Blackjack Counting Introduction 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does it mean when a card counter has a 'positive running count'?
- More low cards than high cards have been played (Correct answer)
- More high cards than low cards have been played
- The player is currently winning money
- The shoe has more than half its cards remaining
Correct answer: More low cards than high cards have been played
A positive running count means more low cards have been removed, leaving a relatively high-card-rich deck favorable to the player.
Question 2: In the Hi-Lo counting system, what value is assigned to cards 2 through 6?
- -1
- 0
- +1 (Correct answer)
- +2
Correct answer: +1
In Hi-Lo, cards 2–6 are assigned +1 because their removal from the deck is unfavorable to the player.
Question 3: In the Hi-Lo system, what count value is assigned to 10-value cards and aces?
- +1
- 0
- -1 (Correct answer)
- -2
Correct answer: -1
High cards (10s and aces) receive -1 because their removal from the shoe hurts the player's advantage.
Question 4: Is card counting illegal in the United States?
- Yes, federal law prohibits it
- Yes, but only in Nevada
- No, it is not illegal but casinos may ban players (Correct answer)
- No, and casinos cannot refuse service to counters
Correct answer: No, it is not illegal but casinos may ban players
Card counting is not illegal, but casinos are private property and may ban or back off players they suspect of counting.
Question 5: What term describes the strategy adjustment card counters make based on the current count?
- True count deviation
- Index play (Correct answer)
- Deck penetration
- Surrender variation
Correct answer: Index play
Index plays (or strategy deviations) are departures from basic strategy made when the count reaches specific thresholds.
Question 6: What is 'deck penetration' and why does it matter to card counters?
- The number of decks in the shoe; more decks = better penetration
- How deep into the shoe the dealer goes before reshuffling; deeper penetration = more counting opportunity (Correct answer)
- The rate at which high cards appear early in a shoe
- The casino's policy on allowing mid-shoe entry
Correct answer: How deep into the shoe the dealer goes before reshuffling; deeper penetration = more counting opportunity
Better penetration (shuffling later) gives counters more information and more high-count opportunities before the deck is reset.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'balanced' counting system?
- A system where all count values are positive
- A system where the final count returns to zero after counting through a complete deck (Correct answer)
- A system with equal numbers of +1 and -1 cards
- A system that assigns 0 to all neutral cards
Correct answer: A system where the final count returns to zero after counting through a complete deck
A balanced system (like Hi-Lo) returns to exactly zero when you count through an entire deck, confirming accuracy.
Blackjack Counting Introduction 3
What does it mean when a card counter has a 'positive running count'?