Screwing up the Running Count: 5 Common Mistakes 

Don't know how to count? Here are the card counting fundamentals: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O35_FmBuSsg.html

"We are not at the casino to play blackjack." That really sent the message of what card counting is all about.

I've watched 3 of your vids recently, and I'm very impressed by the quality of your points and presentation. As a long-retired counter, the difference between the material I learned from, and your vids, is amazing. Well done.

Thanks for this knowledge, I'm now limiting my self to a 20 - 40$ start and usually end up having 300-400$ by 2 hours in.

As a dealer, we are trained to deal cards and recognize them from the center pips of the card, not the indices. Esp for 6s and 9s, look at the center of the card and notice each card is different. 6s, no middle pips. It's faster to recognize cards like this than trying to read the number.

I an so excited for my next casino visit. I already made some money with some rational reflections and rules for playing but this is way better of course :) But I count the small numbers as -1 and the higher numbers as +1. From the emotional side, this feels more accurate and easier :D and then just count how many small and high numbers you have and then do the addition. So not calculate the whole time +1,-1 and so on...that makes it a lot easier to be quite fast. Thanks so much!!

Thanks Colin. These are excellent points to be driven home. I have at one time or another done each of these mistakes. Seeing them like this drives it home in a stronger fashion! Great job!

One strategy that helps me count is that I group the “double” count from the starting cards with the dealer up card, rather than counting each card individually. For example, a blackjack is automatically a “-2” running count, rather than counting the ace and 10 card individually.

this is probably my favorite video with the five most common mistakes. Thanks Colin

Thank you Colin. I just got basic strategy memorized and I’m now working on counting. Looking forward to watching your video about casino distractions, I think that’s going to be the hardest thing for me to overcome and adjust to.

Unbelievable ! You have blown my mind again!! You are so helpful colin!! Thank you thank you thank you!! I know now why my count is off sometimes. It has to be the 6 and 9 lol wow God bless you my friend! I plan on burning down the house in KC MO in January. I will have over 500 + hours of practicing. I'm taking my time and loving it! Oh and building my bankroll. I'm doing it all for fun also! I love hobbies. I appreciate you alot. Thank you!

Mistakes #1 and #3 (mostly 3) are what have sunk me. Can't say that I have experienced the other ones for mistakes. Another mistake is when The hand is done and I'm looking at the dealer's hand and going back and forth from his last card to what the running count was before his last card, instead of saying the current running count over and over. Sometimes, I will accidentally stick with the running count before his last card. It is just an OCD thing my brain does to clarify that my count matches what I am seeing and that I counted correctly. A bad habit I need to break!

Wow, I just watched this and I'm so confused. I don't gamble and am not sure why this was on my homepage, but now I'm intrigued ♥

I'm Dutch and I kept the running count in English (I've been speaking English for a long time and am nearly fluent) for a while, and then I started doing it in Dutch and it became so much easier, which in hindsight doesn't surprise me at all. P.S. The Dutch word for "minus" or "negative" is the one-syllable word "min", i as in dip, which means I can actually say the whole number without abbreviating.

Another great video. Also, your card counting mini-course on the BJA website is great too.

Thanks Colin. This advice is pure gold. Downloaded the app yesterday and on several occasions my count was off, I was so confident of my count that I thought there was a bug in the app.But I was always counting the dealer's card again. Hopefully I can get near perfect scores soon by enough practice

wow the 4th mistake is what i have trying to figure out, thanks man gonna keep making money with you!

Super analysis! I haven't seen this aspect of CC covered so thoroughly anywhere else. I have to admit that I have been guilty of one of these errors. On many occasions I have forgotten to count the dealer's card or I have forgotten after the round which card was the dealer's up card. So, I doubt if I counted the up card! One additional error I have made is counting in the wrong direction! Negative running counts can be a little more challenging. When I am a bit tired, I might make this mistake.

I didn’t understand true count. His forth explanation confirmed what I didn’t know. Now I’m ready to work on basic strategies

I use count of +1 for 2,3,7, +2 for 4,5,6, -1 for 9, and -2 for tens. Way more accurate, and makes the simple +1, -1 count look like it has counting errors built in. For example @6:10 I thought you made a counting mistake because I wanted to count the dealer bust card nine as -1. But counting is easy. The hard part is memorizing all the tables based on true count for hitting/splitting/doubling. The other hard part is putting up with bad players who think you took their card or dealers card when you make a hit that is based on the count and not basic stratetgy.

