At the turn of the century, card-counting blackjack whizz Geoff Hall had a vision. Card counting is a term used to describe certain techniques that a gambler can employ while playing a Blackjack in order to reverse the house edge and give themselves the advantage. And through Blackjack Apprenticeship, I’ve helped card counters find the same success that I’ve enjoyed. With the help of techniques like card counting, you can reduce the house edge even further. If you get 21 points exactly on the deal, that is called a “blackjack. At this point, his or her running count is “plus-one” (i. CardCounter - Simple. If we fix the counter’s maximum bet at $100, then a smaller spread will yield a higher average wager and thus a higher win-rate. You take a look at your logs and realized you are only $2000. For example, the K-O system has a 1 point value for 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, and 7s with a 0 on 8s and 9s. Blackjack is played with a conventional deck of 52 playing cards and suits don’t matter. If you plop down at a 6-to-5 table with bad penetration, you will not manage to generate any long-term profits even if you are the reincarnation of Kenny Uston himself. When You’re Counting Cards and the Count Is Positive. If you're interested in learning how to count cards to gain a real edge in the game of blackjack, this is a great place to start. This means the chances of hitting a 10, J, Q, K or Ace is higher than hitting one of those lower cards. There's a lot more to counting cards in Blackjack than meets the eye. Self-practice is the simplest and easiest way of practicing the technique of blackjack card counting. Blackjack Card Counting Systems Chart The chart below provides you with an easy reference for how to count cards using different card counting systems. Up until the end of the game, the counter keeps adding tags to each card. Counting cards is a strategic method employed in blackjack to predict the likelihood of upcoming cards, allowing players to make informed decisions regarding their bets and gameplay. The only way to get a blackjack is to get a card worth 10 points and another card worth 11 points. This Blackjack (a. According to the existing statistical evidence, players benefit more from high-value cards (10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace (A)) than low-value cards. The major aim in the construction of these tools is the accurate simulation of play in a casinoPrivate Training starts at $4,999. Hall patented his creation in 2009 and the rest, they say, is history. From researching the mathematics the movie, which is based on a true story, uses behind counting cards, we realized we could take a step back and analyze how the game itself is played (see [5] for a description on the math used in the. Now we can confidently start card counting. Keep a Running Count. The Unbalanced Zen Count 2 is a level 2, unbalanced system that was actually designed to be a combination of the Zen count system and the Revere Point Count system. donnyb83 • 2 yr. His or her running count is currently “plus-one” (+1) + (+1) + (-1) = +1). There are several systems to count cards in blackjack, divided into two categories: symmetric and asymmetric. If we use the optimum bet spread and choose the double-deck game with DAS, the potential profit per 100 hands increases to $67. While dealing each card, add or subtract its point value from the running count. Finding blackjack games with low deck penetration is the best for card counting. The objective is to have cards that add up to 21 without going over (or “busting”). The game is played with 3 boxes and 6 standard decks of 52 cards. Blackjack Card Counting Trainer. A bit of simple math will show you that there are, in a complete deck, an equal number of “plus”-valued cards and “minus”-valued cards. Cards 10 to Ace: -1. The 8 is worth 0, so the count stays at plus 1. Card counting gives players an estimate of the high-value and low-value cards already dealt and those that are remaining in the deck. However, when the true count is above 3, it is statistically better to stand a 12 against a 2. Counting cards in blackjack in four steps Step 1: give every card in the deck a value. Counting is possible, just need skill, luck and a bankroll. Typically, casino blackjack is dealt from a shoe of somewhere between six and eight decks. 