The Perfect Count

The Perfect Count
There are typically 3 different levels of card counting strategies that you could choose to learn. The value assigned to each individual card will determine its complexity and accuracy. As cards are being dealt during a game of blackjack, it affects the cards that remain. Having a value assigned to each card as they are dealt allows you to mathematically determine whether the remaining cards have increased your chances of winning or not. Each card affects the remaining cards slightly differently than the other; it is for this reason only that Level 2 and Level 3 counts exist. The benefit of using a Level 2 or a Level 3 count is that they are more accurate and therefore increase your overall profit. Finding the perfect balance between ease and accuracy however is crucial. It serves no purpose to use the easiest count if it doesn't make enough profit; it also serves no purpose to learn the most difficult count if it's too hard to do at the table.
Level 1: This count is most often referred to as a High/Low count, it is the easiest to learn but will yield the least amount of profit. Each card is assigned either a value of +1 or -1.
The assigned values are as follows:
• 2 Thru 6. These cards are counted as +1 as they are dealt.
• 7, 8`s and 9`s. These cards are assigned no value and are therefore ignored as they are dealt.
• 10`s and Aces. These cards are counted as -1 as they are dealt.
Level 2 and Level 3 counts have different values assigned to each card (instead of just +1 or -1). In a level 2 count some cards will be assigned a value of +2 and -2, and obviously in a level 3 count some cards will have a value of +3 or -3.
Factors that affect the overall advantage:
• The knowledge of Basic Strategy.
• The Violations to basic strategy when it is required.
• The method used to convert the Running Count into the True Count.
• The Betting Spread that is applied.
• The number of Decks in the game (single, double or multi deck).
• Penetration Points.
• The amount of hands played Per Hour.
• The Casino Rules.
• Which Level Count is being applied.
These are all of the factors that affect your overall advantage when counting cards. The more accurate your count is, the less these factors will influence your hourly rate.