Can I Win?
The Hi-Lo card counting system is one of the easiest systems yet very effective, the counting goes as follows
| Card:
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10
| J
| Q
| K
| A
|
| Add to Count:
| +1
| +1
| +1
| +1
| +1
| -0
| -0
| -0
| -1
| -1
| -1
| -1
| -1
|
You start with a "Running Count" of 0, then for each card that passes either add or subtract 1 from the running count following the table above. The Running Count is a balanced count, which means that if you were to go through the entire shoe you would start and end at 0.
At the beginning of each hand, you convert the Running Count to a "True Count", to do this divide the Running Count by the number of decks that are left in the shoe. It isn't always easy to make this estimation, it just takes practice.
So here it is, the Hi-Lo count in action, I ran my simulator for a 6 deck shoe with a 75% penetration. The dealers hidden card is surrounded by x's (in the first hand the dealer's face-down card is a 2).
=====================Shuffle=======================
Running Count: 0
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (9) his cards (6) x(2)x
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 1
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (8) his cards (4) x(2)x
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (8)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((18))
PUSH
Running Count: 3
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (5) his cards (2) x(11)x
Dealer Hit (10)
Dealer Hit (7)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((15))
LOSE
Running Count: 2
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (2) (10) his cards (3) x(9)x
Hit me (2)
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((14))
WIN
Running Count: 4
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (9) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (5)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((20))
WIN
Running Count: 4
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (2) (8) his cards (7) x(4)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (7)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((20))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (2) (3) his cards (3) x(10)x
Hit me (6)
Hit me (7)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (5) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((20))
WIN
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (10) (7) his cards (2) x(3)x
Dealer Hit (6)
Dealer Hit (8)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (10) (6) his cards (7) x(2)x
Hit me (9)
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((25))
LOSE
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (10) his cards (10) x(8)x
Surrender
His Total ((18)) My Total ((16))
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (11) (10) his cards (10) x(6)x
His Total ((16)) My Total ((21))
BLACKJACK!
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (4) (3) his cards (10) x(10)x
Hit me (10)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 7
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (11) (6) his cards (10) x(8)x
Hit me (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 5
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (4) (3) his cards (3) x(11)x
Hit me (3)
Hit me (11)
Dealer Hit (9)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((21))
WIN
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (5) (9) his cards (10) x(2)x
Hit me (9)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((23))
LOSE
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (10) (3) his cards (5) x(10)x
Dealer Hit (2)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((13))
LOSE
Running Count: 7
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (3) (2) his cards (8) x(5)x
Hit me (2)
Hit me (11)
Dealer Hit (11)
Dealer Hit (3)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (9) (9) his cards (11) x(9)x
His Total ((20)) My Total ((18))
LOSE
Running Count: 9
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (7) his cards (11) x(7)x
Hit me (3)
Hit me (3)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (10) (8) his cards (8) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (4) (6) his cards (4) x(10)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (11)
Dealer Hit (8)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((21))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (7) (10) his cards (2) x(8)x
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (3) his cards (10) x(4)x
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (9) his cards (11) x(4)x
Hit me (9)
Dealer Hit (10)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((25)) My Total ((24))
LOSE
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (11) (2) his cards (5) x(10)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (8)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((13))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 9
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (7) his cards (10) x(7)x
Hit me (6)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (6) (3) his cards (10) x(8)x
Hit me (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (10) (4) his cards (4) x(9)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((14))
WIN
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (11) (10) his cards (10) x(7)x
His Total ((17)) My Total ((21))
BLACKJACK!
Running Count: 7
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 2
My Cards: (11) (5) his cards (7) x(2)x
Hit me (9)
Hit me (8)
Dealer Hit (8)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((23))
LOSE
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 2
My Cards: (9) (10) his cards (6) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((19))
LOSE
Running Count: 9
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (7) (10) his cards (3) x(3)x
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (5)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((17))
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (4) (6) his cards (10) x(2)x
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (7)
His Total ((23)) My Total ((20))
WIN
Running Count: 13
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (8) (4) his cards (9) x(10)x
Hit me (6)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((18))
LOSE
Running Count: 14
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (10) (8) his cards (4) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((18))
LOSE
Running Count: 14
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (5) (4) his cards (10) x(4)x
Hit me (5)
Hit me (6)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((20))
WIN
Running Count: 17
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 8
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (7) x(3)x
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((20))
WIN
Running Count: 16
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 8
My Cards: (10) (9) his cards (10) x(10)x
His Total ((20)) My Total ((19))
LOSE
Running Count: 13
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 6
My Cards: (5) (8) his cards (4) x(7)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((21)) My Total ((13))
LOSE
Running Count: 14
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 7
My Cards: (10) (5) his cards (4) x(10)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((15))
WIN
Running Count: 13
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 6
My Cards: (11) (6) his cards (4) x(7)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (7)
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((14))
LOSE
LOSE
=====================Shuffle=======================
Running Count: 0
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (6) his cards (10) x(2)x
Surrender
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((16))
Running Count: 0
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (9) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (7)
His Total ((21)) My Total ((20))
LOSE
Running Count: -1
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (9) (9) his cards (7) x(3)x
Dealer Hit (6)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((26)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 0
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (3) (5) his cards (4) x(3)x
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (6)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 5
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 0
My Cards: (8) (9) his cards (3) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (11) (10) his cards (5) x(5)x
His Total ((10)) My Total ((21))
BLACKJACK!
