Card counting is the best-known form of advantage play when it comes to blackjack and it includes dozens of different techniques for players of all skills and abilities under its umbrella.
Although card counting strategies vary in level of complexity and blackjack expertise required to implement, their ultimate goal is to let players know when the edge swings in their favor and help them adjust their bets based on that knowledge.
Card counting systems are generally classified by their level of difficulty in four levels. Expert card counters usually opt for level 3 strategies like the Uston SS Count or even level 4 ones, but beginner card counters are strongly recommended to avoid complex methods until they get to grips with card counting and have practiced it long enough.
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The latter group of players should rather venture into card counting with level 1 systems and the Silver Fox is one such system. This method was invented and popularized by Ralph Stricker, an expert player who was actually known in the blackjack community as the Silver Fox due to his card counting skills and ability to evade the watchful eyes of casino card-counter catchers.
And here is a little bit more about this easy but powerful and efficient card counting systems and what players are required to do to master it and use it at the blackjack table.
The Silver Fox Card Counting System Basics
As with any other card counting methods, the Silver Fox, if used correctly, tells players whether the remaining cards in the shoe are good or bad, that is to say whether there are more high (aces and 10s) or more low cards left in the deck. This information is particularly important when players adjust their bets.
To use the Silver Fox card counting system players will need to keep a running count throughout their game. Keeping a running count is one of the skills that a card counter must master in order to be able to utilize any card counting technique.
To keep a running count players need to assign a value to each and every card dealt throughout their blackjack game. The Silver Fox technique is a balanced, level 1 system. This means that a) the running count always starts at 0, and by the time all cards have been dealt, the count will need to have returned to zero, and b) the values assigned to the cards range from -1 to +1.
With the starting count being a 0, the running count will update after a new card is turned by the dealer based on the values in the chart below:
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
| +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
In other words, players need to add 1 to their running count if a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 appears, do nothing if an 8 is dealt, or subtract 1 from their running count if a 9, 10, J, Q, K, or an ace comes up.
So, if the first card dealt is a J, the card counter needs to subtract 1 from their running count. The running count thus becomes -1. If the next card is an ace, the player will need to once again subtract 1 and the running count will become -2. If the third card dealt is a 3, the player will have to add 1 to the running count, bringing it to -1. The process is repeated until all cards are dealt and the dealer reshuffles them.
Running Count Keeping Hints
True Count Drills
Approaches Utilized by a Card Counter
Appropriate Games
Zen Count Card Counting System in Blackjack
The Omega II Blackjack Card Counting System
It should be noted that with the Silver Fox system, there are quite a few of occasions when the cards will offset each other, as there is an equal number of cards valued +1 and -1. For example, when a six and a 10 appear, their values of +1 and -1 will cancel each other.
Keeping a True Count and a Side Count of Aces
As it is with most balanced card counting systems, players also need to convert the running count into a true count. This is particularly important when players play blackjack with multiple decks. Players need to divide the running count by the number of decks they believe there are in the shoe. The true count always gives an even more accurate assessment of the cards left in play.
When the true count is positive, players would want to take advantage of that by increasing their bet. The higher the count, the more they would want to bet. And, of course, if the count is negative, bets should be kept at the lowest possible. And if the count is a really large negative, players might want to consider standing or even quitting the game.
It is a good idea to also keep a side count of the aces with the Silver Fox system. Being aware how many aces are still in play is important information, as if there is a higher proportion of these, the chance of hitting a natural blackjack is pretty good.
The Silver Fox system is a great way for a player to get into card counting. It is simple and pretty straightforward. It requires significantly less practice than most other card counting techniques, but is still powerful enough to help beginner card counters get that all-important edge.
It should be noted that there are also seasoned players who like to use this system. Compared to other, more complex card counting methods, it is decently efficient. And it also a good one to switch to at the blackjack table after hours of pushing the limits of your mental abilities with powerful but extremely complex level 3 and level 4 strategies.
