Blackjack Counting Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Blackjack Counting facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. If late surrender is possible → Surrender 16 when the dealer has a 10 or Ace
2. Side counting Aces separately is done to improve a counting system's: → Ace correlation and betting accuracy
3. Which counting system is widely considered the best balance between simplicity and effectiveness for beginners? → Hi-Lo
4. You hold a pair of 9s and the dealer shows a 7. What is the correct basic strategy play? → Stand
5. What is the primary purpose of index numbers (also called indices) in advanced card counting? → To determine when to deviate from basic strategy based on the true count
6. Who were the first to publish a strategy that involved counting cards? → The Four Horsemen
7. Rounding the true count to the nearest integer rather than using exact fractions is recommended because: → Mental math speed matters more than marginal precision
8. You hold a pair of 8s against a dealer 10. What is the basic strategy play? → Split
9. In Hi-Lo counting, what is the running count adjusted by to get the true count? → Number of decks remaining
10. How effective is card counting as a blackjack strategy? → Very
11. What legal risk do card counters face in US casinos? → Being banned from the property (trespass) but no criminal charges
12. When should a card counter generally start raising their bet in a 6-deck game using Hi-Lo? → When true count reaches +2 or higher
13. In blackjack team play, which role most closely mirrors the Wonging strategy? → The spotter who counts from behind without betting and signals teammates
14. Which of the following best describes the core advantage a Wonger holds over a standard flat bettor? → Playing only when holding a positive expected value, entering every session with an edge
15. What is the main disadvantage of Wonging in a casino with advanced surveillance? → Increased visibility and easier detection by casino security
16. A player has a soft 19 (Ace-8) against a dealer 6. The correct play is: → Stand
17. What does 'camouflage' mean in the context of card counting? → Disguising counting behavior to avoid detection by the casino
18. What is the formula for converting a running count to a true count? → True Count = Running Count ÷ Decks Remaining
19. A true count of +1 in a standard 6-deck game represents approximately what player advantage over the house? → About 0.5%
20. A counter who only memorizes the top 3 Illustrious 18 plays (I18, I16, Insurance) captures approximately what percentage of total deviation EV? → About 60%
21. What is a 'back-off' and how does it typically affect a Wonger caught by casino management? → When a casino asks a player to stop playing blackjack or restrict their betting
22. How does back-counting affect the variance of a counter's results? → It reduces variance by removing negative-expectation hands from the session
23. When should a counter take the surrender option on 16 vs dealer Ace? → When true count is below +1 (or at basic strategy)
24. You have a hard 11 and the dealer shows an Ace. What does basic strategy recommend in a multi-deck game? → Hit
25. What is 'table hopping' as a card counter strategy? → Moving between tables to enter shoes at high positive counts
26. What is the index for standing on 12 vs dealer 2 in the Illustrious 18? → +3
27. How many systems of card counting are there? → Several
28. You have a hard 10 against a dealer 10. What does basic strategy say? → Hit
29. In which scenario does true count conversion matter LEAST? → Single-deck blackjack
30. In the Hi-Lo counting system, what value is assigned to cards 2 through 6? → +1