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (10) (6) his cards (10) x(3)x
Surrender
Dealer Hit (3)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((26)) My Total ((16))
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 1
My Cards: (5) (5) his cards (2) x(6)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (11)
Dealer Hit (5)
Dealer Hit (3)
Dealer Hit (6)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((21))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 6
True Count: 2
My Cards: (4) (11) his cards (11) x(6)x
Hit me (10)
Hit me (6)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((21))
WIN
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (6) (7) his cards (10) x(10)x
Hit me (8)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((21))
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (2) (8) his cards (6) x(6)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((20))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (10) (8) his cards (2) x(6)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((18))
PUSH
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (5) (10) his cards (10) x(11)x
xxx DEALER BLACKJACK xxx
His Total ((21)) My Total ((15))
LOSE
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (3) (10) his cards (8) x(10)x
Hit me (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((23))
LOSE
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (3) (3) his cards (10) x(9)x
Hit me (9)
Hit me (3)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((18))
LOSE
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 2
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (10) x(10)x
His Total ((20)) My Total ((20))
PUSH
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 1
My Cards: (7) (8) his cards (11) x(4)x
Hit me (11)
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (11)
Dealer Hit (10)
Dealer Hit (4)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((26))
LOSE
Running Count: 3
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (5) his cards (5) x(4)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((15))
LOSE
Running Count: 4
Decks Left: 5
True Count: 0
My Cards: (8) (10) his cards (9) x(10)x
His Total ((19)) My Total ((18))
LOSE
Running Count: 2
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 0
My Cards: (4) (11) his cards (3) x(10)x
Hit me (7)
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (2)
Dealer Hit (4)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((22))
LOSE
Running Count: 3
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 0
My Cards: (10) (5) his cards (8) x(10)x
Hit me (10)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((25))
LOSE
Running Count: 1
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 0
My Cards: (4) (10) his cards (7) x(2)x
Hit me (4)
Dealer Hit (3)
Dealer Hit (11)
Dealer Hit (4)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((18))
WIN
Running Count: 4
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 1
My Cards: (9) (10) his cards (4) x(10)x
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((24)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 2
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 0
My Cards: (3) (9) his cards (10) x(5)x
Hit me (7)
Dealer Hit (6)
His Total ((21)) My Total ((19))
LOSE
Running Count: 4
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 1
My Cards: (2) (9) his cards (10) x(10)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (9)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((20))
PUSH
PUSH
Running Count: 3
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 0
My Cards: (2) (9) his cards (4) x(5)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (2)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((13))
LOSE
LOSE
Running Count: 6
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 1
My Cards: (3) (2) his cards (11) x(8)x
Hit me (7)
Hit me (5)
His Total ((19)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 8
Decks Left: 4
True Count: 2
My Cards: (8) (8) his cards (4) x(7)x
SPLIT
---Hand 0 ---
Hit me: (2)
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (10)
---Hand 1 ---
Hit me: (2)
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (5)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((21)) My Total ((20))
LOSE
LOSE
His Total ((21)) My Total ((15))
LOSE
LOSE
Running Count: 10
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (9) (8) his cards (9) x(10)x
His Total ((19)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
Running Count: 9
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (7) (4) his cards (3) x(10)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (6)
Dealer Hit (5)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((17))
LOSE
LOSE
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (8) (3) his cards (6) x(10)x
DOUBLE DOWN
Hit me (9)
Dealer Hit (10)
His Total ((26)) My Total ((20))
WIN
WIN
Running Count: 12
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (10) (3) his cards (10) x(10)x
Hit me (2)
Hit me (8)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((23))
LOSE
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 3
My Cards: (6) (6) his cards (6) x(7)x
SPLIT
---Hand 0 ---
Hit me: (9)
---Hand 1 ---
Hit me: (10)
Dealer Hit (7)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((15))
LOSE
His Total ((20)) My Total ((16))
LOSE
Running Count: 13
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 4
My Cards: (6) (2) his cards (7) x(10)x
Hit me (6)
Hit me (3)
His Total ((17)) My Total ((17))
PUSH
Running Count: 16
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 5
My Cards: (4) (10) his cards (2) x(10)x
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((21)) My Total ((14))
LOSE
Running Count: 16
Decks Left: 3
True Count: 5
My Cards: (9) (10) his cards (10) x(3)x
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((19))
WIN
Running Count: 15
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 7
My Cards: (10) (4) his cards (7) x(11)x
Hit me (8)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((22))
LOSE
Running Count: 14
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 7
My Cards: (4) (10) his cards (10) x(2)x
Hit me (11)
Hit me (10)
Dealer Hit (11)
Dealer Hit (9)
His Total ((22)) My Total ((25))
LOSE
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 5
My Cards: (3) (10) his cards (11) x(11)x
Hit me (8)
Dealer Hit (4)
Dealer Hit (2)
His Total ((18)) My Total ((21))
WIN
Running Count: 11
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 5
My Cards: (9) (10) his cards (8) x(11)x
His Total ((19)) My Total ((19))
PUSH
Running Count: 9
Decks Left: 2
True Count: 4
My Cards: (10) (10) his cards (10) x(5)x
Dealer Hit (5)
His Total ((20)) My Total ((20))
PUSH
=====================Shuffle=======================