Card counting is a well-known trick to bag a Blackjack win. It’s so effective that most casinos kick out “obvious” counters because they win too often. But many Singaporean punters do it discreetly, enabling them to make their winning chances skyrocket.
Yet, as Blackjack and other casino games enter the online sphere in recent decades, many wonder if card counting is still possible.
There are several conditions under which card counting is an effective Blackjack strategy. Unfortunately, some of these conditions are absent in online Blackjack games.
Unlike in land-based casinos in Singapore, online Blackjack games often use random number generators (RNGs) to reshuffle the deck every turn, making card counting extremely difficult. And for online live dealer games, the rules often give the house a high edge, making card counting unconducive.
So, right off the bat, card counting is possible but not that useful in digital casinos. If you’re still unconvinced, let’s dive deeper into why.
When Does Card Counting Work?
Some “ideal conditions” must be present in a game of Blackjack for card counting to work.
First, the game’s rules must be, in some sort, favorable for the player to count cards.
For instance, a table that pays 3:2 (payout is 1.5 times the bet) means a favorable payout and higher expected value of hitting a Blackjack (an ace and a ten-value card). This game setup provides a low house edge that is conducive to card counting. On the other hand, a 6:5 (payout is 1.2 times the bet) means less compensation and a lower expected value of hitting a Blackjack, making card counting unenticing.
Second, the dealer must play sufficient rounds before reshuffling the deck.
In brick-and-mortar casinos, dealers usually deal cards from the decks without reshuffling until they reach the “cut card,” which is about 80% through the deck. So, players know that a drawn card is less likely to reappear until reshuffle. This system makes card counting feasible in an in-person Blackjack game.
Lastly, the game must allow you to play a lot of rounds per hour. Card counting is more effective if you play more hands, as you can better estimate the deck composition. Otherwise, a game that is too slow limits your ability to track cards.
Why Card Counting May Not Work in Online Blackjack?
As mentioned earlier, one or more of the conditions we’ve discussed above are not present in online Blackjack, making it virtually impossible to use card counting.
Most Online Casinos Have Unfavorable Rules
Most online casinos operate with high house edge or unfavorable rules against the player. Well, you may spot some with decent or fair rules, but they’re more of the exception than the norm.
Online Blackjack Games Provides Insufficient Deck Penetration
When you play Blackjack online, chances are you’ll play a computer-simulated game with no live dealer and shoes. These games often use continuous shuffle machines or RNG algorithms to shuffle the deck every round. Apparently, card counting is ineffective in this setup because you cannot keep a running tally of cards dealt.
Well, there are also online Blackjack with real live dealers who are not using RNGs.The problem is that online dealers reshuffle the deck around 40% to 50% of the shoe. This means that you only get to see at most half of the deck before the dealer reshuffle, limiting your ability to accurately count cards online.
Online Blackjack Has Fewer Rounds Per Hour
Compared to land casinos, online Blackjack is usually slower because players need to press some buttons to make decisions. On average, online Blackjack plays at 20 to 25 rounds per hour, which is significantly lower than the average rate in land casinos (100 to 250 rounds per hour).
Wrap Up
While card counting stands as a classic trick to beat the dealer, this strategy won’t work in online Blackjack games. Put simply, your winning odds online all boils down to fate and luck. So, when you play Blackjack in an online casino, be responsible and stay within your pocket’s limits.
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Read More:
Pros and Cons of Playing Blackjack Online
What You Need to Know About European and Atlantic City Blackjack
References:
- https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/card-counting-online/
- https://www.lemonsandsevens.com/blog/counting-cards-online-blackjack
- https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/does-card-counting-in-online-casinos-work/176768/
- https://www.vegas-aces.com/charts/blackjack-payout-chart/
- https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/5686/does-card-counting-work-in-online-blackjack