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<blockquote data-quote="Skarp Hedin" data-source="post: 1085354" data-attributes="member: 1540">I myself can't count cards at all.&nbsp; However, I did know a guy in grad school who was paying for his room and board at school by blackjack winnings, and he was still there, so it seems it can be done well, hah.Essentially, it's a method of tracking cards by assigning them some sort of modifier to a running total in your head.&nbsp; There are various systems, but the one he told me about involved, I believe, assigning each card as you see it a number from +7 to -7.&nbsp; Or maybe it was +/- 3.&nbsp; Either way, you kept track of the total running, and that way you had a pretty good idea of the proportion of helpful to harmful cards left running.&nbsp; It's more complex than that, and requires constant vigilance and all, but if you're good at it, you get a big advantage in your betting.It's not illegal, but it's certainly against the rules.&nbsp; Meaning, casinos will throw you out if they catch you or begin to strongly suspect you.&nbsp; They'll also take your picture to other casinos and tell them about it, sometimes.&nbsp; Or, they just restrict you in what sort of blackjack you're allowed to play -- the fellow I knew quit going to one place because they told him he'd have to stick to 6 deck blackjack and couldn't play 2 deck or 4 deck anymore -- and the logisitics of keeping the count running and when there are 6 or more decks of cards is too difficult, since there are just so many cards still in the deck at any time. I'm sure someone'll be able to answer better than that, but that's what Bob told me.&nbsp; Bob the Canon Law major.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Skarp Hedin, post: 1085354, member: 1540"] I myself can't count cards at all. However, I did know a guy in grad school who was paying for his room and board at school by blackjack winnings, and he was still there, so it seems it can be done well, hah. Essentially, it's a method of tracking cards by assigning them some sort of modifier to a running total in your head. There are various systems, but the one he told me about involved, I believe, assigning each card as you see it a number from +7 to -7. Or maybe it was +/- 3. Either way, you kept track of the total running, and that way you had a pretty good idea of the proportion of helpful to harmful cards left running. It's more complex than that, and requires constant vigilance and all, but if you're good at it, you get a big advantage in your betting. It's not illegal, but it's certainly against the rules. Meaning, casinos will throw you out if they catch you or begin to strongly suspect you. They'll also take your picture to other casinos and tell them about it, sometimes. Or, they just restrict you in what sort of blackjack you're allowed to play -- the fellow I knew quit going to one place because they told him he'd have to stick to 6 deck blackjack and couldn't play 2 deck or 4 deck anymore -- and the logisitics of keeping the count running and when there are 6 or more decks of cards is too difficult, since there are just so many cards still in the deck at any time. I'm sure someone'll be able to answer better than that, but that's what Bob told me. Bob the Canon Law major. [/QUOTE]

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