Recently, the Ignition team created a video on how to count cards in blackjack. These blackjack card counting tips can help pretty much anyone – even total beginners – learn to count cards in blackjack. It’s actually not a super complicated process. It requires a simple understanding of blackjack to apply, but that’s about it. Of course, there are multiple methods, and some are simpler than others. We’ll discuss these more below for folks who would rather read than check out the video.

Best Card Counting Systems for Blackjack

Card counting strategies for blackjack come in a few different types. If you want to learn how to beat blackjack with card counting, any of these will work. Let’s start with the most basic:

Hi-Lo

The Hi-Lo card counting system is one of the most popular card counting techniques for beginners. The basic idea is to have a running count on whether the deck is favorable for getting blackjacks or not. This occurs when the deck is loaded with high cards, and the odds of pulling cards with a value of 10 (face cards or tens) is increased.

Here’s how Hi-Lo card counting works:

  1. There are three categories of cards: low, neutral, and high. Every card that is dealt has a value in this system. Low cards (2-6) are worth one. Neutral cards (7-9) are worth 0. High cards (10, J, Q, K, A) are worth -1.
  • Keep count as cards are dealt. If you see a K, 3, and 9 come out, the values would be -1, +1, and 0. This matches with the above category values. Keep this count running the whole time you’re playing. This ease of calculation makes Hi-Lo one of the best card counting methods available.
  • Divide to get the “true count.” If you are playing single-deck blackjack, you don’t need to do this. If you are playing six-deck, divide your count by six. A count of 6 becomes a count of 1 in six-deck blackjack.
  • Adjust bets based on count. If lots of low cards are coming out, your count will climb. This means that the deck is getting more favorable for you. When this happens, it’s time to bump up your bets a bit. If the count is not helpful, you can decrease your wagers.
Hi-Lo strategy illustration showing a lineup of cards with assigned values: positive, zero, and negative for card counting in blackjack.

Zen

The Zen method offers another way to master card counting. It offers more optimal tracking but is a bit more complicated. Here are the values:

  • 4, 5, 6 = +2
  • 2, 3, 7 = +1
  • 8, 9 = 0
  • A = -1
  • 10-K = -2

As you can see, there are more values to remember, but things are more specific. This leads to a bit of a better advantage shift in your favor. Not all low cards are created alike, and the ace now has a value. To get the true count, divide your running count by the number of decks left in the shoe. Other than that, you can probably implement the strategy in a pretty straightforward manner.

Zen Count strategy illustration featuring cards with values ranging from positive to negative, used for advanced card counting techniques.

Omega Two

Among other blackjack card counting systems, Omega Two also offers a chance to increase your odds of winning. Card values are changed once again from the systems above:

  • 2, 3, and 7 = +1
  • 4, 5, and 6 = +2
  • 8 = 0
  • 9 = -1
  • 10, J, Q, K, and A = -2

8 and 9 now have differing values, and Ace is grouped with the face cards. Like the Zen method, this will lead to a more accurate count than Hi-Lo, but is harder to remember until you’ve practiced a bit.

Close-up of a hand holding playing cards with numeric values for the Omega Two card counting system, over a glowing green and orange background.

Wong Halves

Among our tips for successful card counting, many recommend you stay away from complex methods until you’re more comfortable with blackjack strategy and simpler methods. That said, here are the values for the so-called “Wong Halves” method:

  • G
  • Tens, face cards, ace = -1
  • 9 = -.5
  • 8 = 0
  • 2, 7 = .5
  • 3, 4, 6 = 1
  • 5 = 1.5

The count may be a bit rough, but if you can get a handle on it, you can use one of the strongest systems that has been proven to work well over many decades.

Wong Halves card counting system illustration with cards labeled by fractional values against a red background.

Red Seven

If you want a blackjack edge with card counting, try this method after the others. Here, run things the same way as Hi-Lo, but give red sevens a +1 value and make black sevens neutral. That’s it. A tiny adjustment that can help you eke out an incremental advantage increase.

Red Seven card counting system illustration highlighting the unique point value of red sevens compared to black sevens.

Legality of Card Counting

Is card counting legal? Yes. Are card counting rules still enforced in casinos? Yes, but informally. In reality, a casino can remove a player for any reason. Card counting in the past has been one of those reasons. This is especially true in live casinos. If a dealer or pit boss thinks you may be counting cards (often revealed by varying bet sizes in a certain way), you may be asked to leave. If things have progressed far enough, you may even be banned from the casino and related properties.

That said, you are still permitted to try your luck.

The issue is minimized quite a bit in online casinos, where many games reshuffle for each hand. Instead of dealing through a physical shoe of cards one hand at a time, online blackjack games basically offer you a fresh deck or set of decks each time you get dealt cards. For this reason, card counting online isn’t much of an issue and isn’t really something you’re going to hear about.