The Hi-Lo strategy is one of the most popular card counting strategies, as well as one of the easiest to learn. Created by Harvey Dubner, this is a great strategy for beginning to intermediate blackjack card counters and if you can do the simplest of math then you can use it to improve your blackjack success.
When using the Hi-Lo system, each card value in the deck is assigned a number. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cards each are assigned a numbered score of +1. These are the 'low' cards. Cards with a value of 10 (10, J, Q, K) and Aces are each assigned a numbered score of -1. These are the 'high' cards. The middle card values of 7, 8 and 9 are given a score of 0.
The advantage of the Hi-Lo system is simplicity. Compared with other blackjack counts, Hi Lo card counting does lack precision. Hi-Opt 1 and 2: These systems were developed by Lance Humble, though they can be traced back to the 1960s. There are many more“neutral”cards compared to the Hi-Lo Count. Hi-Opt 1 uses aces, twos, sevens, eights. The Hi/Lo card counting strategy is the easiest card counting system for blackjack players and typically this should be the first card counting system that you try using. The reason the system is considered to be the easiest to learn is because you will only need to be able to do simple math including adding 1, subtracting 1 and adding 0. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Check the table’s blackjack rules. Before you start playing at a table, it’s important to find out how you will be paid for a blackjack. If you get a natural blackjack, a 21 on the first two cards dealt to you, a table may pay you 3:2, which is $3 for every $2 wagered. Others will pay you less, such as 6:5, and should be avoided.
As cards are dealt out, a card counting player must do the math according to each card. If a string of cards is dealt as follows: 10, J, 3, 5, Q then the player determines the value as -1 – 1 + 1 + 1 – 1 for a total value of -1. You must begin the card count after the deck is shuffled with the first card that is dealt. If you miss cards and you lose your count then shift your odds and decrease your chances of winning.
The larger the number becomes as you count cards, the more large cards remain in the deck. If the count is far into the negatives then this means that many of the 10-value cards and Aces have already been dealt and many small cards remain in the deck.
The Hi-Lo strategy of counting cards is a fantastic system for new card counters and is a great way to ease yourself into the world of card counting and improve your chances of winning at blackjack.