Card Counting in Online Live Blackjack

Blackjack has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most popular card games in both online and land-based casinos across Canada. While luck plays a role in drawing the best cards to win big, employing a solid strategy can significantly boost your winning odds.

There are numerous strategies available for online card games. Among the most legendary is card counting.

While card counting is generally trickier to pull off in online blackjack compared to physical casinos, it's still feasible and can give you a slight edge over the house.

How Exactly Does Card Counting Work in Canadian Casinos?

Whether you're drawn to blackjack or poker online, you can always leverage card counting.

This technique involves keeping a mental tally of the cards that have already been dealt. As you play and get into the rhythm of counting, you'll be able to determine whether the next hand is likely to favour you.

Step 1: Assign Values to Dealt Cards

Begin by observing the cards as they are dealt and assigning these values:

• Low cards (2 through 6) = +1
• Neutral cards (7 through 9) = 0
• High cards (Ace through 10) = -1. This ongoing tally is often called the "running count."

Step 2: Calculate Your True Count

Next, create a "true count" to account for the multiple decks used in most real-money Canadian blackjack games. To do this, divide your running count by the estimated number of remaining decks. You can estimate by observing the shoe. For example, if your running count is +9 and you estimate 3 decks are left, your true count is +3.

Step 3: Know Your Advantage

Next, apply the “true count” to determine if you hold an edge over the house. Here is how true count determines the advantage or disadvantage: -3 = 2.05% house edge -2 = 1.53% house edge -1 = 0.80% house edge 0 = 0.42% house edge +3 = 1.77% player’s advantage +2 = 1.17% player’s advantage +1 = 0.58% player’s advantage Remember that a higher true count lets you risk more with high confidence.

The Possibility of Online Live Blackjack Card Counting

While online live blackjack uses real decks of cards, they are shuffled more frequently than in a traditional casino. This makes it harder for players to count cards effectively. Additionally, many live online casinos employ software to detect card counters and prevent them from playing. However, it is still possible to use card counting strategies in online live blackjack if you are disciplined and adapt your strategies to the online format.

Strategies for Card Counting in Online Live Blackjack

Here are some tips to help you implement card-counting strategies in online live blackjack:

Keep it simple

Stick to a basic card counting system like the Hi-Lo count. This system is easy to learn and implement and will give you a good idea of when the deck is in your favor.

Practice

Practice counting cards at home before playing online live blackjack. There are many online simulators available that can help you improve your skills.

Adjust your betting

When the deck is in your favor, increase your bet. When the deck is against you, decrease your bet. This will help you maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.

Pay attention to the game

Stay focused on the game and avoid distractions. Watch for changes in the dealer's behavior and patterns in the cards dealt with.

Risks and Rewards of Card Counting in Online Live Blackjack

Card counting can give players an edge over the house, but it also carries risks. Here are some potential risks and rewards to consider:

Rewards

• Increased chances of winning
• More accurate betting decisions
• Ability to take advantage of favorable situations

Risks

• Detection by live online casinos and possible ban
• Legal consequences in some jurisdictions
• Requires a significant amount of time and effort to master

Conclusion

Overall, card counting will always be easier to implement if you are playing in a land-based casino. Nevertheless, this strategy will work well even online if you practice it enough and find a good casino to do it.

We recommend you start on blackjack tables with fewer decks in play, which will make your job simple.