6 reasons why you should never count cards

When people think about casino card games like online blackjack, they often think about card counting. Why is that?

First of all, because everyone wants to beat the casino and win some money, but also because card counting is everywhere in our pop culture.

There are at least four major movies with card counting represented in them. How many can you remember?

Besides 21, Rainman, Vegas Vacation and The Hangover, card counting is also featured in numerous documentaries, magazine articles, casino blogs, forums and YouTube videos.

Card counting in blackjack has been so heavily portrayed in pop culture that nowadays you can even find online or face to face courses on how to count cards. We do not recommend you invest your money in any of those courses. In fact, we do not recommend you count cards at all. Keep reading to find out why you should never count cards.

If you want to learn how to play Blackjack online and win, we recommend that instead of learning how to count cards, you read these articles instead:

What is card counting and how does it work?

Counting cards is a very famous strategy used in some casino card games, such as blackjack and blackjack online. This blackjack strategy is used to gain advantage over the house, by keeping track of the cards that have been dealt and adjust your bets accordingly.

Essentially, counting cards means keeping a mental tally of the cards that have been played and using this information to estimate the likelihood of certain cards being dealt in the future.

Remember when your math teacher told you mathematics was going to be useful in life and you didn’t believe them?

Well, looks like they were right. Mathematics and statistics can be useful in practically all fields of life and the best casino games are no exception. The idea behind counting cards is that, as certain cards are played, the odds of other cards being dealt increase or decrease, depending on the specific game and the rules being used.

By keeping track of which cards have been played, a skilled card counter can make more informed decisions about when to increase or decrease their bets, therefore increasing their chances of winning in the long run.

Is card counting illegal?

It's important to note that card counting is not illegal, but it is frowned upon by casinos. If caught counting cards, a player may be asked to leave the casino and/or have their winnings withheld. Some casinos also use measures such as automatic shuffling machines or changing the rules of the game to make it more difficult for card counters to gain an advantage.

Let’s now check the 6 reasons why you should NEVER count cards.

It is extremely complex

Counting cards effectively requires a high level of skill and concentration, and it can take years of practice to become proficient.

Once you become proficient at counting cards and find a decent blackjack game, you'll have to deal with all the distractions of a casino table. That means dealing with loud background music, cigarette and cigar smoke, players talking to you right at the middle of your counting, the dealer pressuring you to play, etc.

You might have perfected your counting cards skills in your silent living room but trust us, once you have to put it into practice in a new environment that is slightly intimidating, it is so easy to get distracted and simply lose your count.

Also, after all your hard work, it is likely you won't be able to play for long because when the casino begins to suspect that you are counting cards, you will be asked to leave.

Keep in mind that even experienced counters can easily make mistakes or lose their focus, which can lead to costly errors.

A lot of game variation possibilities

When playing blackjack online, there is something you must keep in mind at all times: different casinos, including online casinos, may use different rules for their blackjack games, such as using multiple decks, changing the payout ratio, or restricting when a player can split or double down. This is intended to make it difficult for a card counter to adjust their strategy and maintain their edge.

Casinos know that card counters try very hard to beat their games. To make it more complicated to count cards, you're likely to find that most games have complicated rules (such as "blackjack pays 6 to 5" or "dealer goes on soft 17").

As a result, you are likely to spend a lot more time looking for good games online than actually playing good blackjack games online.

Relax, just go online and play online blackjack or even other fun casino games like online roulette.

You will likely get caught!

That’s right… You may think you are smart, and perhaps you are, but casinos will likely outsmart you.

Casinos are always on the lookout for card counters and employ various measures to detect and prevent them from winning. This includes using surveillance cameras, employing trained personnel, and implementing countermeasures such as shuffling the deck more frequently.

Card counting is an old thing and there is a lot of information available on card counting. For that reason, every casino where card counting may be possible, you can be sure that it will be forewarned.

Table Minimums and bankroll

Casinos often require players to place a minimum bet in order to play, and this minimum can be high, making it difficult for card counters to effectively manage their bankroll.

Managing your bankroll is crucial when it comes to gambling, as it can significantly impact your chances of winning or losing money. Bankroll management refers to the process of controlling how much money you wager on each bet, and how much you have in reserve to continue playing if you experience a losing streak.

It’s simply not worth the risk

There is an almost universal perception that you can make a lot of money counting cards in blackjack. Unfortunately, this is not exactly the case. You probably won't make millions and most likely you won't even make thousands.

Some risks are definitely worth taking but counting cards is not one of them. You will be banned from the casino premises. In addition, casinos may share information about card counters with other casinos to prevent them from playing in the future.

Moreover, if a player is caught using electronic devices or other cheating methods to count cards, they could face criminal charges. You don’t want that!

Learn how to play blackjack and win properly - it’s really not that hard! You can read all about it here. And, if you want to practice a few rounds without risking your money, you can always choose to play blackjack for free at Tuskcasino and learn your way to the top.

The chances of failing are too high

In topics such as this one, it is common to hear a few impressive success stories and assume that’s the case for the majority. It’s even more common to think you are the next lucky one to win big. You might be, but we are here to tell you the chances are actually minimum.

If you browse the specialty forums where card counting professionals discuss their experiences over months or years, you will regularly hear stories of incredible losses spanning hundreds of hours of play. Card counters often speak in terms of playing tens of thousands of hands in order to appear reasonably confident of being ahead of the game and in control of the situation.

Big losses can have a massive financial and psychological impact. Watch out!

Conclusion and final thoughts

To learn blackjack basic strategy is much easier than to learn and master blackjack card counting.

Contrary to popular belief, the people who beat the casino and win the best casino money prizes aren't the ones counting cards. If you are looking for ways to beat the casino, card counting should be at the bottom end of your list. If your goal is to play blackjack and win in a casino, there are ways that are much quicker to learn and easier to use than card counting in Blackjack.

Try reading these articles instead:

How to Play Every Possible Hand in Blackjack Correctly

How to Make Money With Online Blackjack Bonuses

How to Devise the Right Online Blackjack Strategy