When it comes to card counting, there are few who know more or can do it better than late Blackjack Hall of Famer Ken Uston.
In fact, he was so proficient in the game of blackjack and card counting that he invented several card counting systems.
We have discussed the Uston APM and the Uston APC card counting techniques and it is now time to pay special attention to one more method devised by the legendary (and highly controversial) blackjack player that Uston was.
Several years after he invented the above-mentioned two systems, Uston teamed up with fellow blackjack experts and card counters Arnold Snyder and Sam Case and the three came up with the Uston SS Count. The method was first published by Gambling Times Inc. in 1986.
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It should be noted that the SS in the system’s name stands for Strongest and Simplest. And while it is definitely a powerful card counting system, “simplest” is quite misleading as Uston SS was not devised with the recreational blackjack player/newbie card counter in mind. It is an advanced technique and requires players to have thorough knowledge of blackjack and how card counting works.
Card counting systems are generally split into two categories – balanced and unbalanced and belong to one of four general levels. The Uston SS Count is an unbalanced, level 3 technique. Being classified as a level 3 card counting system means that it is extremely complex and extremely strong, but there are even more complex and stronger methods out there.
If you are a seasoned blackjack player scouting for a new advanced and highly efficient card counting system, then the Uston SS Count is definitely one you might want to consider.
However, if you are making your first steps into the world of card counting, we suggest that you start with a level 1 system, of which there are plenty. After picking up some experience with a less complex method, you can switch to Uston SS or another advanced system for better results at the blackjack table.
Uston SS: The Basics
Despite being more difficult to master than other systems out there, Uston SS operates just like any other card counting technique ever devised. This means that the first and most important thing a player needs to do when counting cards with Uston SS is to establish a running count.
It is namely the running count that indicates whether there are more high or more low cards left in the deck. And this helps players adjust their bets.
To keep a running count players need to assign value to each and every card dealt during a blackjack game. The chart below shows the values that need to be assigned to the cards when the Uston SS system is used.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
| +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
These values must be memorized as they would be vital to successfully keep a running count and swing the edge to your favor. Based on the above chart, players need to add 2 to their running count when 2s, 3s, 4s, and 6s are dealt, add 3 when 5s appear, add 1 when 7s come out, do nothing when 8s are dealt, subtract 1 from their running count when 9s are dealt, and subtract 2 when 10s, Js, Qs, Ks, and aces appear.
Running Count Keeping Hints
True Count Drills
Approaches Utilized by a Card Counter
Appropriate Games
Zen Count Card Counting System in Blackjack
The KO (Knockout) Card Counting System in Blackjack
Adjusting the Starting Count
The next important thing that players need to do when they use this card counting method is to adjust their starting count. As already pointed out, the Uston SS Count is an unbalanced system. This means that the count does not start with a value of zero and does not necessarily end with a value of zero. In addition, the starting and ending counts are not necessarily the same.
To adjust the starting count the player needs to multiply the number of decks there are in play by -2. The result is the starting count. So, if the player plays a double-deck game, their starting count is -4. Or if there are eight decks in play, the starting count is -16.
As the dealer begins to deal cards, the player needs to add value to each and every card that appears based on the above chart. So, if the count starts at -16 value and the first card dealt is an 8, the running count remains -16; if the next card is a 5, the player needs to add +3 and will get a running count of -13, and so on.
A good thing about the Uston SS Count is that it does not require players to convert the running count into a true count. Many other card counting methods require players to do the true count calculation in order to offset the number of decks there are in play. However, with Uston SS, players offset the number of decks when they adjust their starting count.
With other systems, keeping a true count helps players decide how to size their bets. With this card counting method, the running count is enough to give players information on how much they should wager.
Players can approach bet sizing in two ways. The first and easier route is to use the running count as a multiplier for the table minimum. If the running count is +1 or less, players should bet the table minimum. If the running count is +2 and the table minimum is $20, then players can bet $40.
Another way to adjust the bet size is by creating a tiered system. This way, if the running count is +2 or +3, players might want to bet 2 times the table minimum. If the running count goes up to +4 or +5, they can wager 3 times the table minimum, and so on.
What really makes the Uston SS Count a complex system is the fact that, as seen in the chart above, there are fewer cards that cancel each other out. In other words, players need to track more cards in play which then combine to form the running count.
A good thing about this system is that its efficiency does not depend on side count of aces, unlike the Uston APC card counting system where aces are counted separately from the rest of the cards in the deck.
