The primary goal of every single card counting technique ever devised is to let players know whether there are more large cards (tens and Aces) or small cards left in play and when the advantage slides in their favor during a game of blackjack.
Hi-Opt (highly optimum) 1 is one of the earlier counting methods and its introduction contributed significantly to the popularization of card counting.
This count was developed by Lance Humble and Carl Cooper and was first unveiled in The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book, which they co-authored and published in the early 1980s. The book was praised by Edward O. Thorp, whom many regard as one of the fathers of modern card counting.
Thorp said of the above work that it was “a significant contribution to the literature of blackjack” and recommended it to “beginners as well as experts.”
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Now…
… bringing our attention back to Humble and Cooper’s counting system, we should say that it constitutes a refined version of a count created by Charles Einstein in the late 1960s. Back in the day, Hi-Opt I was probably the most popular method for single-deck games.
Its popularity has waned over the years, as it has become a bit of a daunting task to find a casino that operates single-deck tables. Yet, if you plan a trip to Vegas, there are quite a few downtown properties where you can find such tables and put what you are going to learn in this article into practice.
We deem it important to note that while this system may be less used nowadays, this doesn’t mean it isn’t efficient or that it cannot be applied in multi-deck games. Quite the opposite, it is really powerful, while also not too difficult to master. It has had a good spell but has simply given way to counting methods that better fit experiences offered by contemporary gambling establishments.
In addition, with a little bit of hard work, any player could learn to use it in games that involve more than one and two decks.
And here is a bit more comprehensive information on how to count cards with Hi-Opt I.
Some Bits and Bobs about This Count
Humble and Cooper’s invention is a simple, level 1, balanced strategy. But what do all these things mean, a player who is looking to make their first strides into card counting would ask. Thankfully, we are here to tell you all about that.
Every casino game, we repeat – every casino game – is crafted to give the house a better chance of winning. Blackjack is no exception to this general rule. However, through advantage play, players can swing the pendulum of advantage in their favor.
Card counting systems have strong mathematical backing that they can successfully signal to the player whether there are more strong cards left in play or weaker cards dominate what’s left of the deck/decks used by the dealer. This information helps players adjust their bets. If the undealt portion of cards has more high-valued ones (tens and aces), then you can raise your bet, and if there are more lower-valued cards, then you should reduce your bet to the minimum allowed at your table.
Counting techniques are classified under four categories based on their level of difficulty. As mentioned above, Hi Opt I is a level 1 system, which means that it belongs to the group of the easiest counts.
Counting cards basically involves assigning predetermined values to the cards in play as they are being dealt. Being a level 1 count, this system requires players to only assign -1, 0, and +1 tags based on cards’ actual value. The higher the level a count is classified under, the more values the player needs to assign to the cards.
As already pointed, the system this article discusses is a balanced one. This means that your count should always start at 0 and end at 0. If your count doesn’t end at 0, you’re clearly doing something wrong.
Hi Opt I is very similar to Harvey Dubner’s hugely popular Hi-Lo Count. Unlike the former, the latter is still widely used by players of all levels of skill and counting experience.
The Canfield Expert Blackjack Card Counting System/
The Omega II Blackjack Card Counting System
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Betting/Playing Efficiency
To provide players with a better picture of how powerful this system is exactly, we should discuss two important concepts: betting correlation (or efficiency) and player efficiency.
Betting correlation basically refers to the mutual connection between each card’s point value and the effect its removal has on the edge. In other words, this concept shows how well a counting system works and how successful it is in predicting those of the betting situations emerging at the table that benefit the player.
Betting correlation of 100% is the best you can get. This concept bears particular importance in multi-deck games.
As for playing efficiency, it indicates how well one system or another handles tweaks a player makes in their strategy as the game progresses. This one is really important when single- or double-deck blackjack is played. The best counting technique for playing purposes is no more than 70% accurate.
So…
… the betting efficiency of this count stands at 88%, which is not too shabby, but you’ll find other methods with much higher correlation. For example, the beloved Hi-Lo boasts whopping 97% efficiency.
As for the system’s playing efficiency, it’s 61% which makes it much superior to the above-mentioned other count.
Counting Cards with Hi-Opt I
This counting method, just as all other counts out there, help players calculate the proportion of low cards versus high ones left in play. But why is this so important?
