Hi-Opt Counting System: Use It if You Are the Experienced Player Already

Hi-Opt system means High Optimum and it really gives some advantage to gamblers who use it while playing blackjack; this system is based on card counting strategy, as well as many other counting systems actually do and it is divided into two main strategies which are different in some aspects:

• Hi-Opt I
• Hi-Opt II

Sometimes Hi-Opt system is called being Einstein Count because it is not as easy to follow as it seems to be from the first sight: both Hi-Opt I and High-Opt II are based on adding or subtracting 1 point during the game, so, the main thing is to remember the count of every card because they are counted differently in different systems.

Hi-Opt I

The following table will help you to remember the value of every card in a blackjack shoe:

Remember to start your counting with 0 and add or subtract 1 point each time when a card is dealt from a shoe.

1. Do not forget to count not only your cards but also the cards of a dealer and other gamblers at the table! Notice that 2's and Aces are counted differently from Hi-Lo count and KO count, so, be attentive when try to predict how many Aces are still left in a shoe.
2. Hint! As far as you have to count Aces separately from other cards, some players recommend using extra things for that: fingers or chips for example.

Hi-Opt II

Hi-Opt II is always recommended to use for those gamblers who perfectly know such basic systems as Hi-Lo count and Hi-Opt I because this system is more complicated in comparison with others though it give more advantage to gamblers.
The main difference between Hi-Opt I and Hi-Opt II lies in card values of course; look at the table below and you will see that now a gambler should be even more concentrated because s/he will have to add or subtract not only 1 point but also 2. As a result, it will be more difficult for a counter to use Hi-Opt II and that is why it is usually used by advanced players only.

As you can see, Aces will also be counted separately if you use Hi-Opt II, only 8's and 9's are considered to be neutral cards here. Being a rather difficult counting method, Hi-Opt II is not used by blackjack newcomers of course; but it does not mean it will be easy for you if you are an intermediate player already.

To know more about the principles of Hi-Opt II, you are welcome to read the book of Kevin Blackwood - Play Blackjack Like the Pros, where he pays attention to this counting system and describes it in details.