Card counting is a crucial activity while playing Blackjack! Several cards counting systems are there to tell the player when the odds are in their favor. It helps them bet more. Also when the benefit shifts to the house they are indicated to decrease their wagers.
All such mechanisms are driven by the logic that the more 10-value cards and Aces remain in the shoe, the bigger is the chance that the player gets dealt a Blackjack and that the dealer will bust.
The currently available systems are different considering their accuracy, complexity, and efficiency. If you are a newbie, you need time to master the art of the simplest card counting.
Considering these aspects, the interest in Blackjack card counting software is high and there are many options.
Here are the necessary details about various card counting software and its usability!
How Card Counting Software Works and Who can use it?
How Card Counting Software Works and Who can use it
To start with, let’s understand first what card counting software is all about.
This software does not a discreet device that acts as a magic wand, which you can take and use in a land-based casino without anyone noticing.
It works as a primary practice tool using which you get training in different card counting techniques and can develop your skills. This software is not only for the beginners to learn, but experienced card counters may also learn a new system. They can learn other systems than the ones they’ve been using for years. This will not only increase your speed but it will also improve your accuracy.
When you research you’ll find various free options available. These include many apps for iPhones and Android devices. Many are free but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not useful or crap.
Of course, you should expect a highly effective one with truly outstanding performance at a cost. Let’s find out a few options worth trying out.
Best Blackjack Card Counting Software
Blackjack Apprenticeship
Blackjack Apprenticeship is one of the training website offering an intensive video course which teaches you how to count cards in the best possible way.
At the same time, it also offers multiple drills to practice your Blackjack card-counting skills. It also features a forum where you can discuss game strategy, learn tips and tricks. You can also connect with the pros who have already won millions. You can use these services via 3 packages ranging in price from $12.50 to $29 per month.
It this site trustworthy? This site is promoted by guys who have some impressive experience under their belt. The founder of the website, Colin, has been counting cards for nearly 15 years. He has played on all levels, well-traveled around the world as a full-time professional, and currently runs a multi-million dollar Blackjack team consisting of 30+ players.
He’s been featured in the New York Times, The Colbert Report, and CNN with easy to check background and qualifications. The other prime person, Loudon Ofton, is also counting cards professionally for the last 7 years.
You will get the opportunity to learn a thing or two from these professional guys? Better to check out their website!
Card Counter 4
It is received above average reviews. This software provides tutorials and practice modules that will take you through easy, medium, tough and expert levels classes.
This software features all known card counting systems, namely Hi-Lo, Hi-Opt I, Hi-Opt II, KISS III, KO, Omega II, Red 7, Silver Fox and Zen Count. It is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. You can get a free version that will bombard you with ads. It offers one rule system and easy to medium tutorial levels. The Pro version with no ads have multiple rule systems plus custom, and access to all levels.
Developed by TMSOFT
This software was introduced by TMSOFT, a firm functioning since 2008 and is not specialized in Blackjack, not even gambling. Their mission is to “create and publish unique mobile apps for smartphones. This firm witnessed the biggest success Health & Fitness app called White Noise, which was the #1 position on iTunes.
Since its release, it continues to be a top-ranked software. Why use their card counting solution? The reason is obvious. These guys know how to develop a good app, and their product is simple to us. It is great for beginners who are not comfortable with more bulky propositions.
Casino Verite
The most powerful and effective care counting software is Casino Verite. It offers a complete range of tools. This allows you to practice card counting while it adapts to the user.
Beginners can master the basics, intermediate counters can work on their area of weakness and increase their speed and accuracy. And professionals can practice cover strategies, add side counts and more. The tournament players can benefit from a dedicated mode to develop specific tournament- related skills.
This software features several modules, each helps you practice play and count cards in a super-realistic casino environment.
Great for Beginner and Expert both
This software is developed to help all levels of players, allowing one to start simple and keep adding more expert methods at their own pace.
It also offers risk and bankroll calculations, game comparisons, card counting strategy comparisons, 150,000 card counting simulations, and also features a built-in ultra-fast simulator.
CVData is an advanced simulation software offering expert methods, supporting highly complex cover play and error simulation. It also offers a modern card counting index generator.