As someone with ADD this is something that will always be a challenge for me, and that more than the money is why I want to master it....and also screw casinos

Thank you Colin. If this is any indication of the content of your book (I WANT IT!), it will be a instant classic.

I'd add a 6th and 7th mistake here: Getting distracted and not being fast enough. That happens to me a lot when I'm back counting. Otherwise I don't make any of these mistakes. I'm taking time off counting for awhile but I'll be back in the casino for the holidays, I've definitely lost a lot less money back counting and knowing basic and index strategy opposed to what I used to do which was play penny slots for comp money and free play lol. I just need to save up the money to do this legit instead of back counting and "sniping" tables that have a high running count lol. All I need is a good $1000 really. I know the strategies, the counting techniques, and have a good bet spread plan.

I finally go kicked out of the Claridge in AC after a couple of months back in the 90's, problem was it was the only casino that had 4 decks so I had to keep going to the same place. I was never a big bettor so they just told me not to come back. Glad they didn't notice the quadruple down and capping. 😎😎

Thanks mate! I've got this, but just lacking my speed

card counting seems so complicated and i could never do it nor do i have the desire but i still enjoy these videos haha

these videos are amazing and im taking this knowledge to the next level i promise🙂

When I was a beginner it was difficult keeping count when the deck got negative. Once in the negative tens and aces make the running count “bigger” and low cards make it “smaller”. Kind of counter initiative at first. It definitely takes practice!

This is exactly what threw me off this weekend!@ #1

Best video you’ve made tbh

One thing I’ve noticed is getting the plus and minus counts mixed up especially when they’re around zero. In some situations, it can be easy to forget if say, the running count is +2 or -2

lol...i get caught up in the big hand hype and just give up on the count...I know my weaknesses include having too much fun and my BS needs buttoned up. I've been playing BJ for many years and always treated it like a fun activity, but I'd like to improve that, or I've started to improve. This isn't the first time I've seen Colin's stuff so maybe some of it will stick this time.

please keep the videos coming!

The 6s and 9s Haha I did that once as well.

Another mistake is accidentally counting your A as a +1. As a poker player I've done that thinking of the A as a wheel straight in poker A-2-3-4-5. If I get too much in a rhythm of positive running count cards and an A comes up, I sometimes count it as a positive as well. lol

Can you be a “casual” card counter just enough so when you do go to the casino you can generally go in with odds on your favor? Or does counting only work if you go to the casino 4 times a week for a few hours

Is there a decent way to prepare for a casino 6 deck atmosphere as opposed to just going there and playing? I've tried this in the past but between figuring out where I am $ wise (how much ahead/down) and keeping up with the actual hand (going to stop doing this until the end), I always lost count. Also, do you have your deviations and bet sizes available publicly?

Can anyone provide tips on how to keep the running count while also making decisions on your hand? I'm struggling with simple addition while retaining the separate running count, or forgetting the running count while deciding on my decision.

Been practicing counting cards with my 3 kids screaming at home and asking me questions. Pretty good environment to practice in

Colin when I count I make sure I count all player hands but I don’t count the dealers up card until after she flips over her bottom card it keeps me from forgetting or double counting all together I want your advice would you say that’s a good tip

If you missed 1 card and you know absolutely it was missed, do you simply get up from the table and start over at a fresh shoe? Or do you treat it like a high card to be conservative, and continue playing with that assumption?

Nice Colin, great video.

Regarding the dealer changing up which side of the up card / down card he just flipped that he starts placing his hit cards, why can't you just always add the dealers cards to the count at the end? (Well, at the time he flips the card up you add/sub those two to/from the count and then continue adding and subtracting as he hits.) I know you want to update the count as the cards come out of the shoe but I think you should only do that for players. Do it my way for the dealer's cards if you get confused as to what was the up card.

I’m that guy who lost the count after multiple doubles and splits. But hey, I was super excited because I had 15k on the table in splits and doubles and the dealers busted. I swear I thought they were gonna take me in the back room like in the movie 21.