It has been mathematically proven…
… that ten-valued cards (tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings) and Aces benefit the player more than they help the dealer. And following this logic, weaker hands (twos through sixes) benefit the dealer more than the player. The remaining cards – sevens, eights, and nines are, for the most part, neutral and of not that much help to either the player or the dealer.
After the dealer shuffles the cards, there is an equal number of strong and weak cards in the deck or decks. That ratio changes as cards are being dealt. A properly used counting technique will help the player determine whether those of the cards that are still undealt are predominantly high-valued or predominantly low-valued.
When there are more high cards, the chance of getting a blackjack (and be paid at 3:2 in the best-case scenario) or win a double down is significantly bigger.
To count cards with this particular system, you need to assign -1, 0, or +1 tags to cards as they are being delivered by the dealer. Here’s what value each card in the deck is given, following the principles of this count:
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
| 0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
To count cards you need to keep a running count or a running tally of the cards you have already seen and assigned a value to based on the above table. As mentioned above, with this system your count starts with zero. Your running count will update after each hand is dealt.
So, if your running count is 0 and a 4 is dealt, you’ll need to add 1 to your count. If a 5 appears, you’ll again add 1 for a running count of +2. If a King is the next card that the dealer turns, you’ll subtract 1 and your new count will be +1, and so on.
Now, as you know how to keep a running count, you’ll need to learn how to convert it into a true count. This further bolsters the system’s efficiency and gives you better knowledge of what’s still in play and whether a coveted blackjack could soon be dealt.
To calculate the true count, you need to divide the running count by the number of the decks that are still in the shoe. So if your running count is +6 and you think there are around three decks left, your true count is +2.
It requires quite a bit of practice…
… to master the skill of determining how many decks there are still in the shoe by simply eyeballing them, but trust us it is a skill that pays well.
Another thing to take into account is that you don’t need to be exact when calculating your true count. A rough estimate will suffice. For example, if your running count is +7 and you have about 4 decks still to be dealt, this means your true count would be 1.75. Don’t hesitate to round that up to 2, you’ll be just fine.
Side Counting Aces
And while keeping a true count is one of the trickier parts of every card counting system. There’s this other bit that makes newbie counters even more anxious. That’s keeping a side count of Aces.
The Ace is the most frequently side counted card in the deck. And this should not come as a big surprise, since it is the most important card in achieving the best possible balance between betting efficiency and playing efficiency.
While you are not required to side count Aces with Hi-Opt I, keeping an eye on how many of these are left in the shoe will make the system even more powerful and more accurate for betting purposes.
Probably the best Ace side count method for betting purposes, and one that works nicely with this particular counting system, requires players to calculate the number of excess Aces among the remaining cards (may be negative) and multiply it by the point value you assign to ten-valued cards (-1 in this case). Temporarily add the result to your running count. You should then recalculate the true count for betting purposes.
This card counting system is extremely efficient even without the side count, so we recommend that you start by keeping a running and true count and gradually incorporate the Ace side count into your strategy as you get more comfortable with card counting.
Sizing Your Bet
You should be really careful when you size your bet at the table. When you have a negative true count, the rule is extremely simple, you’ll only want to bet the table minimum. However, if your count is positive, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of that.
A popular way to adjust your wager is by multiplying your true count by the table minimum. So, if your true count is +3 and the table minimum is $25, you can next wager $75.
A beginner card counter should be particularly careful when picking their table. You’d better stick to lower table limits until you wrap your head around counting. If you feel a bit confused as to what table is best for you, we suggest that you read our recent article on the matter.
Final Words
Hi-Opt I is a simple counting system, but we don’t recommend it to absolute beginners. The technique requires players to convert the running count into a true count, which would truly perplex someone who has just ventured into card counting.
Yet, the true count conversion and running a side count of the Aces make this system a solid one. The fact that it is balanced further adds to the package of benefits, as many experts claim balanced methods are more accurate than their unbalanced counterparts.
And just as any other counting system, this one too will not make you an instant winner against the dealer, but will help you increase your chances of winning against the dealer significantly. You only need to use it properly.
We should also note that Hi-Opt I should not be confused with its more complex sister strategy Hi-Opt II. We discuss the latter one and what principles a player should follow to effectively incorporate it in their overall strategy in a separate article.
