The High-Low count has become the most popular method of counting cards mainly due to its simplicity. Using this count in a single deck game of blackjack, can shift the odds about 2% in your favour. In multiple deck games it will shift the odds about ½% in your favour depending on the blackjack rules played.

To learn the High-Low count is relatively easy. Each card that is dealt is given a value, these are as follows.

2,3,4,5,6 = +1
7,8,9 = 0
10,J,Q,K,A = -1

The cards are given these numbers because when a card of value 2-6 is dealt it is of benefit to the player. Cards 7-9 have no benefit and cards 10-A benefit the casino. The basic premise is the more low cards that have been dealt the better your odds become and the more high cards which are dealt the better the casinos odds become.

To put the method into practise all you do is count in your head the numbers of each card as they are dealt. Say in the first two hands after the shuffle the cards dealt were:

2,J,Q,4,A,6,9,J,Q,7,10,A

You will get a total of

1-1-1+1-1+1+0-1-1+0-1-1 = -4

So in this situation the odds are in favour of the casino. If the number is a plus number then the odds are in your favour. When the count reaches a value of +4 or higher, this is the time to start raising your bets. Any number lower than 4 or a minus number, then you need to stick to your minimum bet. The number +4 only relates to a blackjack game using one deck. To obtain the same advantage in a multi-deck game you need to multiply this number with the number of decks you are using. So if there is four decks being used only when the count reaches 4x4=16 would you have the same advantage as in the single deck game. As you can imagine this situation arises much less often in a multi-deck game which is why the more decks the casino uses the smaller advantage you are able to gain from card-counting.

To practise this outside the casino all you need to do is get a pack of cards and turn them over one by one and keep up the count as you go along. When you reach the end of the pack the count should equal zero. If it is not zero, you have made a mistake. Keep doing this again and again until it becomes second nature. After you have done this practise by turning over two cards at a time and doing the same thing. Only when you are able to do this quickly should you attempt to try your new found knowledge in the casino for real.