I only play at a table alone (plus a dealer). Assuming no worry about being backed off. If the true count is in my favor do I add 1 or 2 or 3 hands? How does a player have an edge over the house if I play 1 hand and the dealer plays 1 hand?

What do you think of a new card counter just playing one on one when they start? Wouldn't that be easier than counting a full table? I am training but was thinking that when I'm ready to try it in the casino I would go when it is very slow like early in the morning etc.

At my casino the dealer burns a card to start and they burn a card when they switch dealers between a shoe. How would you handle those burn cards?

Excellent!

How do you know exactly when to start raising your bets? Or when to stay low?

This video helped!

If the dealer is tripping up the player's count by their card movement (especially if you see one dealer do it one way, and another might move the cards differently), what about counting up each of the players hands in meaningful pairs, then count up the entire dealer's hand LAST? It would seem to me that there would be benefits in waiting to count ANY of dealer's cards until the dealer is playing their hand. Since the dealer does not start turning and / or hitting on their own hand until all player hands are completely played out, then it would allow you to: 1. Focus ONLY on the player hands as the cards are completely dealt, hit, split, etc. No need look up to the dealer's up card, then back down to player(s) hand(s), back and forth, etc., getting all messed up. (Of course, you still have to glance at dealer's up card right after you look at your first two cards so you can decide basic strategy decision, but you just haven't started COUNTING the dealer's up card yet.) 2. Once ALL the player(s) hands are played out, and you mentally scoop up the count quickly as you can in meaningful pairs, and have the total running card count of player's hands committed to memory, you would now have no need to look back at ANY player cards for the remainder of that round. Once you have the complete running count (of all player's cards up to this point), then you can focus your full, undivided attention to the dealer's hand, without worrying about whether or not you counted the hole card yet as the dealer moves, turns, and hits cards. Plus, since a lot of dealers scoop up hands very quickly after they have played their last card, you also will not be in a potential mad panic trying to go back and count player hands again. What would be the downside or risk in doing it this way?

Awesome video Colin. Would you say in your honest opinion, that many well seasoned (5 plus years of experience) counters still at times make the "off by one" mistakes? Have you seen any counters with similar experience that have been off by more? How well do you do with perfect counting, at least when you practice?

Very fascinating.

Any tips for someone who,has a brain injury as well as ADD? I have a lot of trouble concentrating and remembering. I’ve been playing for 20 years, so basic strategy is fairly solid, it’s betting strategy and card counting that need work. Can you count using only a running count, and not a true count? I’ve also played poker for years to help my brain, but another concussion last month has really set me back. Not only do I love blackjack (for the most part), but it’s helping keeping my brain going. Any tips or tricks are appreciated

Interesting, my most common mistake when counting is that dealer procedure when they move their up card.

This is probably odd, but I find it so much easier to use the -1 for small cards and +1 for face cards. I'm assuming it would be ok to learn like this as long as I use the logic backward right?

On a new shuffle where the running count/TC is zero: what is the best strategy when you see high cards in the first few hands? Your TC is negative....but for awhile, you're seeing high cards.

Hi, thanks a lot for the tips. I've watch few of your videos. Need some advice here, how do I want to keep track the running count when each time the dealer draw card, he take out 1 card and put it a side without open it?

Colin, have you ever had a player count, say, +1 instead of -1? I would occasionally do that when I started out.

So when do you finally buy in ? Like when do I put bigger amounts down ? What’s the count where I do that and when do I retract

Does the running count add each round? I have never seen u mention it in any video.

My guy! Then what is the purpose of a "True Count" if the running count is most important!?! Thank you too Bro.

Are you sure - updating RC with ANY card coming out..? I start counting, when looking at the pairs in the second round of cards, which gives you time to relax or even chat...less suspicious as well. - Gives your brain time to RECOVER a bit:)

I get it, but once it gets down to the end of the shoe and there is a deck+ left, depending on where it's cut, you still have a lot of unknowns, or am I wrong with this?

"All you had to do is count the damn cards CJ "

How do you know the count when sitting down without someone there on a team? Or do you wait for a shuffle to sit down if solo?

excellent video

In my country, they deal only one dealer card. Does it effect the strategy ?

