The Hi-Lo system
| Low cards | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | +1 |
| Neutral | 7, 8, 9 | 0 |
| High cards | 10, J, Q, K, A | −1 |
A full deck is balanced (20 low, 20 high, 12 neutral) so a complete shoe always counts to zero. A positive running count means more high cards remain than statistically expected — that favours the player.
Running vs true count
The running count is the raw sum of card values dealt. The true count normalises for shoe size: true = running ÷ decks remaining. True count is what determines bet size and strategy deviations; +2 in a single deck is much hotter than +2 in a six-deck shoe.
How to practise
- Start with one deck on slow speed. Get to perfect accuracy before moving up.
- Move to two decks, then six, then eight, increasing speed each time.
- Aim for under 30 seconds per deck (≈0.6 s per card) before playing for real money.
FAQ
Is card counting illegal?
No, it's perfectly legal. Casinos may ask you to leave (private property, their right) but you cannot be arrested for thinking. Some jurisdictions like New Jersey explicitly protect counters.
Why use Hi-Lo and not a more advanced system?
Hi-Lo is balanced, easy to learn, and gives ≈97% of the bankroll edge of the most complex systems. Multi-level systems (Wong Halves, Hi-Opt II) are harder to track perfectly under pressure — accuracy beats theoretical edge.