card counting question!

Hi,

Card counting's purpose is to give you a higher chance of winning. Assuming the deck is full of tens, aces, all the high value cards. You as the player will have a higher chance to win. However, doesn't that also mean that the dealer also have a higher chance to win as well? Both dealer and player draw cards from the same deck. Therefore, does card counting still make you money if done properly or is it still dependent on luck since both player and dealer draws from the same shoe/deck?

If so, can someone enlighten me with regards to the question above?

Thanks in advance!

stiffs versus stiff:
When there are many high cards,

Dealer

H L

H Players win Players win

L Dealer wins Players win**
* Both get 20s or BJ but players Bj paid 3 to 2
** When both get stiff hands, players win more on doubling, splitting, and dealer busts more
Understand?

Welcome xLionelx:

To the left of this posting you will see an index of articles. Begin with reading "Card Counting 101" which will answer your question and give the basics. Then read the articles under the heading "Card Counting". If this whets your appetitite and you want to learn correct counting, you can find the answers to all your questions here and on many books written on the subject (see "Our Catalog" at the top of the page)

Have fun,

Cobbson

of the table:
HH... when both player and dealer get high cards like 20 and BJ, player has some advantages since BJ paid 3 to 2
HL... dealer High cards, player Low cards, player loses
LH... dealer low cards, player high cards, player wins
LL... when both dealer and player low cards, player wins on doubling, splits dealer easier busting.

Michael "Wizard of Odds" Shackleford gives a detailed answer to this question in the November 2008 issue of the Blackjack Insider Newsletter. Of course, you have to subscribe to read it, but the price is reasonable.

... the rules of blackjack are not symmetrical between the player and the dealer. Take blackjacks for example: The player gets paid 3:2 for a blackjack, while the dealer only takes your initial bet if he blackjacks. You would gladly trade an equal number of blackjacks back and forth with the dealer all day long - you will come out ahead by a mile. Blackjacks will occur more frequently when the deck is ripe with 10s and aces for both player AND dealer, but the payout structure of blackjacks favors the player more than the dealer (see above). So higher counts = more frequent blackjacks = increased player expectation. Other player-favorable developments happen in higher counts as well - examples are: double downs tend to work more often (note the dealer can't double down), correctly standing on stiffs vs. low cards works more often (the dealer has no choice when to stand or hit), and insurance can become a positive expectation bet.

EE

I think that is what BJT wrote too, but your explanation was much clearer.