4 Ways To Count Cards - WikiHow

Skip to ContentQuizzes

• PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
• QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
• LOG IN

  Log in

  Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
• RANDOM

• Home
• Random
• Browse Articles
• TrendingNew
• Quizzes & Games
• All QuizzesHot
• Love Quizzes
• Personality Quizzes
• Fun Games
• Dating Simulator
• Learn Something New
• Forums
• Courses
• Happiness Hub
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow

• Log in / Sign up

Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Hobbies and Crafts
• Games
• Games of Chance

A Beginner’s Guide to Card Counting Download Article Become a blackjack champion with these pro card counting strategies Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA Reviewed by Ashton Wu

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Hi-Lo Strategy
|
• Advanced Card Counting Techniques
|
• Camouflaging Your Strategy
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less X

This article was reviewed by Ashton Wu and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 50K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,370,505 times.

Counting cards is used in blackjack to give a player an edge over the casino. Contrary to popular belief, counting cards doesn't require any type of Rain Man-like savant qualities, nor is it illegal...it's just highly frowned upon. So if you start counting cards, you'll have to learn to be incredibly stealthy, but that’s a job for another article. Right now, we’re gonna walk you through just how to count cards so you can clean house at your next blackjack game. Remember us when you win big!

Counting Cards in Blackjack

Start counting cards with the Hi-Lo strategy, which assigns value to every card. You must keep a running count based off of each dealt card’s values to determine what’s left in the deck. Cards 2-6 have a value of +1, cards 7-9 have no value, and aces and face cards are worth -1.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Hi-Lo Strategy

Download Article

1. 1 Learn how Hi-Lo works. Hi-Lo is by far the most popular card counting strategy. In this strategy, if the ratio of high cards to low cards is higher than normal (that is, there are lots of high cards still in the shoe), the player can make bigger bets to increase the amount they can win when the deck is favorable. They keep a number in their heads that tells them when to bet and how much to bet—or not to bet at all!
   • A deck with a positive number is good. The higher the number, the more you want to bet. The higher the number, the more high cards are left to be played.
2. 2 Memorize the values of each card. To track the ratio of high cards to low cards (thus knowing whether the deck is in your favor or not), you'll need to assign the cards a value. Start at 0 and as each card comes up, add it to your tally.[1]
   • Cards 2-6 have a value of +1.
   • Cards 7-9 have no value.
   • Cards worth 10 have a value of -1.
   • Aces also have a value of -1.
   Advertisement
3. 3 Increase your bets when the count is running positive. "Positive" means about +2 and above. The higher the count, the more you should bet, but keep in mind that if you range your bets too much, you might draw some heat from the casino.
   • Generally speaking, you want to increase your bet by a unit of 1 for each point that the tally goes up. If you do it any more drastically than that, those eyes in the skies will be on you like a hawk.
4. 4 Test yourself: grab a deck (sans jokers) and rifle through it, keeping track. You should end up at a very round 0 if you've counted the cards accurately. Aim to get through the deck in under 25 seconds. That way, even Dealer McSpeedy won't get by you.
   • Start timing yourself when you can get through the deck and end up at 0 every time. Even though the math is very simple, it's easy to get side tracked. Don't be surprised if you end up with a different number consistently in the beginning stages.
   • Take a card out and leave it face down. Run through the deck and get your tally—what's the unturned card?
5. 5 Add pairs rapidly, viewing them as a single number rather than an equation. If you look at a jack and a 4, your thought process should not be, "-1 and +1 = 0." It should simply be, "0." When you see a low card and a high card, they cancel each other out. Keeping this in mind will make it much easier as the cards fly by you at lightning speeds.
   • Counting cards is about remembering a tally. Counting cards well is about accuracy and speed. To be a good card counter, it has to be like riding a bike—you can go on autopilot at the drop of a hat. Taking in pairs gives you a lot less to worry about, making it easier for you to be accurate.
6. 6 Divide the running count by the decks waiting to be dealt to get the true count. Long gone are the days when casinos work with just one deck (mostly, at least). It's a lot more common to run into a game that is working with 5 or 6 (in what's called the shoe). Because of this, your running count may not be the true count. To find the true count, divide the running count by the number of decks waiting to be dealt. If your running count is +4 and there are 4 decks left, the true count is actually +1.
   • To know how many decks are left, take a covert look at the discard tray. Do this between hands, when you have the extra bit of time.
   • If you are working with a single deck, invert and multiply. Say you have 3/4 of a deck left and the count is +4. You would then multiply 4 x 4 to get 16 and divide it by 3 (a little over 5). Some people choose just to go with the running count in a single deck, but know that the true count is always a little bit different (higher, regardless).
Advertisement

Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Advanced Card Counting Techniques

Download Article

1. 1 Use Hi-Opt II for added insurance. Hi-Opt II has the highest insurance correlation (IC) of all the strategies, plus an additional Ace count. Hi-Opt II is similar to Hi-Lo: simply memorize the card values and add them up throughout the game. Cards numbered 4 and 5 are valued at +2, while cards 2, 3, 6, and 7 are valued at +1. Cards 8 and 9 are valued at 0, and 10s and face cards are -2. When the count is high, bet more often; when the count is low, don't bet.
   • In Hi-Opt II, Aces are valued at 0.
   • Hi-Opt II and Omega II have the highest playing efficiency (PE).[2] The PE determines decisions and deviations (when you change from basic strategy) in play.
2. 2 Try Omega II to track Aces carefully. In Omega II, 4, 5, and 6 are worth +2. 10, J, Q, and K are worth -2, and Aces are worth 0.[3] When the count is positive, it means that more low cards are in the dealer's deck, while when the count is negative, it means there are higher cards in the dealer's deck.
   • Omega II is similar to the Halves strategy. In Halves, 2 and 7 are worth +.5. 5 is worth +1.5. 9 is worth -.5.[4]
   • In KO, 7s are worth +1.[5]
3. 3 Try "wonging," or back-counting, before you join a game. It is called "wonging in" when you stay away from a table until it's hot enough to warrant joining. When the table grows cold, you "wong out." It's typically done on bigger decks, otherwise you'd be getting up as soon as you sat down.[6]
   • Lots of casinos have banned mid-shoe entry for this purpose. If you do consider doing this, know that it looks fishy to even untrained eyes. How else would you know when to swoop in for the kill if you weren't counting cards?
   • The suspicions you do avoid, however, are changing your bets. When you're wonging, you bet the same exorbitant amount every time.
Advertisement

Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Camouflaging Your Strategy

Download Article

1. 1 Act like a tourist. If you don’t want to be caught counting cards, don’t look like a card counter. Card counters are notorious for playing blackjack for hours and hours, often without eating or enjoying the amenities available at the resort. Acting like a tourist just looking for a simple good time may take the suspicion off of you.[7]
   • Blend in. Busting out your three-piece Armani suit is not what you want to do when starting your card counting career at your local casino. Leave the Italian suede at home and act like a regular Joe.
2. 2 Let your bet ride, if you need to increase the bet. Dealers are trained to shuffle the deck upon an unexplainable increase in the bet. For this reason, only up your bet in small increments and at seemingly random points in the game.[8]
   • This may seem counterproductive to making money, but if you get thrown out, you'll be making zero. No, card counting isn't illegal, but it is heavily frowned upon and you can be asked to never return to the establishment.
3. 3 Appear to be interested in other things besides the game. If you’re so busy counting your lips are practically moving, it's a dead giveaway. Go ahead, get a drink, make small talk. Enjoy yourself.[9]
   • You need to be proficient enough at counting that you can carry on a conversation. Chat with the dealer about how their day is going. If the pit boss comes up, chat with him, too.
   • When you practice counting cards at home, turn on the TV and radio, and maybe have some small kids around, if you can. Practice getting used to counting amidst total chaos; this will simulate what it's like counting in a casino.
4. 4 Tip the dealer. You should tip anyway, as it's courteous. But tipping will make the dealer like you. Many dealers know how to count cards, but a dealer that likes you will be more likely to wait before shuffling on a favorable deck and shuffle sooner on a bad one.[10]
   • A dealer can help you or hurt you. Motivate the dealer to be for you. Same goes for the entire pit crew—get them on your side, and your not-so-heinous crime may slide under their radar.
5. 5 Be aware of cameras and security guards. At any time, there are hundreds of cameras in the casino in addition to the eyes of the dealers, those in the pit (behind the tables), and the security staff. If they'll catch a waitress for serving a customer every 18.37 minutes, they'll definitely have the attention span to monitor you. Because of this, it's very important to be on your best behavior.[11]
   • If a casino suspects you're counting, they probably won't come right out and say it. They may have someone start a conversation with you to distract you, assign you a high-speed dealer, shuffle spontaneously, or change the betting rules. If any of these happen, back down slowly, but immediately.[12]
6. 6 Make your moves slowly to avoid suspicion. When you hit a table, stay there for a spell. Why would you leave? And when you make your moves at this table, take a second to think about it. We know, we know, we said you should be so good you’re a machine, spitting out the perfect card without thinking about it, yada yada. But normal blackjack players haven't spent the past three months practicing this exact setup, so don’t act too quick here, or you’ll stand out. Everything you do needs to be nonchalant and casual.[13]
   • Do not jump from table to table every time the deck sours. This will bring you to the attention of the casino personnel fast. Make minimum bets until the deck is richer. Increase casually because you're doing well—not because you know what's about to come.
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search Add New Question

• Question Should I just count my own cards or should I count the cards of other people? Community Answer If it comes out of the shoe, count it. Your cards come from the same place as other people's cards. You need to count all the cards - yours, other players', and the dealer's. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 38
• Question What should I expect to be dealt if the count is zero? Community Answer It means anything can be next, but expect mostly ten-pointers on blackjack, as there are four times the amount of them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 13
• Question How much is four pairs of trump worth in pinochle? Community Answer Pairs in pinochle aren't worth anything; marriages and runs in trump are, though. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 5

See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

• For a more in-depth discussion on card counting, check out Knock-Out Blackjack: The Easiest Card-Counting System Ever Devised by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs, Turning the Tables on Las Vegas by Ian Andersen, and Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Learn the basic rules of blackjack before employing a card counting strategy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• Don't play with money you can't afford to lose, especially while you're learning. Variance can cause losses even if your strategy is perfect. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• Although the odds are in your favor, it will require about 6 hours of play to guarantee the odds will come to fruition (even a coin flipped 10 times could land on heads for 7 of those). Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

Advertisement

You Might Also Like

How toCount Cards in Blackjack How to Win at Blackjack: Best Strategies How toCheat at Card Games How toHole Card A Beginner’s Guide to Blackjack Everything You Need to Know About Dealing Blackjack How to Count Cards in Bridge (Bridge Strategy Guide) How to Win at Baccarat: Best Strategies & Betting Tips Complete Game Instructions for Casino (Cassino) How toUse Strategy to Win a Texas Hold’ Em Game How toKnow when to Split Pairs in Blackjack How toCheat at Poker How to Win in a Casino with Tips to Beat the Odds How toCheat at UNO Advertisement

References

1. ↑ https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/how-to-count-cards/
2. ↑ https://www.qfit.com/card-counting.htm
3. ↑ https://www.casinonewsdaily.com/blackjack-guide/the-omega-ii-blackjack-card-counting-system/
4. ↑ https://www.blackjackgala.com/counting-cards/wong-halves/
5. ↑ https://www.casinonewsdaily.com/blackjack-guide/the-ko-knockout-card-counting-system-in-blackjack/
6. ↑ https://www.blackjackinfo.com/what-is-wonging-in-blackjack/
7. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56506/how-does-counting-cards-blackjack-work
8. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56506/how-does-counting-cards-blackjack-work
9. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56506/how-does-counting-cards-blackjack-work

More References (4)

