Hi-Lo Card Counting - the Most Popular System to Win Blackjack

Hi-Lo card counting is believed to be one of the widely used counting systems which is good enough both for beginners and advanced players of blackjack: it will be your best choice anyway which is proven by the fact all famous blackjack teams (such as MIT team or Tommy Hyland's team for example) used exactly this counting system for winning.

Hi-Lo means High-Low or Plus-Minus: this counting system was first described by Harvey Dubner, the mathematician, and was developed by well-known blackjack expert Edward Thorp who was considered to be the father of card counting strategy for blackjack games.

How to Count

Hi-Lo card counting differs from Hi-Opt or Omega II for example by being easier though yet effective; the first thing to know if you plan using this counting system is basic blackjack strategy and card values which are the following:

Remember that Hi-Lo card counting is a balanced system which means you should end your counting with 0 when the last card is dealt from a shoe; if it is not a zero, it means you have miscounted somewhere. The example of an unbalanced counting system is KO count.

So, start your counting with 0 and add or subtract 1 point each time a card is dealt according to the number of points this card costs; as far as you understand, it is not very difficult to count cards with the help of this system - the main thing is to count completely all cards including the ones of a dealer and other gamblers at blackjack table.

As far as you understand, you are welcome to increase your blackjack bet every time when your count is high enough (because it means that only high cards are left in a shoe and your chances to get them are big enough); if your count is close to a zero or negative - do not be in a hurry to increase your bets: it is better to get less than lose more.