If you are using a file card counting strategy blackjackKeeping up with the running count is essential. It’s a simple enough concept – you just need to realize how useful the remaining shoe is based on the cards played. In fact, we are already Covered the topic in the past. However, there is still more to learn about this essential part of winning blackjack strategies – blackjack blackjack appreciation.
Let’s take a closer look at how to keep the continuous number in blackjack and use it to your advantage. More precisely, we will learn how to monitor the so-called True Count.
Estimation of deck and real number
Keeping the count running is a matter of focus, and it becomes easy after some practice. However, applying the knowledge you gain through counting is an entirely different matter.
First of all, a short reminder – the running number is different from the so-called “real number”. The latter can be said to be more advantageous because it takes into account the different characteristics of multi-storey shoes. Fortunately, this is also easy to explain.
The real number in blackjack is simply the number of runs divided by the number of decks still in play. Knowing how many decks are in play is called estimating a deck of playing cards.
For example, let’s say you play an 8-deck shoe and you have more than 54 cards in the shoe. Your run count is a constant +14, which looks great on paper. However, there are still 7 floors to deal with. This would bring your blackjack card up to +2, which is a rather small advantage. Assuming you play a strategy like hello loDefinitely.
However, this raises another point. Just how many decks are currently in operation? For example, imagine that 75 cards have passed. Obviously this is more than one group, but not quite 2. Rounding the number up and down can completely change your future strategy.
For example, rounding can result in over-conservative payments and a loss of card counting advantage. Conversely, rounding it down may lead you to believe that you have a greater advantage than you actually do.
This is the reason why most blackjack card counting experts divide the decks into halves, quarters or even eights. It is a simple matter, for example, count all 27 cards as a deck of 0.5 cards. There are multiple ways to estimate your blackjack deck, and we’ll cover them below.
Divided decks for blackjack card counting
There are three common ways blackjack card counters split the cards in any given shoe.
- Divide a whole lot – increments the divisor of a real number once for every 54 cards.
- Divide by half a deck – Increment the real number divisor once for every 27 cards.
- Divide a Quarter of a Deck – Increase the divisor of a real number once for every 14 cards.
Technically, it is possible to make more accurate estimates. However, dividing the run number by 0.25 digits can be very tricky. Going even smaller would require serious mental exercises to actually implement in real number.
In practice, the more accurate the division – the better. Most simulations estimate that the player advantage resulting from the Hi-lo strategy is 1% at most. This is assumed Perfect blackjack strategy A full run count.
Comparatively, a half-set running count provides 6% better returns than a full-set running count on average. This translates to an overall player advantage of 1.06% under the same conditions. Is the extra effort to keep track of cards worth it? probably. Remember that the advantage of playing blackjack is all about gaining a small advantage in the long run.
So, how about splitting a quarter of the deck? On average, it offers 7% better returns than a blanket split. That is 1.07% overall player advantage, assuming your hi-lo strategy offers a 1% player advantage.
This is why we don’t really think counting a quarter of a deck is worth it. The added advantage is negligible in most criteria. And most importantly, dividing by quarters is much more difficult than whole numbers and a half. If you don’t believe us, try it out for yourself. Most of us can easily divide by 0.5 at any given moment. Dividing by 0.75 for example is much more difficult.
In conclusion, the best solution would probably be to increase the divisor in the blackjack real number formula by 0.5 for every 32 cards. Even if you’re a math expert and have no problems making more accurate estimates, the extra effort probably isn’t worth it.
