Hi-Lo Card Counting in Blackjack – Does It Really Work?

As a game that combines luck and skill, blackjack is the perfect game for players with different expectations and playing styles. If you are a gambler who prefers to rely on knowledge rather than fortune, you may like the Hi-Lo card counting method for this game. Developed by Edward Thorp, Hi-Lo is widely regarded as one of the most effective card-counting systems out there. Is it really that good?

The basics of Hi-Lo card counting

The Hi-Lo (High-Low) counting in blackjack is one of the most popular strategies used by players in land-based and online casinos in Canada. The main idea behind it is to assign a certain value to each card and keep a running count as the cards are dealt. 

How does it work? You combine the values of all cards that appear on the table one by one. If a card with a positive value pops up, you add 1 to the count. If there’s a card with a negative value, you subtract 1, and so on. The running count gives you an indication of the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck, helping you to make decisions about your next move. 

This seemingly complicated strategy is very easy to implement. That’s why Hi-Lo is widely regarded as the best blackjack winning method for players of all levels, so let’s see how to use it during the game.

Card values in Hi-Lo blackjack strategy

Before we cover step-by-step instructions on how to use the Hi-Lo card counting method, you must learn about card values. As  we have already mentioned, each one from the deck receives a positive, neutral, or negative value. Here is a list of all blackjack cards and their values in Hi-Lo.

+1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

0 (7, 8. 9)

-1 (10, J, Q, K, A)

Cards with a value of +1 include the lowest ones, i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. They have a positive value because their removal from the deck increases the likelihood of higher value cards to show up. 

-1 is assigned to the highest cards: 10, J, Q, K, and A. On the contrary to +1, the -1 group cards decrease the odds of high-value cards to be dealt. To master the game, you must also learn about the Ace value in blackjack as this card can be either low or high.

Cards like  7, 8, and 9 are worth 0. These are so-called neutral cards that have no effect on the running count and are disregarded when keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards. While they do not contribute to the running count, they still affect the composition of the deck and should be taken into account.

Examples of using the High-Low strategy 

If you decide to use the Hi-Lo strategy in your blackjack game, your goal would be to discover the advantage you have over the house. A positive true count indicates that the remaining deck is favorable to you, while the negative one means that you should either fold or come up with another strategy. 

Here’s how you use Hi-Lo card counting during your blackjack session:

1. Start counting with 0 and either add or subtract 1 point depending on the card you see.
2. Depending on the number of decks used in the game, find out the true count. If you have one deck, it’d be easy. However, if there are, let’s say, three decks, and your running count is +6, the true count is 6/3 = +2. 
3. When the true count is positive and high, you should increase your bet size as you have a higher chance of winning, and vice versa.

In some cases, you should also consider so-called index numbers. However, it is considered an advanced version of Hi-Lo and is mostly used by experienced players in land-based casinos rather than at online gambling sites in Canada.

Why should you try the Hi-Lo method in blackjack?

Using the Hi-Lo card counting strategy in blackjack provides players with many benefits, with enhanced winning chances being the most obvious one. Besides that, Thorp’s strategy is suitable for beginner gamblers, letting them win from the first attempt to play blackjack.

High-Low counting of cards also allows one to know whether the house or the player has an upper hand. It helps you to understand the situation at the table better and adjust your next moves. Finally, you can use this simple yet effective method in video blackjack and live games at 22Bet, as well as land-based casinos.

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