56% × $17347/$10000 = 67. For each card, assign a specific value. High cards (A-10) = -1. Wong Halves. In a typical 6 deck shoe, each additional true count point gives the player a 0. The goal of the game is to accumulate cards that total as close to 21 as possible without going over. Card counting is a strategy wherein players keep track of the proportion of high-value cards to low-value cards remaining in the deck. 3 hours ago · Blackjack Rules. I. Simply put, when a low card is shown, you add 1 to your count, and when a high card is shown, you take away 1. How to Count Cards; Blackjack Strategy Charts; Blackjack Training Drills; About; Blog; Podcast; Blackjack Bootcamp; Private Training; Login; The Card Counting Mini‑Course Video 1 of 5: What is Card Counting (And How Does it Work)?Blackjack card counting is a technique that is used in popular casino classics such as blackjack. What is card counting in blackjack? Card counting simply refers to keeping a tally of which cards have already come up so that you know which cards are left in the deck and therefore which cards are likely to come up next, for both you and the dealer. Devices that count cards for you, peek at the dealer’s hole card or transmit information to and from an outside party. For example, if the first card dealt is a 6, then the Banker count is -1132, the Player count is 1128, and the Tie count is -11595. The major aim in the construction of these tools is the accurate simulation of play in a. If you're interested in learning how to count cards to gain a real edge in the game of blackjack, this is a great place to start. 2k, biggest win is 10k and bankroll is >25k. Card counting in blackjack is used to determine when the player has an advantage over the house. However, this should be done in the player’s mind without the casino’s knowledge. If you're thinking about a blackjack apprenticeship bootcamp but don't know if it's right for you, fill out the form below, and one of our pros will get in touch for a free phone consultation. The most important blackjack rule is simple: beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. The game’s object is to create a hand with a value equal to or closer to 201 than the dealer’s hand without busting. By way of comparison, Stanford Wong, in his book Professional Blackjack (page 203) says the variance is 1. BLACKJACK CARD COUNTING TEST. If you can effectively count cards, you may boost. This means that when you first sit down at a blackjack table, the count is 0. As a result, you can alter your betting strategy based on the current count. **For learning purposes only**. Each of the blackjack enthusiasts had to put in an initial investment of $4000. At this point, his or her running count is “plus-one” (i. Understand the statistics and see the results of millions of hands of Blackjack played. The basic difference is that the UBZ2 is an unbalanced system, while the Zen Count is a balanced system. For example, a player might assign a value of +2 to cards 2 through 6, a value of -2 to cards 10 through Ace, and a value of 0 to all other cards. The most common method is the Hi-Lo system, where cards 2 to 6 are assigned a value of +1, cards 7 to 9 are assigned a value of 0, and cards 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace are assigned a value of -1. e. My comments on the movie "21" Australian Blackjack; Introduction to Card Counting. The second row of my table shows. 2. The possible range is simply the minimum and. You hit one of 3 buttons for each card that comes out (High, Neutral, Low). Learn to count cards: *Bonus Card Counting Content: this card counting black. As you may know, teams employ spotters to make minimum bets at tables and count cards. Also, you can vary the number of players at the table during a sim. It involves keeping track of the ratio of. A card counter raises his bet when the deck offers favorable odds to the player, and lowers his bet when the deck offers less-than-favorable odds to the player. Card counting, as a blackjack strategy, might appear to be a simple one but in an actual game of blackjack, it is very hard to master the skill of card counting. Play. Card counting is a technique that involves tracking and remembering cards that have been dealt out of the deck during a particular game. The trainer is very self-explanatory, these are the basics. Blackjack: Card Counting and Strategy lets you practice card counting, basic strategies, and memorize blackjack charts. Toll Free Number. It is still possible to use the strategy in many casinos today, including in Vegas, although it is not always welcomed by the casinos. Blackjack Data Repository is a collection of Blackjack statistics and probabilities culled from simulations and arranged in tables. Yeah, we’ve spent buckets of sweat and blood, creating this simulator, but it's worth it. Card counting in blackjack is not illegal, although. Counting Cards - Blackjack Counting. This way, a running count is kept. Blackjack Card Counting Systems Chart. Trespassed from 1 property (small chain), backed off from 1. Therefore, the number of times we have seen a card will range from 0 to 24 in our simulations. When you play multi-deck blackjack, counting cards becomes more challenging just because there are so many cards to keep track of. Long term, it works. Counting is not an offense under an state or federal law in the US, so casinos cannot convict or arrest you. Double Deck Blackjack or “Pitch” is a 2-deck variant allowing participants to pick up cards dealt face-down. Counting cards changes your play style in certain ways. You count low cards as +1 and high cards as -1. A deck that is rich in high cards offers a player an advantage over a deck that isn't, because a player is more likely to receive a blackjack. Although, most online casinos use software that shuffles the cards every time a new hand is dealt, making it a bit tricky. 