Is the move with the 3 of hearts with the upcard because most people are right handed? That they all go to the left from the players perspective

Should I count once the first player is set to hit or stand or as soon as the first player receives their 2nd card. I've been training the latter way for so long now. Should I retrain my brain?

I've always hated gambling. When I found out you could go to a casino and win money without gambling, I was all in with card counting.

Just wondering... is there a reason face/10/ace are negative 1s? Seems like it would be more intuitive, for me personally, if they were +1 and the 2-6 were (-)1.

How does the True count help the Advantage player over the Running count? I would surmise that the running count is the metrics you would care about. If you could do a short video on this or direct me to one...That would be great 👍

When we sit at a BJ table, how do we know how many deck of cards they use? And wouldn't we have to start at the beginning of a new case of cards? (Because we wouldn't know what the true or running count would be if we started around half way)

What are your thoughts of sitting "3rd base and deviations from basic strategy..?? Or avoiding to play one on one with the dealer?

I've come with my own variable of card counting, but I realized that the real thing that needs to get practice is the running count once one get that, the rest should be eaten bread!!!!!

3 is probably my biggest problem now

Do you ever come to Columbus GA?

I estimate to the nearest half deck. If your eyeball there are 2.9 decks in the discard tray, do you round 2.9 to 3, and use 3(decks remaining) as the divisor for the TC? or round down 2.9 to 2.5, and use 3.5 as the divisor for TC?

What is true count vs running count? Please give detailed explanation

6:12 ... aha aha i like it !

I count to slow. The cards are being swept away before I can count them. Is this normal when first learning how to count or is my brain just to slow to count cards.

Lol going from true count to using that for running RIP

15 years winning $600,000 and let’s say he got another $400k from the teams still isn’t that much per year versus just going to work

When u have the running count 20 , and there are 5 decks left, the true count is 4! My question is, you replace the running count with the true count?! Or is just to know whats going to bring the left decks?(true count!) And you have to do the true count every round? Thanks Colin i apretiate you comment

Now a days I see casinos put the most recently played cards into machine for immediate shuffle. So does this mean u can not use count card method again?

What happens if they use an auto shuffler and they feed every discarded card immediately after discard? So its always a full 6 deck shoe. I dont think card counting works then right?

No, the simplest reason why people mess up the running count is because of mental arithmetic; you're doing a lot of mental calculations in real-time, and it's easy to make a mistake without even realizing it. Unfortunately, that being the case, not realizing they made a mistake, a counter continues on with a false count. I would bet this is very common and has happened to even the best of us.

I took $7k yesterday playing like an absolute jackass. Splitting 10s on 7s for example. Not the worst move but still silly.

Man I could do this for sure

So when missing a card, it is better to don’t change your running count or make -1 because then you’re on the safer side

Does that count start new with every new shoe?

I think I’m gonna stick to basic strategy this was way over my head lol

How do you know when there is a new deck or when one is finished? Like if you are playing a 5 deck game when do you know that one deck has finished?

done.

Two questions, first is easy to ask: How about other player's (a lot of the time) poor play relative to basic strategy? I suspect you're going to say in the long run their bad play, over days or weeks or months doesn't effect me so I stick to basic strategy (and not get focused on individual hands)? Second question is calculating the true count: 1. Am I basically guessing or surmising how much of a 6 deck shoot has been gone through based on the height of the already played cards? "That looks about one desk so I'll quickly do my TC now?" 2. Let's say it's a 6 desk shoot BUT the yellow card is splitting the 6 desks near the end of the 4th desk (again, I suppose I am visually guessing/surmising). Now I want to get my TC; why would I divide my running count by the total # of desks remaining in the shoot...instead of dividing the RC by how many desks are left to play UP TO the yellow split card? If the running split card is guesstimated at the end of the 4th deck, then shouldn't I divide 1 deck of played cards by 3 instead of 5? Clear as mud? Thank you

When should one calculate true count in a 6 deck shoe & how many times?

can you just wait to count the dealers card until he flips the second?

This came to me easy. Where do I learn the betting at. Seriously

1:41 - why is he pointing at a 2-5 hand and saying “1”, when that’s really “2”?