Ace Tracking and Ace Side Counts are not black jack card counting methods on their own, but are actually extra counts that you can track along side your running count in order to improve the accuracy of your favorite system.
Ace Side Count
6 Deck Blackjack Card Counting
- Written by: Heather Ferris – An experienced Las Vegas blackjack dealer. Ever since Edward Thorpe exposed the game in 1962, Blackjack has increased in popularity as a game of cat-and-mouse. Thorpe's basic strategy, as well as his Ten Count system, was what pushed that pebble over the hill creating this huge snowball effect of card counting that we know today.
- The software features all popular card counting systems, namely Hi-Lo, Hi-Opt I, Hi-Opt II, KISS III, KO, Omega II, Red 7, Silver Fox and Zen Count. The software is available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, with a Free version which will bombard you with ads, offer one rule system and easy to medium tutorial levels, and Pro version.
This is done in one of two ways, depending on what card counting method you are using. For balanced counting systems like Hi-Lo Count and Hi-Opt I the correct way to perform an ace side count is to take the number of aces dealt divided by the number of decks remaining, similar to how you would convert a running count to the true count. The more aces remain, the higher your chances of getting a blackjack.
Ace side counts for non-balanced counting systems (like Zen Count or KO Count) are calculated in a different way and are used to increase the accuracy of playing strategy, particularly as to whether a player should take insurance.
Ace Tracking
Ace tracking (also called 'Shuffle Tracking') is the approximate art of trying to determine when and where the ace will appear by paying attention to the cards directly underneath the ace, so that when the cards are picked up and shuffled the player can recognize the neighbor cards and bet that the ace will be next.
Players interested in ace tracking should check out Arnold Snyder's The Blackjack Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook.
How to decide which Card Counting System to Use: All of card counting is based on the skill of tracking the ratio of high to low cards. Since Edward Thorp developed his initial card counting system, dozens of other systems have been developed, with varying degrees of difficulty and effectiveness.
Card counting systems for Blackjack are compared here, along with theirCard Values, Betting Correlation, Playing Efficiency, Insurance Correlation,Ease of Use and Type. These terms are defined at the bottom of the pageand are used to estimate the effectiveness of a Blackjack card countingstrategy. Ease of use is rated from 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest) and is basedstrictly on my own opinions (and a few phone calls from authors since Ifirst published this pageJ
CardCounting Strategy Summary
Click on a card counting strategy name in the table for more information.
Strategy | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | T | BC | PE | IC | Ease |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | .87 | .63 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .97 | .51 | .76 | 6 | B1 |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .88 | .61 | .85 | 6.5 | B1 |
0 | 1 | 1 | List of slot machines at mgm grand detroit. 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .91 | .67 | .91 | 4 | B2 |
0 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .90 | .62 | .87 | 7 | US1 |
-1 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .56 | .78 | 7 | US1 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .55 | .78 | UC1 | |
-1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .97 | .62 | .80 | 4 | B2 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .54 | .78 | 7 | USC1 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .55 | .78 | 8 | UC1 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | .89 | .59 | .76 | 6 | B1 |
-2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .99 | .55 | .78 | 4 | B2 |
-4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -3 | 1.0 | .53 | .71 | 1 | B4 |
0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -3 | .92 | .65 | .82 | 1 | B4 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | .96 | .53 | .69 | 6 | B1 |
-1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .97 | .62 | .84 | 6.5 | U2 |
-1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .95 | .55 | .76 | 6.5 | B1 |
0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -1 | -3 | .91 | .69 | .90 | 2.5 | B3 |
-2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .99 | .54 | .73 | 4.5 | U3 |
-1 | .5 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | .5 | 0 | -.5 | -1 | .99 | .56 | .72 | 2.5 | B3 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .96 | .63 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
Strategy | BC | PE | IC | Ease | Type |
.87 | .63 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 | |
.97 | .51 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.88 | .61 | .85 | 6.5 | B1 | |
.91 | .67 | .91 | 4 | B2 | |
.90 | .62 | .87 | 7 | US1 | |
.98 | .56 | .78 | 7 | US1 | |
.98 | .55 | .78 | 7.5 | UC1 | |
.97 | .62 | .80 | 4 | B2 | |
.92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 | |
.98 | .54 | .78 | 7 | USC1 | |
.98 | .55 | .78 | 8 | UC1 | |
.89 | .59 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.99 | .55 | .78 | 4 | B2 | |
1.0 | .53 | .71 | 1 | B4 | |
.92 | .65 | .82 | 1 | B4 | |
.96 | .53 | .69 | 6 | B1 | |
.97 | .62 | .84 | 6.5 | U2 | |
.95 | .55 | .76 | 6.5 | B1 | |
.91 | .69 | .90 | 2.5 | B3 | |
.99 | .54 | .73 | 4.5 | U3 | |
.99 | .56 | .72 | 2.5 | B3 | |
.96 | .63 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
For a detailed description of the aspects of strategies for counting cards,see How to Create a Card Counting Strategy
Ambition-U
BlackjackCard Counting System Sources
CardCounting Strategy Summary
Click on a card counting strategy name in the table for more information.