65%. , Rule of 6). Biggest loss is 17. Give yourself the advantage. 28 and the covariance 0. In blackjack, card counting is a mental method that a player uses to do two things: Keep track of how many ten-point cards have been played so far. As cards are dealt throughout the game, calculate the sum of the assigned values. I saw this as a "red light" $1 bet at the Rampart on January 29, 2021. The Hi-Lo card. While not illegal, given that it doesn’t involve any criminal activity, card counting is banned in most casinos because it reduces. Counting cards is most effective with fewer decks in the shoe. Cards 2 through 6 have a +1 count. This is called the ‘Hi Lo’ method. Zen Count. Ace Five-Count is a simplified card counting system. All the cards have a face value of 2 - 10, picture cards known as court cards, Jack, Queen and King, all valued at 10. The reason is simple: online tables use RNG (Random Number Generator) to prevent cheating of any kind. 3. There are many reasons for this obsessive misdirection, not least of which is the sheer bulk of movies, books and websites devoted to the topic. Keep a Running Count. Aces are worth -1 and 5s +1. Another low card 3 brings us to plus 3. In card counting, smart investing means guaranteed returns. At this point, the running count is +4. This system was first developed in the 1990s and came to public attention in the book “Knock-Out Blackjack: The Easiest Card Counting System Ever Devised” written by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. See Card Counting Strategy Comparison for a list of strategies. Here’s a thorough look into this intricate skill: Premise. There are huge risks to both over-betting and under-betting. Essentially, counting cards in blackjack involves assigning values to every card dealt out. 43. Blackjack True Count Explanation. Alongside this strategy, the team uses a three-person team strategy with a big player, a controller and a spotter. Split 9s against a dealer 2-6 or 8-9. 5%. The app is easy to understand and use. Counting cards while playing blackjack requires mathematically analyzing and estimating the favorability of undealt cards within the deck based on. But if mastered, it has the potential to give players an edge over the house. There is a weird way at looking at Schlesinger’s results that yields a higher win-rate under the assumption of a $100 maximum bet. While it may be relatively easy to learn, it can be challenging to master. 16 per 100 hands in potential profit. It’s better to start the count after the dealer has shuffled the deck and a new round begins. The High-Low was first introduced in 1963 by Harvey Dubner 1 . All other cards have a value of 0 (7-9)Blackjack: Card Counting and Strategy. Blackjack card counting is used mainly at land-based casinos and in live dealer games. Blackjack Card Counting Apps. Aces may be counted as one or eleven points. If there are 11 half-decks left and the running count is +7, for example, this. This way, a running count is kept. What are Blackjack Card Counting Myths? Although blockbuster movies like 21 and Rain Man popularize blackjack card counting, there are quite some myths regarding the practice. 3. The 8 is worth 0, so the count stays at plus 1. The game is played with one to eight decks of 52 French cards. The goal is to reach 21 without busting. Playing and Betting Deviations. It followed the true […]Free Blackjack Game Rules. 37,856 pages of Blackjack tables are viewable including about 15,500,000 Blackjack statistics from 320,000,000,000 rounds of play. 0: Cards from 7 to 9. And since a blackjack pays out at 3 to 2. Standard online games will shuffle the cards after every hand and negate card counting. Cards 7 to 9: 0. Learning when to hit and stand is the cornerstone of the basic strategy in blackjack. I just want to be able to go to the casino and maybe make 1 or 2$ an hour so that I can not lose money and maybe get a free drink or two for about 4 or 5 hours of play. Colin is the founder of Blackjack Apprenticeship. The chart below provides you with an easy reference for how to count cards using different card counting systems. You assign each card a value when counting and then. A deck rich with high cards (10, jack, queen, king, ace) favors the player, whereas an excess of low. 15% compared to multi-deck blackjack games that have a house edge between 0. Player’s Odds Table. 65%. By definition it is simply the difference in the expected advantage and the actual results produced. 