What Is Running Count and True Count in Blackjack?

Blackjack is a popular card game played in casinos all over the world. It’s a game of strategy and luck, and players need to be aware of certain terms like “running count” and “true count” to play the game effectively.

Running Count
The running count in blackjack is simply keeping track of the cards that have been dealt. Each card has a value assigned to it – 2 through 6 have a value of +1, while 10, J, Q, K and A have a value of -1. The cards 7, 8 and 9 are considered neutral and have no value assigned to them.

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When a new hand is dealt, the player starts with a running count of zero. As each card is dealt, the player adds or subtracts the corresponding value from their running count. For example, if the first three cards are 5, K and 4, the running count would be +0 (because +1 for the first card is canceled out by -1 for the second card).

The purpose of keeping track of the running count is to determine whether there are more high-value cards (which benefit the player) or low-value cards (which benefit the dealer) left in the deck.

PRO TIP:When playing Blackjack, keeping track of the cards that have already been dealt is important. The Running Count is a tally of cards that have been played, while the True Count takes the Running Count and divides it by the number of decks left in the shoe. Knowing the True Count can help players make more informed decisions when deciding whether to hit or stand.

True Count
While keeping track of the running count is important, it’s not enough to make accurate decisions in blackjack. The true count takes into account how many decks are left in play.

To calculate the true count, divide your running count by the number of decks remaining in play. For example, if your running count is +6 and there are three decks remaining in play, your true count would be +2 (because +6 divided by 3 equals +2).

The purpose of calculating the true count is to adjust your betting strategies accordingly. If you have a high true count (meaning there are more high-value cards left in play), you may want to increase your bet size to take advantage of the favorable odds. On the other hand, if you have a low true count (meaning there are more low-value cards left in play), you may want to decrease your bet size to minimize your losses.

Conclusion
In summary, the running count and true count are important concepts in blackjack that can help players make better decisions and improve their chances of winning. By keeping track of the cards that have been dealt and adjusting your betting strategies based on the true count, you can become a more skilled blackjack player.