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Card Counting FAQ
Dealer's Edge: In Blackjack, the house edge typically ranges from 0.5% to 1%, depending on the game rules. This edge arises as the player acts first, risking busting before the dealer, and because the dealer wins on ties (except for Blackjack).
Card Counting Impact: Card counting involves tracking the ratio of high cards (TJQKA) to low cards (23456) remaining in the deck. A high true count indicates a deck rich in high cards, which benefits the player by increasing the likelihood of Blackjacks (paying 3:2) and dealer busts (as dealers must hit on hands totalling 16 or less). Effective card counting can reduce the house edge and, at sufficiently high true counts, provide the player with a statistical advantage over the house.
Examples of Player Edge by True Count:
- True Count +1: Player edge ~0%.
- True Count +3: Player edge ~0.5%.
- True Count +5: Player edge ~1.0%.
The true count is calculated by dividing the running count (a cumulative tally based on card values) by the number of decks remaining in the shoe. As a general rule, for every +2 increase in the true count, the player’s edge increases by approximately 0.5%.
Strategic Application: By adjusting bet sizes based on the true count, players can optimise their advantage. Smaller bets are placed when the true count is low (indicating a deck favouring the house), while larger bets are made when the true count is high (indicating a player-favourable deck).