1. From researching the mathematics the movie, which is based on a true story, uses behind counting cards, we realized we could take a step back and analyze how the game itself is played (see [5] for a description on the math used in the. You must keep track of not only the cards that you are being dealt, but every single card dealt to every. Card counting is a strategy wherein players keep track of the proportion of high-value cards to low-value cards remaining in the deck. Split 2s and 3s against a dealer 4-7, and against a 2 or 3 if DAS is allowed. With the Red 7 system, a player only needs to keep a running count in. This means that by tracking which cards have come out of the shoe during play, we can. This includes split hands. Players - 1-7 seats, each seat can use a different playing & betting strategy. If you’re looking for a documentary that embodies the spirit of the hit film 21, then you’re looking in the. Cards 7, 8, 9 each count as 0. When you’re dealt a blackjack 21, it’s customary to pay out 3:2 or 2:1. . The blackjack card counting trainer lets you practice the Hi-Lo count online at your own pace. Without counting and without the necessary varying your bet size as per the count, the game has a long-run 0. Colin is the founder of Blackjack Apprenticeship. We’ve won millions from casinos through the craft of card counting. To make it as simple as possible to count cards, put the cards in the deck into three groups and assign them the following values. A deck that is rich in high cards offers a player an advantage over a deck that isn't, because a player is more likely to receive a blackjack. Aces may be counted as 1 or 11 points, 2 to 9 according to pip value, and tens and face cards count as ten points. For example, for the popular Hi-Lo counting system, you would input the tag value -1 for Ace and Ten, and tag value +1 for 2-6. To build your endurance, begin by counting down two decks shuffled together. This is the best card counting training. Hi-Lo card counting follows these rules: - 1+: card with value 2-6. However, working with a team does improve the chances that you can spread bets without getting caught. Ace-to-Five Count is the simplest card counting method available as you’ll only have to track aces and fives. Counting cards in blackjack has long been a controversial and misunderstood practice. Just plug in the tag values for each card rank and click Calculate. Click reset to reset your numbers. In one of the blackjack card counting methods, cards 2-6 are valued +1, 7-9 are valued 0, and 10-Ace are valued -1. ACCESS PREMIUM DRILLS. Card count and values. However, you can only use this system in land-based casinos. Analysis and advice for experienced players who have mastered basic strategy, and are looking to add an extra edge to their game. Card counting is a technique used by skilled blackjack players to gain an advantage over the casino. If the count gets to 14 or 15, you double your bet again. read By Henry Tamburin Ph. AV is ~$40 an hour over just under 700 hours. But in a multiple-deck game of blackjack, let’s say eight decks, that’s 31 Aces left instead of 32. By also keeping track of the number of decks remaining. Card Counting is a perfectly legal way to beat casinos, but casinos w. Hint 3 After you’ve counted the cards, use an if statement to check the value of count. The first step is to take a deck of cards and count through it, one at a time. Hi-Lo is a simple card counting system used in blackjack. Card counting is the process of assigning certain values to the cards and then keeping a running count of these cards. At Blackjack Apprenticeship, former pros clear up the confusion and hype associated with counting cards. 21) game allows you to practice card counting, as well as mastering basic strategy. Python based program that calculates the true count of a blackjack game using Wong Halves, Omega II, or Lo-Hi systems. , charts and tables). Split. The High-Low was first introduced in 1963 by Harvey Dubner 1 . iPhone. This works fine as long as you’re playing in a game being dealt from a single deck. You Need A Lot Of Cash To Start With. More importantly, Inside the Edge takes a gritty look at the lifestyle of a blackjack pro and the struggles they deal with. With the Uston APC card counting system, it is a good idea to divide the running count by the half-decks remaining in play. Casinos would eventually label me the “most notorious card counter in America. When the count reaches 12 or 13, you want to double your bet. Keep a Running Count. Avoiding Casino Detection. Show running countCounting cards in blackjack is a simple process that involves assigning a value to each card in the deck. Ken Uston. When the true count is +1, you even the odds with the dealer. Keep a running total. Each card is assigned a specific point value in the Hi Lo System. World’s Greatest Job: Life as a full-time blackjack pro, by Kevin Blackwood. No. The Hi-Lo strategy requires the players to assign specific values to the cards. While this is true to a degree there are simple card counting strategies you can pick up relatively easily and use without being completely obvious at the tables. However, working with a team does improve the chances that you can spread bets without getting caught. Counting cards in the game of the blackjack is one way to know when the odds have shifted into the players favor when going up against the house (dealer). The counter continues to add the tags of each card in every hand including the dealer’s hand until the end of the round. As cards already used in blackjack go to the bottom of the deck, players can calculate the probability of hitting a high card (A, K, Q, J, 10) or a low card (6,5,4,3,2) next. You may have seen his team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians, and has been covered by New York Times, CNN, and The Colbert Report. Choose a Back-Spotter to watch the tables from afar. To display the previous card, click on the left pile. 21) game allows you to practice card counting, as well as mastering basic strategy. 