Regardless of what some think about gambling, we can all agree that it is a fun activity that we can do in our spare time.
Of course, much has changed since gambling, at least some types of it, became legal in most countries, but today, all we need to play our favorite game of chance is a stable WiFi connection and time.
On the other hand, there are many myths about wagering, and especially about gambling strategies, so let’s focus on that first.
Gambling strategies and systems
Even though a general opinion on gambling strategies is that there isn’t one that can grant a high success rate, in reality, these systems can be of vast help, profits-wise. We all know or have at least heard about one of those strategies, but if you ask experienced players, they would all say that they use many of them while playing.
Of course, it all depends on the game, as certain systems work better for some while are almost useless for others, so before using any gambling strategy, do your homework and practice and learn more about which system should be used for which games. Take counting cards as an example because this is what troubles people the most because most of them don’t know how it works and whether it’s legal or not.
How does it work?
The name says it all, but there are variations and tactics that players use to make this process much easier. As you might have guessed, counting cards can be difficult, as you need to memorize which cards have been drawn so that you can increase the chances of winning.
Now, since our brain can really surprise us sometimes, every single one of us has a different strategy for memorizing something, but a common and proven way is connecting numbers (cards) to some image or giving them some higher meaning. We can memorize more cards, reduce chances of making mistakes, and, as the end result, win more often by doing so.
Of course, with time and practice, one can really master this so-called skill, which is why if this is your goal, make sure to set aside enough time to practice at home so that once you actually go to some casino, you can put it into good use.
Is it cheating?
Okay, this entirely depends on who you ask, their point of view, and, more importantly, whether they own a casino or not. When we focus on the facts, this shouldn’t be illegal or considered cheating because all we do is use our brain, but we highly recommend not using this argument in some casinos.
Namely, counting cards is considered cheating in most casinos, but since it is a memorizing game of sorts, if someone is good at it, it can be pretty difficult to notice that they are counting cards. In essence, no one can forbid anyone to use their brain and how they do so, but that doesn’t mean that we can use this skill in every casino, as most of them have some kind of a policy against it.
Blackjack game
If we ask any casino lover about their favorite games, there is no doubt that Blackjack will be on a high place in a list, thanks to its simple yet interesting rules. When we say simple rules, we really mean it, as the goal of this great game is to collect 21 points or get as close as you can to it by using strategies to beat the dealer.
By memorizing the cards that have already been dealt, we increase our chances of guessing the next one, which can help us make the best decision we can and gain profit. Although this strategy might still look too complicated for new players, there is no need to worry. Blackjack is not difficult to understand and anyone can quickly learn how to play it, and besides that, Blackjack is the best game for card counting as it can really make the difference.
Various counting systems
As we have already mentioned, there are various ways in which we can count cards, and they are divided into balanced and unbalanced ones, depending on the values we assign to the cards. Speaking about the balanced methods, probably the most popular one is a High-Low one, and its main characteristic is that the entire deck of 52 cards is valued as zero. In order to get the true count, we need to keep an eye on the running count of these cards when played and divide it by the number of remaining decks.
On the other side, we have unbalanced methods, and there is no doubt that Speed Count/Knock Out (KO) is the one that is most used in casinos worldwide. The main difference is that we do not look at the 52-card deck as zero, and instead of that, we start our counting with the number which is already predetermined. That number will tell us whether the deck is negative or positive, and make counting cards much easier. Another great benefit is that we do not need to worry about the true count, remember cards and divide them, which leaves us more time to enjoy the game.
Final thoughts
As you can see, counting cards is not an illegal strategy, but it is better not to be caught when using it because many casinos will not be happy with that. Although it might seem too complicated when we first hear about it, the truth is different, and every person in the world can learn how to count cards if persistent enough and with enough exercise.
Sometimes going to the casino every day to practice is not a good idea, but thanks to the internet and modern technology, we can do that now from the comfort of our own homes. This industry has improved so much that we can now enjoy even live games with live dealers, just like we are in the casino. Of course, if you are looking for a live casino online, it is important to be cautious since there are many scams and do detailed research.
