Learn how online live casinos to combat card counting and how card counters can count cards in live dealer blackjack games.
Can You Count Cards When Playing Live Online Blackjack?
Counting cards is a well-known strategy card players use to increase their chances of winning at Blackjack. Edward Thorp, a mathematician, invented it. Blackjack card counting entails keeping a running and true count of the cards dealt and the cards remaining in the deck. The card counter can then bet based on how likely it is that a good card will be dealt.
However, live online blackjack card counting is quite challenging to execute, and the dealer can stop the player from counting cards in various ways, just as the player can use various strategies to do the same. Let us investigate further.
Live Dealer Blackjack Card Counting
In live dealer blackjack games, card counting is possible. However, a few factors make card counting for live blackjack difficult. There are numerous defense mechanisms in play. The most obvious difference is that the game uses multiple decks of cards, which are reshuffled after each round. Even though the frequency of reshuffling is lower than in online blackjack tables, deck penetration in live dealer blackjack is less than 50%. Furthermore, additional methods are used to reduce the possibility of card counting, such as auto reshuffle machines and ‘burning’ of the cards.
Aside from using multiple decks, live dealer blackjack games use other techniques to detect players who are attempting to count cards or cheat in other ways. For example, the software that monitors the game keeps track of the shoe.
A player who has an unusually long winning streak will be flagged and reported to the operator. Of course, no player can be banned for winning, but many card counters’ betting patterns consistently match the shoe count, which alerts the casino.
Stopping Counters in Live Dealer Blackjack
Card counting online, particularly in live dealer blackjack, is even more difficult due to the game’s rules and the way it is played, which impose some constraints on the counters. Among these methods are:
Using Multiple Decks
The use of multiple decks is the most obvious reason why card counters find the technique difficult to implement. Live dealer blackjack games use 8 decks of 52 cards, and shoe penetration is only 50% because the shoe is changed after 4 decks have been dealt.
Furthermore, auto shuffling is available on some tables to ensure that each hand is dealt with a fresh shoe. Though uncommon, this is extremely unfavorable for card counters. In live dealer blackjack, the act of removing the face down or top cards from the deck before dealing the hands is known as card burning.
Even if the player attempts to count the cards, this burning technique increases the likelihood of the count going wrong.
Continual Reshuffle
A continuous shuffling machine (CSM) in online live blackjack allows the use of multiple decks that are reshuffled after each hand. A continuous shuffler effectively ensures that the multiple decks of cards are reset and completely reshuffled at every single hand, rendering card counting obsolete.
So, why don’t all casinos employ a continuous shuffler at every blackjack table? These machines, however, are prohibitively expensive and effectively end the dreams of many card counters. And, while it appears to be beneficial, it also drives many card counters away, and most counters aren’t huge professional winners, so their business is appreciated.
Hands-per-Hour Low
Card counting in blackjack is most effective when there are enough rounds per hour to make the player’s time worthwhile. The more hands a player can play per hour, the more money he can make.
In a live dealer blackjack game, however, the situation is exactly the opposite. These games are extremely slow because individual players must communicate their playing decisions by clicking buttons. This renders card counting useless.
Even the fastest live dealer blackjack games deal less than 50 rounds per hour, whereas a professional card counter plays 100-300 rounds per hour. This low round-per-hour rate is a significant disadvantage for card counters in live dealer games.
Software for Tracking Bets
Almost all live dealer blackjack games employ software to track not only the shoes that are dealt, but also the betting patterns of each player at the table. When a player counts cards, his bets will always match the count. As a result, a card counter cannot hide while playing online.
Such disparity will immediately alert the casino, and the player will be identified. Card counting is not illegal, but if a player is seen using this technique to win multiple rounds of the game, he may be considered a cheat and barred from a particular casino.
What strategies do online live dealer casinos employ to combat card counters?
Strategies for Playing Live Dealer Blackjack
Even though live dealer blackjack games make card counting difficult, there are other strategies that players can employ to beat the casino’s edge. The most basic but crucial strategy is to avoid playing at tables where the minimum bet exceeds 5% of the player’s bankroll. The player can play for longer if they place a minimum bet of 5% or less.
Similarly, to maximize your chances of winning, you must play only one hand at a time while sitting as far away from the dealer as possible. When playing with a strategy in mind, it is easier to concentrate on the same thing with one hand rather than multiple hands. On the other hand, sitting far away from the dealer allows the player to keep a close eye on the cards as they are dealt.
In situations where card counting is not an option, memorize and apply the optimal blackjack strategy charts. Such charts instruct the player on how to play specific hands, such as when he has a 10 and a 4, the dealer has a 10 and a 2, and so on.
It is also best not to take insurance when playing live dealer blackjack. This is because insurance is a good move if the player can count cards, but taking insurance with multiple decks where card counting is not possible can be disastrous. Finally, in live dealer blackjack, you should always choose a blackjack table that pays 3:2 to avoid increasing the house edge.
So, while card counting is not impossible in online live dealer blackjack games, it is complicated for players to execute. However, by employing certain strategies, players can improve their chances in a live dealer game.
Looking for the best online casino? Join OKBET Online Casino and get a chance to win our 10 million jackpot prizes. Download OKBET app available in App store and Play store, and play at your convenience!
Get hold of OKBET Casino promotions for up to 50% cashback welcome bonus and many more! Time is ticking, Register now!
Follow us for more OKBET Casino news, reviews, bonuses, guide and more.