5% advantage. Depending on the Blackjack variant, several decks of 52 cards can also be used when playing online. As per the rules of the KO system, players need to assign the value of +1, 0, or -1 to each card that is dealt at the blackjack table. All the numbers in the following tables are based on. - 1-: cards with value 10 and aces. Ask Question. We've taken Millions from casinos through counting cards. The top 18 plays, known as the Illustrious 18 are show in the table below in order of importance 1) The gains cited are associated with a player spreading bets from 1 to two hands of 6. At the start of a new shoe, set the Running Count equal to 0. Counting cards is usually as simple as adding and subtracting the number 1. Many blackjack aficionados refuse to play any other type of blackjack as this blackjack variant offers slightly better odds, and it enables savvy players the option to count cards. I'm Ready. T, the Hyland, and the Church. The player is mentally keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards. -231. JP Massar poses with some playing cards at his house in Berkeley, Calif. Cards 2 through 6 have a +1 count. Mike Aponte, former member of the infamous MIT Blackjack Team, takes us through the com. The KO blackjack system sacrifices accuracy for convenience. All you need to do is divide the running count by. Or you can generate this info plus much more using blackjack software. Count through a deck of cards. The player continues to add to the count for every card dealt, including the dealer’s cards. 5% advantage at a true 2, and a 1% advantage at a true 3. . That’s why it is virtually impossible to count cards in online blackjack, but there still are enthusiastic players who have tried to do it. These can then be used for a card counting strategy. Card Counting in the Actual Casino Environment Additonal Tips Another thing successful card counters tend to do is scout the casinos for the best possible blackjack games. 5 and the 9 is worth -5. Red Numbers indicate the index that the true count must meet to deviation from basic strategy `+` after the index number indicates the deviation happens at that true count and above `-` after the index number indicates the devation happens at the true count and below 0-indicates the deviation happens at any negative running countAll blackjack card counting methods are based on the premise that some cards are additionally advantageous to the player (and therefore disadvantageous to the house) than other cards. 0. Welcome to black jack card counting 101. Split 7s against a dealer 2-7. Here, the counter adds one for the three cards, another one for the six cards, and minus one for the 10 cards. Cards 10 to Ace: -1. Check out some of the free online blackjack basic strategy and. Data - I figure, if you're going to play billions of hands, you ought to record what happened. Here is how your counting would look during a random blackjack round: Player. For example, if there are 8 decks, your count will begin from -16. Bankroll Needed for <1% Risk: $50,000. But in a multiple-deck game of blackjack, let’s say eight decks, that’s 31 Aces left instead of 32. The dealer reveals a 2 and then is dealt a 10 and a K, going bust. 5 and 10, J, Q, K, A are -1. I’ll try the Mini-Course for now. Learn to count cards: *Bonus Card Counting Content: this I explain how to co. If 12 units stretch your bankroll too thinly, then you can use a more conservative 1-8 bet spread system. I didnt play it but you get two , two card hands with equal bets, and you can switch the cards after that, then i think you play it like a normal two hands but the dealed will push at 22. Whereas low-value cards get a +1 value, and since 7's, 8's, and 9's don't benefit either yourself or the dealer, they're assigned a 0 value. Number cards (2-10) count as face value, Aces count as either 1 or 11, and Kings, Queens, and Jacks count as 10. Simply put, card counting is a blackjack strategy that allows players to determine when the odds are in their favor by keeping a running count of all low and high valued cards dealt. . Advanced Blackjack Topics. In the Hi-Lo card-counting system, each card has one of the three following points: -1,0, & 1. How to Count Cards in Blackjack. The most basic advantage-playing strategy is counting cards. Some players split 10s thinking they will make two more hands of an equal value. The example uses the Hi-Lo system, one of the easiest and most popular methods. Since there are four cards of this denomination during a single deck, the final count once one deck is +4. Card Counter can teach you various counting systems but defaults to the “High-Lo Count” system that was created by Harvey Dubner in 1963. The running count helps you figure out when the shoe is rich in