10. ↑ https://www.blackjackonline.com/794/7-tips-avoid-caught-counting-cards/
11. ↑ https://www.blackjackonline.com/794/7-tips-avoid-caught-counting-cards/
12. ↑ http://rose.casinocitytimes.com/article/dealing-with-card-counters-1021
13. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56506/how-does-counting-cards-blackjack-work

About This Article

Reviewed by: Ashton Wu Game Expert This article was reviewed by Ashton Wu and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 50K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate. This article has been viewed 1,370,505 times. 20 votes - 74% Co-authors: 56 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 1,370,505 Categories: Card Decks | Games of Chance Article SummaryX

To count cards, use the Hi-Lo strategy to track the ratio of high cards to low cards. Give the high cards a specific value (-1) and the low cards a specific value (+1). Then, add the numbers up to keep a running count of the cards. If the ratio of high cards to low cards is higher than normal, the deck is in your favor and you can make bigger bets to increase your winnings! For tips on using a few other card-counting strategies, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish Italian Chinese German Russian Portuguese French Vietnamese Japanese

• Print
• Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,370,505 times.

Reader Success Stories

• 

  Mark Roning

  Jul 28, 2016

  "Good as a starting point. Perhaps a few books about the topic could have been added. My personal choice for a..." more

More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Ashton Wu Game Expert 20 votes - 74% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 56 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 1,370,505

Mark Roning

Jul 28, 2016

"Good as a starting point. Perhaps a few books about the topic could have been added. My personal choice for a..." more

Connor Woodrick

Apr 27, 2016

"This really helped. It did take me a few weeks, but I'm a real expert. Maybe not actually an expert, but..." more

Lizo Mpondo

Oct 12, 2016

"The steps worked as a guideline for me. The tips and warnings helped, too. Now I'm practicing on my own..." more

Anonymous

May 17, 2017

"I didn't know people really counted cards, and the fact it can be done many different ways."

Anonymous

Jul 4, 2016

"The most helpful tip was how the count varies with the number of cards left in the deck." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

Am I Good at Flirting QuizTake QuizAdvanced Roulette GamePlayIQ TestTake QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizWhat Tarot Card Am I QuizTake QuizCognitive TestTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

How toCount Cards in BlackjackHow to Win at Blackjack: Best StrategiesHow toCheat at Card GamesHow toHole Card

Featured Articles

What 16 of the Most Common Hugs MeanJuicy, Deep, & Hot-Seat Questions to Get to Know Your Friends Better40+ Talking Games to Play with Friends, Partners & MoreHow toMake Friends

Trending Articles

Do I Have Brainrot QuizWhat Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I Quiz151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to AskSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouDo You Agree with These Hygiene Hot Takes?

Featured Articles

The Different Types of People You Can Find in a Friend GroupAn Introduction to Kibbe Body Types (with Styling Tips!)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?From Alpha to Omega: A Guide to the 7 Male Personalities

Featured Articles

7 Easy Card Magic Tricks You Can Master in MinutesHow to Perform Magic: 8 Tricks for BeginnersHow toHypnotize SomeoneThe Easiest Guinness World Records to Break: Which Will You Try?How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 20 MovesHow toWhistle with Two Fingers

Watch Articles

How toGrow Out Your BangsHow toDress PunkHow toEnd a Long Distance RelationshipHow toDo E Girl EyelinerHow toRespond to the Fire EmojiHow to Stop Your Glasses from Making Your Eyes Look Small

Trending Articles

Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?Am I More Hannah Montana or Miley Stewart?The Most Attractive Zodiac Signs & What Makes Each Sign Beautiful24 Different Types of Bras ExplainedWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?

Quizzes & Games

How Lucky Am I QuizTake QuizWould I Be a Good Super Spy QuizTake QuizDo I Have Common Sense QuizTake QuizCan You Pass Our Lie Detector Test?Take QuizWhat Age Is My Brain QuizTake QuizAm I a High Value Man TestTake Quiz

• Categories
• Hobbies and Crafts
• Games
• Games of Chance

wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

• Home
• About wikiHow
• Experts
• Jobs
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info
• Contribute

Follow Us

×

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --657