For many people, blackjack is the only casino game worth gambling with. Blackjack is the only game that combines skill, luck, brains, strategy and concentration. And most importantly blackjack is a game that can be won. One of the most time-honored and popular strategies for winning at blackjack is card counting.

In the 1960s, computers changed the way blackjack could be played. Edward O. Thorp's legendary book, "Beat the Dealer," was published in 1962 and blackjack has never been the same since. Thorp used computers to shed new light on the statistical side of the game; he pointed out that if a player could keep track of the dealt cards, the flip side would be that he had a better chance of figuring out which cards were left and he could increase or decrease his bets accordingly. This gave blackjack players an advantage that they never had before; blackjack card counting was born and blackjack history was made.

The rationale behind blackjack card counting is that when more high cards (10s, pictures, and aces) remain in the deck, the game favors the player; keeping track of the remaining cards gives the player a distinct advantage. Card counting is not exactly what it sounds like - you don't need to memorize or count every card that comes and goes in the blackjack game.

A good card counter, however, does need to focus and concentrate and keep track of everything that's happening on the blackjack table. By allotting points to the cards and keeping a running count, blackjack card counters keep track of what's been dealt and more or less what's left in the shoe. He then uses this knowledge to determine his blackjack betting strategy.

In a popular card-counting method, aces and 10s (or pictures) are given a value of minus one; 2s through 6s are given a value of plus one; and 7s, 8s, and 9s are neutral (they're not included in the count). Using these values, a card counter keeps a running tab of the cards on the table; when the count reaches a high number - meaning that a relatively high number of low cards have been dealt, thus leaving a large number of high cards in the deck - the player ups his bet because the odds are now in his favor. This method is called the High-Low system and it is the most commonly used blackjack card-counting system and the easiest to learn and master. This system was explained in detail in the second best-selling edition of Thorp's book on blackjack gambling.

Because card counting seems intimidating, many amateur blackjack players choose only to use the blackjack basic strategy; in reality, though, with a little practice (OK, hours of practice), card counting can be used by any player committed enough to give it a serious try. Blackjack card counting can really shift the odds in the player's favor, slightly but significantly giving him the edge. For the serious blackjack gambler, card counting can make all the difference.

No Card Counting in the Online Casino

Youd should be aware, however, that counting cards is not a viable blackjack strategy in the online casino. This is because the blackjack software shuffles the cards after each hand, so there is really nothing to count. Still, it is worthwhile to know the theory and history of blackjack card counting.