What Is Zen Count Blackjack?

Zen Count Blackjack is a card counting strategy that is used by professional blackjack players to gain an advantage over the casino. The strategy was developed by Arnold Snyder, who is a renowned blackjack player and author of several books on the subject.

The Zen Count system is a balanced card counting system, which means that it assigns values to each card in the deck and those values balance out to zero when all the cards have been counted. This is important because it allows players to keep an accurate count of the cards that have been dealt.

To use the Zen Count system, players assign values to each card as follows:

– Cards two through six are assigned a value of +1
– Cards seven through nine are assigned a value of 0
– Tens and face cards (jacks, queens, kings) are assigned a value of -2
– Aces are assigned a value of -1

When a player sees a card being dealt, they add its value to their running count. For example, if they see a six being dealt, they add one to their count. If they see an ace being dealt, they subtract one from their count.

The goal of using the Zen Count system is to keep an accurate count of the high and low cards that have been dealt. When there are more high cards left in the deck, players have an advantage over the casino because they are more likely to get blackjack (an ace and a ten or face card) which pays out at 3:2 odds.

However, when there are more low cards left in the deck, players have a disadvantage because it’s harder for them to get blackjack and easier for them to bust (go over 21).

By using the Zen Count system, players can adjust their betting strategy based on whether there are more high or low cards left in the deck. They can increase their bets when there are more high cards left and decrease their bets when there are more low cards left.

One of the advantages of using the Zen Count system is that it’s relatively easy to learn and use compared to other card counting strategies. It’s also effective at giving players an advantage over the casino, which is why it’s a popular strategy among professional blackjack players.

However, it’s important to note that card counting is not illegal, but casinos frown upon it and may ask players to leave if they suspect them of counting cards. It’s also important for players to be disciplined with their betting and not get greedy or reckless when they have an advantage.

In conclusion, the Zen Count system is a balanced card counting strategy that can give players an advantage over the casino when used correctly. While it’s not foolproof and requires discipline and skill, it’s a popular strategy among professional blackjack players and can help improve a player’s odds at the table.