aces and 10-value cards. Aces can count as either 1s or 11s depending on what works best for your hand. Colin has been counting cards for over 15 years, and ran a multi-million dollar blackjack team. $25). We can do this by taking the running count and dividing it by the number of decks. Snyder’s Red 7 card counting technique is the first unbalanced point count system ever invented. Asymmetric systems, such as the Knock Out system (KO), are designed to eliminate the proper value of the cards (more in step 3). If the count. Subtract one when a high card is dealt and add one when a low card is dealt. e. The game of blackjack is the best example to give for card. In simple terms, card counting is a strategy used by players to keep track of high- and low-value cards dealt by the blackjack dealer to determine if the dealer or player will have the advantage in the next hand. The Ace Five blackjack strategy is one of the simplest forms of card counting in the game of 21. An Ace is minus 1. You may have seen his team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians, and has been covered by New York Times, CNN, and The Colbert Report. This is the test for card counting accuracy. If you had 1 betting unit worth $10 and a true count of +3, then your betting amount would be $20. 2. Reasons why include that baccarat is dealt from a shoe, and players can track card values as the shoe is dealt. org card counting simulator. As you may know, teams employ spotters to make minimum bets at tables and count cards. : 342 It is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. 2. Hint 2 Add/subtract the value of each card to variable count. Career Management. The High-Low count simply assigns a value to each card, the player then keeps a running count of what cards have been dealt. Blackjack may be played with one to eight decks of 52-card decks. Playing Deviations are times where you will deviate from basic strategy because the composition of the cards has changed due to the true count changing. For example, if the player has an Ace and 9, he gives 20 (11+9) points to this player. . It uses decks of 52 cards and descends from a global family of casino banking games known as "twenty-one". 1 Assign a Value to Each Card. How to Count Cards in Blackjack. This will clear the pile of cards on the right. The Card Counter Lite is an essentially exciting game that is based on real Blackjack card counting techniques. Card Counting in Blackjack is the process of identifying which cards are left in the deck, by keeping a count of the cards being played. Blackjack teams have existed since Al Francesco invented them in the 1970s. How to Count Cards; Blackjack Strategy Charts; Blackjack Training Drills; About; Blog; Podcast; Blackjack Bootcamp; Private Training; Login; The Card Counting Mini‑Course Video 1 of 5: What is Card Counting (And How Does it Work)?16: Basic strategy when dealer exposes both cards; 17: The Ace-Five card counting method; 18: Basic strategy exceptions for three to six cards; 19: Blackjack splitting strategy when a back-player is betting; 20: Blackjack doubling strategy when doubling after splitting aces is allowed; 21: Details on the Wizard’s Simple Strategy;. There are over 100 different card counting apps for blackjack available for Android and iPhone, but users should beware. In the current article we present the relative value of the semi-Wonging style of play, given a number of circumstances. . Calculate the count per deck. There are many individual “counts” or systems. This app also offers a variety of features that can assist players in bettering their blackjack game to shift. 5, 8 is 0, 9 is -0. In a nutshell, you are going to assign a value to each card as it comes out of the deck based on its rank. This is the best card counting training. In this post on the card-counting simulator, we learned about the basic rules of the game and used Python to create a basic card-counting strategy. 37,856 pages of Blackjack tables are viewable including about 15,500,000 Blackjack statistics from 320,000,000,000 rounds of play. 15% compared to multi-deck blackjack games that have a house edge between 0. Counting cards can be a difficult and tedious task, but it can give players an advantage. You need to convert this “running count” into a “true count” following each hand. Blackjack card counting software. Typically when the odds favor bettors, a player that is counting cards will raise their bets. The average counter is giving up $14. Here’s how you do it: Choose the dealer’s card from the dropdown list. Hi-Lo card counting follows these rules: - 1+: card with value 2-6. 5, cards 3, 4 and 6 are +1, cards 2 and 7 are +0. Play free blackjack with our instant, no registration, no download games. The Blackjack Life: A Journey Through the Inner World of Card Counting, the Lessons of Teamwork, and the Clandestine Pursuit of Beating the Odds Nathaniel Tilton 4. Accordingly, an Ace can be counted as 1 or 11 depending on the cards the player holds. 87%). There are some programs you can use which will count the cards for you, but they are generally forbidden to use.