A card appears — tap its Hi-Lo value as fast as you can.
Basic strategy for a 6-deck game, dealer stands on soft 17. Memorise this before relying on the count.
Card counting is a legal strategy used in blackjack to keep track of whether the remaining cards in the shoe are more favourable to the player or to the dealer. It doesn't involve memorising every card — just keeping a simple running tally as cards are dealt.
When the deck is rich in high cards (tens and aces), the player has an advantage: blackjacks pay out more, and the dealer is more likely to bust. When the deck is low-card heavy, the dealer has the edge. Knowing this lets you bet more when the odds are in your favour.
This trainer uses Hi-Lo — the most widely used and beginner-friendly card counting system. Every card gets a value of +1, 0, or −1. As each card is dealt, you add its value to your running total.
| Count value | Cards | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Low cards left the deck — slightly better for you |
| 0 | 7, 8, 9 | Neutral — no change to the count |
| −1 | 10, J, Q, K, A | High card left the deck — slightly worse for you |
The running count is your raw tally. But in a multi-deck game (this trainer uses 6 decks), a running count of +6 early in the shoe is less meaningful than +6 near the end — because there are far fewer cards remaining.
The true count adjusts for this. Divide your running count by the estimated number of decks left in the shoe:
The true count is the number that actually tells you when to raise your bet. A true count of +2 or higher is generally when the player has a meaningful edge.
For faster practice, use keys instead of clicking:
The whole point of counting is to vary your bet size. The general rule of thumb used by most counters:
Start with the quiz. Before playing full hands, spend 5–10 minutes on the Quiz tab until you can identify each card's Hi-Lo value instantly without thinking.
Count in pairs. Cards are often dealt in pairs. A 5 and a King cancel out (net zero). Train yourself to spot cancellations instantly to reduce mental load.
Practise with distractions. Put the TV on while you train. At a real casino there's noise, conversation, and pressure. You need the count to feel automatic.
Basic strategy first. Card counting adds roughly 0.5–1% to your edge. But playing incorrect basic strategy can cost you 2–3%. Learn the strategy chart cold before relying on the count.