Blackjack's The High-Count System
Players have the advantage when the remaining deck(s) is rich in 10's and aces. That's the time when you should increase your bet.
The High-Count System was developed for the player who does not wish to invest the time required to learn the more complicated strategies. Counting high cards only is much easier than scanning every card to update a point count.
You play this system by counting 10's and aces and watching the discards or discard tray. You must be able to estimate the remaining deck(s) in the game. This is done by estimating the discards and subtracting this number from the total deck(s) in the game, for example in a six-deck game if you estimate one deck is in the discard tray, then there are five decks remaining.
Select and learn the appropriate table for the game you will be playing. Bet one unit when the total count of the high cards seen is normal or above. When fewer than normal high cards have been seen, bet according to the table.
This system approximates betting one unit per High-Low true count, and will be slightly off whenever a surplus of 7's, 8's, and 9's has been played.
High-Count-System Tables
Six-Deck Game
Remaining Normal Actual Count
Decks Count 2-Unit Bet 4-Unit Bet 6-Unit Bet
5 20 10 0
4 40 32 24 16
3 60 54 48 42
2 80 76 72 68
Four-Deck Game
Remaining Normal Actual Count
Decks Count 2-Unit Bet 4-Unit Bet 6-Unit Bet
3 20 14 8 2
2 40 36 32 28
1 60 58 56 54
Eight-Deck Game
Remaining Normal Actual Count
Decks Count 2-Unit Bet 4-Unit Bet 6-Unit Bet
7 20 6
6 40 28 16 4
5 60 50 40 30
4 80 72 64 56
A Word on Sucker Blackjack Systems
Two simplistic strategies employed by many ignorant players are "mimicking the dealer" and the "never-bust" strategy. Mimicking the dealer means following the same hitting and standing policy as the house: always draw to 16 and stand on 17 and never split or double down. This approach is popular because "the house does it and look how much money they make." Actually, this strategy gives the house massive 5.7 percent edge.
The "never-bust" strategy (never drawing to a stiff) is justified on the grounds that "the house advantage derives from the automatic dealer win on a player's bust; therefore, if you never bust you eliminate the advantage." The fact is that such a player is giving the house another and much bigger advantage. This misguided thinking yields the house a 5 to 8 percent edge depending on how soft hands are played and what policy is followed on splits and double downs.
If you ever run across anybody who follows either of these strategies, don't argue with them. Just offer to play blackjack with them and make sure that you play by casino rules with you taking the part of the dealer.
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