Strategy | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | T | BC | PE | IC | Ease |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | .87 | .63 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .97 | .51 | .76 | 6 | B1 |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .88 | .61 | .85 | 6.5 | B1 |
0 | 1 | 1 | List of slot machines at mgm grand detroit. 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .91 | .67 | .91 | 4 | B2 |
0 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .90 | .62 | .87 | 7 | US1 |
-1 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .56 | .78 | 7 | US1 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .55 | .78 | UC1 | |
-1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .97 | .62 | .80 | 4 | B2 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .54 | .78 | 7 | USC1 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .98 | .55 | .78 | 8 | UC1 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | .89 | .59 | .76 | 6 | B1 |
-2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .99 | .55 | .78 | 4 | B2 |
-4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -3 | 1.0 | .53 | .71 | 1 | B4 |
0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -3 | .92 | .65 | .82 | 1 | B4 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | .96 | .53 | .69 | 6 | B1 |
-1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .97 | .62 | .84 | 6.5 | U2 |
-1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | .95 | .55 | .76 | 6.5 | B1 |
0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -1 | -3 | .91 | .69 | .90 | 2.5 | B3 |
-2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -2 | .99 | .54 | .73 | 4.5 | U3 |
-1 | .5 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | .5 | 0 | -.5 | -1 | .99 | .56 | .72 | 2.5 | B3 |
-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | .96 | .63 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
Strategy | BC | PE | IC | Ease | Type |
.87 | .63 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 | |
.97 | .51 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.88 | .61 | .85 | 6.5 | B1 | |
.91 | .67 | .91 | 4 | B2 | |
.90 | .62 | .87 | 7 | US1 | |
.98 | .56 | .78 | 7 | US1 | |
.98 | .55 | .78 | 7.5 | UC1 | |
.97 | .62 | .80 | 4 | B2 | |
.92 | .67 | .85 | 4 | B2 | |
.98 | .54 | .78 | 7 | USC1 | |
.98 | .55 | .78 | 8 | UC1 | |
.89 | .59 | .76 | 6 | B1 | |
.99 | .55 | .78 | 4 | B2 | |
1.0 | .53 | .71 | 1 | B4 | |
.92 | .65 | .82 | 1 | B4 | |
.96 | .53 | .69 | 6 | B1 | |
.97 | .62 | .84 | 6.5 | U2 | |
.95 | .55 | .76 | 6.5 | B1 | |
.91 | .69 | .90 | 2.5 | B3 | |
.99 | .54 | .73 | 4.5 | U3 | |
.99 | .56 | .72 | 2.5 | B3 | |
.96 | .63 | .85 | 4 | B2 |
For a detailed description of the aspects of strategies for counting cards,see How to Create a Card Counting Strategy
Ambition-U
BlackjackCard Counting System Sources
The sources for system comparison above can be found at CardCounting Strategy Sources. Full counting tables for most strategiescan be found in free downloads of CV softwareproducts by permission of the various authors. They are not included heredue to copyright concerns.
Card CountingDefinitions
Card counting techniques include the following measurements:- Playing Efficiency– PE indicateshow well a counting system handles changes in playing strategy. Playingefficiency is particularly important in hand-held games (one or twodecks.)
- Betting Correlation– BCis defined as the correlation between card point values and the effectof removal of cards. It is used to predict how well a counting systempredicts good betting situations and can approach 1.00 (100% correlation.)BC is particularly important in shoe games (six or eight decks.)
- Insurance Correlation– IC isdefined as the correlation between card point values and the value ofcards in Insurance situation. A point value of -9 for tens and +4 forall other cards would be perfect for predicting if an Insurance betshould be placed.
- Level– The level of a strategyrefers to the number of different values assigned to cards. Level 2and 3 counting strategies are more efficient, but quite a bit more difficultfor most people. Level 4 & 5 counting strategies also exist. Butthis is overkill.
- Side Counts– There are severalmethods of side counting used to increase strategy efficiency. For anoutline of five side counting techniques, see SideCounting Techniques.
Type– The TYPE column keyfollows:
- B – Balanced count requiring the calculation of aTrue Count
- U – Unbalanced count with no True Count
- S – Suit Aware count requiring different counts forred and black cards
- C – Compromise indexes used for greater ease
- 1, 2, 3, 4 – Level. That is the highest tag value
Note: Playing Efficiency (as defined by Griffin) is not relevant to unbalancedcounting systems and is only an estimate. PE & BC stated here do notinclude side counts.
A list of the card counting index tables that can be found in CV productscan be found at CV Blackjack IndexTables.
For Blackjack training see Blackjackcard counting software.
