A Simple Card Counting Exercise Based on High-Low

There is a lot of card counting systems out there to choose from. There are card counting systems which are simple and there card counting systems that are quite complicated. We'll be dealing with a simple card counting exercise that will help you master the basics.

After understanding how this exercise works you can move on to other card counting systems that are more complicated. We'll use High-Low as a basis for this exercise. Let's begin with this simple card counting exercise.

In the High-Low card counting system, the cards from two to six are assigned a value of +1. Cards with a value of ten (i.e. Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Tens, including Aces) will have a value of -1. You'll notice that in High-Low, there are as much +1 cards as -1 cards. Cards seven to nine are not given any value (i.e. neutral cards).

This simple High-Low-based card counting exercise is designed to train the eye to spot these cards and make a total. Your eyes should be trained to dismiss the neutral cards, add one to every +1 card, and subtract one for every -1 card you see from your running total.

Our High-Low based card counting exercise begins with just a single deck of cards. We will be flipping cards over one by one. We will be keeping a running total as we flip the cards. You begin with zero and add one to your running total for every +1 card you see. And for every -1 card you see, you subtract one from your running total.

Remember that you should not add or subtract any value to your running total for every neutral card you get. Your running total should be equal to zero after all cards are dealt. Start practicing this card counting exercise at a slow pace first then gradually build speed.

Don't expect that you'll get it perfect the first time. It will take some practice before you can train your eyes to see each card and automatically make your count in your head. Go for accuracy first when practicing this card counting exercise and handle speed later.

Pick up the pace when you're used to your current pace for flipping the cards. A good idea is to time yourself as you practice this card counting exercise. The speed goal is to make an accurate running total in 25 seconds. You might think that is a tough goal to reach for this card counting exercise, but it is doable.

We want to keep things at this pace so that we can match any dealer's speed while keeping our count accurate.

It may take time before you master this High-Low based card counting exercise. Once you do, the rest of card counting will be easy. The point of this exercise is to train you eyes and to practice counting in your head.