CVSH is a shuffle-tracking practice and evaluation software allowing Ace Sequencing practice and analysis.
Here are some other features of Casino Verite programs:
· User-friendly with an animated talking guide and content-rich online help
· All common counting systems already available
· 3D realistic graphics
· Available for PCs as well as Android and Apple mobile devices
· Searchable database of 700+ casinos that helps you to duplicate the game found in any of them
· Endorsed by popular gambling writers
· Ability to mimic most games found in casinos worldwide, including Super Fun 21, Royal Match side bet, Double Exposure, etc.
· A downloadable demo version of Casino Verite is available for free, but to get full access, you’ll have to pay about $90, which is a fair deal.
These are the most popular and effective software that you can access online to learn Blackjack card counting system. These are equally beneficial for beginner, intermediate and professionals.
How to practice card counting?
When you play a game of blackjack in a real casino or online casino the deal happens fast.
A great way to practice counting cards is to deal a deck to yourself and keep a running count. If at the completion of the deal you have a count of zero, you were spot on. Increase the deal speed until the count is pretty much second nature and then you’re ready to hit the casinos.
Underlying any counting method is the fact that a high card rich deck/shoe, combined with optimal play, increases the mathematical returns of blackjack. This is because a high card rich deck results in more pat hands for the player and increases the likelihood of dealer busts with forced hits on stiffs like being 12’s to 16’s.
A high card rich deck also increases the chances of Blackjacks being dealt – both to the dealer and players, however for players Blackjack pays 3:2 swinging returns in their favour.
Thus a high card rich shoe improves players’ chances of winning, and the running count tells you whether the remaining shoe is high card rich or not.
The running count gets high as more low cards have been dealt than high cards, meaning on balance there are more high cards remaining in the shoe. This is referred to as a positive count. The greater the positive the count closer to the end of the shoe, the better the odds for players.
Also if the running count is less than zero which is a negative count then the remaining shoe is low card rich and not a good shoe for players. Card counting is simply a means of calculating just how high-card-rich the remaining shoe/deck is so that you can bet accordingly.
Playing and betting to the count
First and foremost you must play basic strategy at all times during your session. That is, choosing the optimal Hit, Stand, Split or Double Down decision given your cards and the dealer’s.
There are simple basic strategy charts (or Hit or Stand charts) that tell you exactly what you should do for every deal circumstance.
These charts will differ depending on the blackjack house rules applying, which do differ from casino to casino. Here’s a typical chart that applies to all live tables offered by Playtech and Evolution Gaming.
- Increase your bets when you have a high positive count towards the end of a shoe
- Don’t bet when you have a low or negative count towards the end of a shoe.
- The extent to which you increase or decrease your bets will be determined by how high the positive count is, or how low the negative count is.
Card Counting – Where it is beneficial?
At land casinos you will not be allowed to count cards if they know you are an advanced player who knows the card counting method. Note that they are pretty good at detecting bet patterns consistent with card counting and they will ask that player to leave and not return.
At online casino RNG (random number generator) blackjack games preclude the possibility of an effective count because all online RNG games are dealt from a full shuffled deck/shoe. Online blackjack card counting is therefore totally useless as you are playing to a full deck/shoe with every deal.
At live casinos the scene is different as live dealer games do not have a computer generated deck that can be automatically replenished and shuffled every game. Also each casino has their own set of Live casino Blackjack rules to follow. At Playtech powered live casino for example you might find eight deck Live Blackjack with a live dealer and a real Blackjack table, with multiple players. The cards are shuffled when there are approximately four decks left in the shoe.
At Evolution Gaming powered live casinos shoe is shuffled at regular intervals. In practice you will find this translates to an approximate mid shoe shuffle also.
In both cases players aren’t able to penetrate deep into the shoe with their count. Playing live dealer blackjack you aren’t given an opportunity to effectively gauge how high card rich the shoe is because the deal never runs to the (near) end of the shoe.
Only at real casinos amongst the lots of noises, distractions you can use card counting if not detected by pit boss.
So playing live online, any counting strategy, while good counting practice, will not enable you to gain an edge over the house either.