will do everything they can to increase their odds in single and double deck games, as well as prevent (or discourage) advantage players from counting cards.