Card Counting

Fallacy 1: Complicated Card Counting Strategies Are More Successful

A card counting system can be complicated or it can be simple, it depends on the system. The fact the system is complicated does NOT guarantee it will be more successful than a simple one. There is no correlation between the complexity of a card counting systems and the profitability.

Fallacy 2: Card Counters Can Predict the Sequence of Cards

Card counting in blackjack does not allow card counters to predict the sequence of cards that come out of the deck. In reality, it is impossible to detect the sequence of the remaining cards. Card counting is not a predictive theory. It is simply a probability theory that will put the odds in your favor over the long term. Short-term results can of course vary dramatically. This myth is popular because of the movie Rain Man

Fallacy 3: You Don’t Need A Large Bankroll To Win When Card Counting

Once a player has learned how to count cards in blackjack, they will very often feel invincible. When playing at the table they feel that they won’t need much money due to the skills that they have learned. Card counting can give you an edge in the longer term, but in the shorter term, you can, and will have losing streaks. and you need an adequate bankroll to ride them

 21 is about a group of students from MIT that learn the art of card counting and walk away from Las Vegas with millions of dollars. 21 is directed by Robert Luketic and starring Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne. In theatres March 28.

This movie looks amazing and will be probably make you want to learn how to count cards after watching it.

[youtube _Dq-M9a4biE 21 Offical Trailer]

It all started with the movie Rain Man that made me want to be a card counter.

Iris: So, what are you doing in Las Vegas?
Raymond: We’re counting cards.
Iris: You’re counting cards?
Raymond: We’re counting cards.
Iris: That’s interesting.
Raymond: We’re counting cards.
Iris: I know you’re counting cards, what else are you doing?
Raymond: Are you taking any prescription medication?

There is a common misconception among people that card counting is illegal…

Charlie: Now casinos have house rules: they don’t like to lose. So you never show that you’re counting cards. That is the cardinal sin, Ray.
Raymond: Counting cards is bad.

The casinos want you to believe that card counting is illegal and immoral but the fact is that card counters are simply using a greater level of skill than the typical blackjack player does. The Nevada courts have ruled that blackjack players are free to card count or use any information that is made available to them, provided that there is no collusion between players or casino personnel.

If the casinos catch you card counting you will get asked to play any game but blackjack or in more serious cases to not come back to that casino. In Atlantic City this is illegal for a casino to do. They do have countermeasures to protect themselves.