As mentioned earlier, the Hi-Lo card counting system is a balanced single-level count. It is balanced because all the cards in the deck (or decks) add up to 0, as will become clear shortly. It is a level-one count because, apart from the cards that have a 0 value, it assigns the remaining cards with a corresponding positive or negative value of the same number – here it is 1 and -1.
Also, the Hi-Lo system is a single-parameter count because it requires no side counts to be kept by the player of cards not given a value. In contrast, there are multi-level and multi-parameter counts that carry a much heavier mind burden and are harder to use, but also have better efficiency.
So let us take a good look at the system’s parameters and continue afterwards with the running count discussion.
The Hi-Lo system splits the card deck into 5 cards with + 1 value for the count upon removal from play, 3 cards with value of 0, and 2 types of cards with -1 value.
1) +1 value cards – 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s
2) 0 value cards – 7s, 8s, 9s
3) -1 value cards – 10s (10s, Js, Qs, Ks), Aces
As you can see, this grouping is almost identical to the table reflecting the changes in player expectations for each card drawn out of the deck. The only difference is that in the table, the 7s have a slight positive value for the player, but far smaller than the cards 2 through 6, while the 9s follow the opposite logic. Thus, for ease of use, the Hi-Lo system just counts them as a 0.
In order for you to learn the Hi-Lo system, it is first necessary to learn to keep a running count rapidly and accurately. At first, you may try to memorize the card values we mentioned above and after that make the next step of counting actual cards. It is appropriate to begin with at least six decks of standard playing cards. If you happen to live near a casino, you may purchase used decks of cards in packs of 12 at a discount from the gift shop. Regardless of the fact there is a variety of programs, designed to aid you in learning how to keep count, holding and observing actual cards is the real deal.
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Practice techniques
The most common way to practice is counting the cards within a deck one by one with the help of the above mentioned card values. Once you find yourself at the end of the deck, if correct, your count should be no other but zero. You may hold the deck face down and count every single card, as it is turned over. Another way is to hold the deck face up and count every single card, as you progress through the deck. With more practice, you may reach a point when you will be able to count the entire deck in 30 seconds, or even less.
Another practice technique includes the removal of a card from the deck without noticing what it was. Now, by counting the entire deck, you may be able to identify if the removed card was a low card, a neutral card or a high card. In case the count points to +1, then the removed card has to be a high card. In case the count points to -1, then the card has to be a low one. In case the count points to zero, then the card has to be a neutral one. If you are wrong in your conclusion, then you should just keep practicing.
Running Count Keeping Hints
Learning to Keep a True Count
True Count Drills
Fab Four Basic Strategy Variation
The Illustrious 18
When you feel adept enough at counting down the entire card deck, you may try to play several one-hand rounds against yourself as the dealer. What is important – make sure you keep a running count while playing. In order to keep it close to real, you may ask a friend or a relative to deal to you. Once you have played a few hands, but have not yet reached the end of the deck, you may check how accurate you have been by counting down what has left in the deck. When you add your running count to the count of the unseen cards, this should result in a 0. If that is not the case, then continue with your practice.
As you grow more experienced at keeping a running count, you will probably notice how you search for pairs of cards, which cancel each other out. For instance, if you are holding a 10 (which is -1) and a 6 (which is +1), such a hand will have a value of 0. No matter if the cards cancel each other out or not, you should try to count two cards at a time. In the common case, this is how you will see the cards at a casino.
There is another way to count cards in pairs. You may try to deal out the cards face up to 7 players and the dealer, as you keep your eyes closed. You should make sure that you put the dealer’s upcard in the same position it would be put on the table at a casino. Next, you may open your eyes, scan the table and attempt to pick up the count as fast as you can (it would be no longer than a few seconds). In time and practice, to cancel out pairs of cards would be no effort to you at all. In addition, you will even be able to cancel other variations. In case, for instance, there is a pair of 10s in one hand and a 5 and a 6 in another hand, all these four cards should count as 0.
Perfect playing efficiency?
No card-counting system has a perfect playing efficiency, or no system is 100% accurate in providing information regarding the correct playing decision given the deck composition. The closer to 100% one system is, the higher its accuracy is when it comes to perfect play prediction. The best card counting system, in terms of playing efficiency, enables a card counter to play at 70% of the ”perfect playing strategy” for any hand. Such a system, however, is quite a complex multilevel count, which explains why it is not that commonly used.
The Hi-Lo system provides a playing efficiency of 51%. However, it has a betting correlation of 97%, or, in other words, it is 97% accurate in predicting when a player should raise or reduce his/her bet, taking into consideration the count and the composition of the cards that remain in play.
One should not disregard higher level counting systems, because if the latter are used by an astute player, they will ease considerably his/her inflow of money compared to level-one counts. Systems such as the Advanced Omega II Count and HiOpt 2 have already proven their efficiency as money makers.
